So, here is what we're wrestling with in our house:
My five and half month old is waking up at 2am and staying awake until about 4am. I can hear him over the monitor just lying there, babbling away. He's not crying, upset, hungry or...sleepy. I'll pop in there every thirty minutes or so to see if he's okay and offer him his pacifier. He'll just smile and grab my hand--he clearly wants to play. He'll then generally fall asleep on his own around 4ish and sleep to about 6:30am (side note: he goes to bed with a set routine at about 6:30pm--he's very tired by this time--and wakes up to eat 8oz at about 11:30pm).
Our pediatrician has recommended that we not get him up so that he knows it's nighttime and not playtime. Ferber has a section of his book that discusses night wakings that seemed to exactly describe what we're wrestling with.
Those two professionals aside, I'm wondering if anyone here has gone through this and if (am praying) it ended on its own rather than being a pattern we need to be proactive about addressing. Is this due to teething? Greater sensory awareness? Natural phase at this age?
Am slowly spending life savings at Starbucks on caffeine, so any reassurance would be great.
Thanks in advance...
Well, wouldn't you know it--as soon as I posted this question, that night he slept a solid 12 hours. Didn't hear from him or see him once (I think he knew I was on to him).
Anyway, the subsequent nights have been great as well so maybe it was just a blip on the radar. His teeth haven't popped through yet, but I think they're on their way.
Thanks for all of your reassurance and advice!
Well, it's good that he is not crying, but it sounds like he is keeping you up, which I'm guessing is most of the problem.
I would try putting him to bed later, I know you say he is really tierd at that time, but maybe a late afternoon nap would help you get him to bed at a better time say 8:00pm. GL:)
I wouldn't even worry about it if he's staying happy during this awake in the night time. Turn the monitor down a bit and get some sleep! Unless he's crying there's really no reason for you to stay up with him.
I agree...don't go in. This waking early and babbling is really common, I mean think about it...all the books will reference it so it must be, right? The best advice I ever read on this topic was this; If your baby wakes up too early and you go get them, this will be their new wake up time! As long as he is happy, let him be. Babies are often perfectly happy playing by themselves for a bit and if not, they'll let you know. He obviously knows it's still time to be in bed because he goes back to sleep when he's ready. I think you have done a wonderful job at getting your baby comfortable in his own bed (what is more comfy than one's own bed???) and that is a huge step for keeping him a well rested child and you a well rested mommy! Don't sit up staring at the monitor wondering what to do (I've done that), just know that if he needs you, he'll tell you!
~L.
K., I experienced this same thing with my baby at about the same age and it will stop. My son goes to bed at around 8:00 or 8:30 and he would wake up and chatter and play and sooner or later go back to sleep on his own, it only lasted for a short time and now he is 10 months and never wakes up until morning. Good luck.
