My 3 1/2 month old sometimes sleeps very well at night, by only waking 2 times during a 12 hour stretch to feed and immediately going back to sleep after eating. However, randomly, approximately 2-3 times per week, he will wake more often (up to every 1 1/2 hours). Sometimes I feed him during these extra wakings because it's hard for me to know if is is hungry at these times. Other times my husband is able to soothe him back to sleep. This has been going on for a few weeks now and it happens randomly, so I know it's not a growth spurt. I did introduce formula a few weeks ago in preparation for my return to work, and he currently takes a few small bottles during the day and the rest of the time I breastfeed.
There doesn't seem to be any kind of pattern to when he will wake extra, and we always stick to the same short bedtime routine. Any suggestions as to what's going on and how I can address it?
I don't think there will be much of a sleep pattern at 3.5 mos. That's how they keep us on our toes! :-)
Sleep in a baby is not static. It always changes... per their development, per growth-spurts, per cognitive changes, per hitting milestones, per motor-skill changes, per gas, per teething, per hunger etc.
"Hunger" is also not static. It changes all the time and per the metabolizing of their food.
Growth-spurts also does not just happen for one day. I can occur over the course of a couple weeks.... or, if intake is not keeping pace with them and their needs, then they will still be hungry.
There is often no 'pattern' to wakings. It just is. Your baby is very young. Babies also 'cluster feed' as well... which means they even need to feed even every single hour. Both my kids would do that.... and they grew like weeds.
I would, see if your baby is intaking enough... or not. How many ounces is your baby taking?
Also, if you are using Formula... in place of nursings... then your milk production will decrease. So, typically, Formula supplementation is used after a nursing. To top off the breastfeeding. Not to replace it.
And, ALWAYS feed a baby on-demand. 24/7. Day and night. For the 1st year. They need it. The first year is a building block time for development and biological development.
Again, sleep is not static. I do not know of any baby/child/toddler/pre teen/teenager/college kid/adult/elderly person who still sleeps the same way they did as an infant. It changes.
all the best,
Susan
Hi there!
Just wanted you to know that I'm right there with ya! My May-born son sleeps thru some nights, and not others. I think it's growth spurts- I've noticed that his little legs are beyond his infant carseat now. Growth spurts are somewhat random, BTW, and individual to your child. I just go with it and realize that I"m going to be tired for the first year.
Also wanted to make sure that you know that employers must provide a room for pumping and allowance for your breaks. I pump twice at work using a handsfree tube-top (but you can just as easily cut two little holes in the relevant area of a bra). That allows me to keep working during my pumping sessions- reading/editing documents, keeping up with email on my laptop, etc. Occasionally, I'll call into a meeting (from onsite) b/c my schedule is so impacted that I need to pump concurrently. For both of my children, I'm able to provide breastmilk for the whole first year.
Best regards!
I wouldn't worry he is still to young to be on a scheudule that should come in the next couple of months. My 4 month old still wakes several times in the night but usually sleeps till 9:30am. Just stick to a bed time regime. Bath , feed , rock whatever works for you. I don't think they should sleep all night yet.
If he is waking like that sometimes its probably out of discomfort. Gassy from the formula is what I would guess.
I would recommend gettign Dr. Weisbluth's book - Healthy Sleep Habbits, Happy Child. There is no consistant sleep pattern before 4 months (Due date, not birth date remember!! If your child was early, it will be later than 4 months) and sleep training shouldn't be done before that 4 month age. If you wanted to start sleep training soon, this book is the best and most reccommended by pediatricians.
If he is waking up and it hasn't been 3-4 hours since his last feeding, definitely make that a time when dad soothes him back to sleep - I went 6 hours actually at that age.
Side note, if you want to still nurse after you return to work wait on the formula - leave it only for when the sitter runs out of breastmilk. Or, pump 2 times every time you give a bottle of formula (2 hours apart).
