Not Sleeping Thru the Night

That is definitely normal for your baby to be waking up and still needing to be fed at night. Remember they do hit growth spurts as well. Breastfed babies will need more feedings than formula babies (most of the time) due to the rapid digestion of breastmilk. Don't go by what other moms and babies are doing. Make sure your baby is well fed and taken care of---only you know this best. Follow your baby's lead. It may be a while before he sleeps thru the night, but that's okay! My daughter was the same way--there were a few "teaser" nights where she slept a long time, but then we were back to our normal feedings every couple of hours. I didn't have her sleep thru the night until about 8 months and when we dropped that feeding, it was the easiest transition. I believe that this was due to her being ready and not needing the feeding. This was so much better than the cry it out methods people talk about. Again, breastfed babies are very different and you really have to follow their lead, especially when they are so young and still growing so fast!!

Please, mama, don't quit! he's only 4 months old. If he's waking it's because he needs it. Sure, plenty of people say their kids STTN at this age and earlier. And some do. But I truly don't believe the majority of kids do. And certainly not breastfed infants. Many experts agree that breastfed infants don't sleep through the night until much later. And honestly, nursing in the night is more than just NOURISHMENT, it's NURTURING. It's necessary. Also, at 4 months old, breastfed infants really start noticing the world around them, so they're more distractible and take in less calories during the day. THey make up for it at night. This happened with both of mine, and I was so relieved to read this article: http://kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/4mo-sleep.html In fact, this is a great page to read about sleeping and the breastfed infant. http://kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/sleep.html It even has a section on "normal" sleep habits for infants. Remember that a lot of people's experiences are based on formula fed infants, ESPECIALLY PEDIATRICIANS. Even the growth charts that pedis use are based on statistics of formula fed infants. BReastfed infants have different needs. If you are dedicated to breastfeeding, remember that your child's demands will tell you what he needs, even if it's just comfort - but even comfort nursing helps maintain your supply.

Please don't listen to the well-meaning people who "think he should be sleeping through the night". They are not his parents....you and your DH are. Everyone I know that has nursed their baby on demand (as breastfeeding experts suggest) do not have babies that STTN at 3, 4, 5 months old. If it is not negatively affecting your life, why change what he is telling you he needs? My son was also 15+ lbs at 4 months old, and he NEEDED to eat, believe me. And why give him nutritionally inferior cereal or solids (like some people will tell you to do) when a) they are not as good for him and b) it is believed by many to be a MYTH that solids or formula will help him sleep longer. http://kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-sleep.html But remember that breastmilk is digested differently and perfectly. Well-meaning people (including your pedi!) may suggest giving cereal at this age because he is "old enough" but there are many (including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization) that believe no solids should be given before 6 months in order to allow baby's digestive system to be mature enough. In fact, they say that breastmilk is enough nutrition for the first 12 months (though you would want to give solids at some point for practice, it's not really for nutrition!).

You're doing a great job, mama, and if he's happy and you're happy, then that is what matters. Don't listen to people that tell you what he "should" be doing: all babies are different and what you should be doing is what he is telling you he needs! Good luck. You are doing right by him by continuing this way.

Hi! 1 of my best friends has a son the same age & he wakes up once a night. My son started sleeping thru the night early (I just got lucky). Keep in mind, he's still a little guy, so part of it may be legitimate hunger. Have you started him on cereal yet? He's old enough now, so maybe try that before bedtime because it keeps their little tummies full longer. Does he take a paci? If so try to give him his paci & gently pat him on his bottom & see if that will get him back to sleep. Or you could rock him or hold him. He may be getting use to (& like) being nursed to sleep & doesn't know how to get himself back to sleep when he wakes up otherwise. So try different ways to help him other than nursing so he can learn. But if all your efforts fail, feed him. Be consistent though & try each alternative for several minutes each time he wakes up every night, because consistency is important. It's so tiring & hard at the beginning, so I feel for you! He'll get there & you will sleep again, I promise! :)

Both my children were exclusively breastfed until the gradual introduction of normal food at around 6 months or later, they nursed a total of 2 years and 10 months each(mostly comfort at the end). They never had formula or baby food. They quit nursing on their own, I did nothing to try and ween them. I thought it interesting that they quit at the same time. I found that many of the comments floating around as to what your child is supposed to be doing by when are a bunch of junk. How many of the women with opinions actually breastfed the whole time? Nursing for 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, they don't count and have no idea. Most people have no idea what goes on with a breastfed child. If you feed formula at all, the rules change. And many women try to do a combination of both and then claim to know about breastfed babies. And as for the people who think you are just supposed to let the baby cry it out, well, any baby can cry till exhausted and then just learn to give up. This may accomplish sleeping through the night but I doubt it is good for the overall physical and emotional well being of the baby. Well I don't remember either of mine sleeping through the night. Course mine slept with me and nursed sometimes while I slept. It worked quite well for both of us.
When the baby nurses it has a tendency to not overeat. It is satisfied nutritionally and emotionally with less, so of course the stomach is going to get hungry sooner. Also the breastmilk digests the way it is supposed to and doesn't sit heavy on the stomach for long like formula which does not digest as efficiently. So there again the baby will get hungry more often.
If you don't want your baby to sleep with you then I understand the sleep deprevation issue of having to get up to nurse in the middle of the night but there is nothing wrong with the baby. You just have to make a choice. Add formula, let the baby sleep with you so you can sleep, or get up and nurse when he wakes up. But mainly don't worry. Just be happy and enjoy. They grow up and it is all gone too fast. Hold and cuddle and hug as much as possible. When they are bigger it doesn't feel the same.
Good luck and God Bless

Edit: okay so after reading some of the other responses I am pleased to see that a few do understand and certainly express themselves nicer than I do. It is just that this topic is so personal and is aggrivating. The criticism you can recieve by rejecting the formula or schedules or expectations can be overwhelming. I know I experienced it from people in my own family and others. I just hope you can find support and be strong to not be swayed into using formula. I certainly would not take the advice of a pacifier though. You nurse and that satisfies the baby orally and emotionally. Bottle babies get addicted to a pacifier because they are not satisfiee orally or emotionally. You are avoiding a nasty habit that many people end up having trouble breaking their child of. Why start unnecessarily now?

Again, best of luck.