17 Week Old Is Night Waking 5-6 Times a Night

Make sure she's not cold. That would wake her up every hour. The temperature drops between 2-6am, so make sure she's bundled up or get a space heater. Feeding the baby when she wakes up every hour would not help her metabolism. Her body needs a daytime schedule (3 1/2 - 4 hours apart) to learn when it's time to eat. Even if she wakes up at night, don't feed her. It will become a habit and won't end. At 4 months, she's capable of sleeping through the night. I would suggest reading babywise. I used the babywise book and both of my daughters slept through the night at 9-10 weeks. Maybe a combination of both books will help get your baby on track. Good luck!

My son just finished going through the same thing. When he did, I read about babies' growth patterns. Apparently they go through a growth spurt between 4-5 mths. It made since that my son was experiencing this or that it had something to do with teething. Either way he wanted to eat every hour it seemed and just mostly at night. My doctor said that he should not need to eat but every 3 hours. "Habit" didn't make sense because he wasn't in the "habit" of waking every hour prior to 4 mths. I perservered as long as I could and finally right at 5 mths I started him on a little cereal right before he went to bed. I hated it because I wanted to wait until he was six months before giving it too him. During that time, he started accepting a pacifier as well. So, a little cereal before bed and his pacifier was all he needed. Now, at 5 1/2 mths, he has only had cereal for about a week now, and he doesn't really Have to have it. So, some nights he does and others not.

Also, my doctor told to try more stimulation when he fussed and not just nursing him. So, when he fusses a little I check for burps, check his diaper, and we play. Doing this during the day has helped him not look for the boob so much at night.

good luck

Hi Heidi,
I consider that book to be my sleep "bible" for my daughter. I'm sure you have read and re-read the age appropriate section but I pulled it out to see if I could give you some suggestions. I remember my daughter waking every two hours to eat (and she was formula fed) at that age. She slept in our room and I would hear her start to fuss a little so I would make a bottle, change her diaper and feed her. I finally realized that it was what Dr. Weissbluth call partial arousal and she wasn't totally awake. If you were breastfeeding I would say frequent waking is normal. Have you tried waiting before responding? Many formula babies need to eat 4-6 hrs after bedtime feeding, but every hr is too much. I moved Paige into her own room by 3 months and she has slept all night since, except when she was sick. Make sure Madeline is going to bed by 6pm and getting at least 2 naps for 1 hr each. Email me if you would like more suggestion, I have tried it all!
L.

Hi Heidi!

1) Elizabeth Pantley's "The No Cry Sleep Solution"....amazing book, on my bedside table always. Her website is www.pantley.com. Her personal e-mail is ____@____.com
She will e-mail if you write her for help or with questions. But her book is why everybody in my house is getting lots of sleep (husband, 14-month-old baby)

2) Dr.Sears Baby Book, the chapter on Nighttime Parenting.
Especially the checklist for night-waking causes. Also on my bedside table. Invaluable.

Sweet dreams!

L. M.
Novato

Have you changed anything she's eating? if your breast feeding, are you eating anything different? It may be gas. If so Mylacon Drops work great. Good Luck, I wish you sleep soon! :)

Hello Heidi,
I feel your pain, our second child was up every 2-3 hours until he was almost 6 months. I made the error of getting up and feeding him every 1 - 2 hours when he went through this spurt between 4-5months old, making the "spurt" last for way too long. You didn't say, but are you feeding her baby food yet? You can give her baby cereal (it's safe, healthy etc.) it might fill her up a bit more and get her through her spurt with a bit more ease for you and her. I would say to feed her with a spoon, and not put it in a bottle, especially since you are breast feeding. Unfortunately, there's no quick fix so remember, "this too shall pass." Good luck!