Wide Awake at 4:00 AM

You don't say if you use a pacifier or how long he feeds for at 4am, but if it seems to be a short feeding then I would suggust trying to give him the pacifier as soon you hear him start to stir as he is probabley ready to give up the feed. If you know he has'nt eaten much or is really awake I'd still feed him of course. I dpn't change Eliots diaper unless its very full as that wakes him up. The other thing you might like to check is the room temp, he might be too warm (73 is optimal I think)
Hope this helps

I do not think you have to use a pacifier. My son is 4.5 months and does not use one at all. He spits it out every chance he gets. You may want to start him off with some cereal. Preferably rice because it is not as thick and the oatmeal and barley. I gave my son very little for starters. Maybe like a teaspoon when I first started. If he doesn't spit it up and it reacts good with him, as time goes on you can increase the amounts. My sone is now on about 3 teaspoons and goes to bed about 8 pm and does not wake up until 7 am. Without any interruptions. Maybe he is not feeling full and needs something to stick to his stomach. Just a suggestion. Alot of moms don't like to give their children cereal and always want to go to the doctor about things like that. One thing I know, is that you are the only one who knows your baby inside and out, the doctor can't tell you every single thing. Good luck.

K.- Hi. I am a mom to a 2 1/2 year old boy. I have found that his sleep just changes over time. We have had to do sleep training numerous times over the last 2 1/2 years because he gets so off his schedule. So I would think this will work itself out. It is no fun being tired. S.

I recomend you go get his book from the library.. it is how to have your 12 week old sleep 12 hours... It is very good... It really works.. it will take you an hour to read.. it is very short..

Good luck.

Kerry

K.,
Actually, you have a pretty good sleeper! He is still so young...You already know what works--keep breastfeeding when he needs it and sleep with or near to him. Yes, this will pass. Also, my doctors do not recommend starting cereal this early or in hopes for better sleep. What he needs is you and your breastmilk. Sleeping and feeding patterns keep changing.
Amy

Unfortunately, I don't think I have any advice, but just a similar situation if that helps you feel better. My son's feeding schedule seems almost identical to yours both past and present. We are also having a wide awake 3 or 4am waking that currently on a good night lasts 45 minutes and more like an hour on a regular night. Same thing, not fussy, just awake and ready to tell me all about his dreams and ideas for the day to come! I try to limit eye contact and don't talk to him, and just pull any trick out of my hat that usually helps him go to sleep. The one I like the best is Dr. Karps soothing techniques that are really suppose to be for birth to 3 or 4 months, but they work like magic with him and they are the only way I can get him to nap right now. It is the 5 S's. Swaddling (which we only do at night, but he still wakes without it), Shhing, Swaying (or rocking or bouncing, whatever he prefers), Side or Stomach placement (it is more soothing than the back position due to the Roto reflex (I always forget if I call that the wrong thing. It is the jerking reflex they have when they are infants, which my son still has and that is why he still needs to be swaddled), and Sucking. We have found that our son likes to snuggle with a soft "lovey" blanket that he likes to be over his eyes and he sucks on this since he won't take a pacifer. We hold him tummy to our tummy, with his head on one crook of the arm and his bottom on the other and we bounce up and down while we make shhhing noises. Works like a charm. With the body placement, you can hold their arms and legs pretty tight so it gives the effect if they are not swaddled. We just read his book, "happiest baby on the block" 2 weeks ago, and since he was a fussy baby due to his tummy pains (that developed into reflux), I had wished I read this book earlier. But anyway you can try that and see if it puts him to sleep any faster. It also works wonders if they are overly tired and fighting sleep.

Also if he is on breastmilk, our gastro specialist just told us that breastmilk has 20 calories per ounce, and cereal since it is starch has 23 calories per once. So she said medically that is why research does not support that it helps them sleep better through the night. We are waiting until 6 months to start cereal at our doctors request because current medical belief is the earlier you start, there is more of a possibility that your baby might develop food allergies. But some of my friends doctors told them to start at 4 months. So obviously doctors are not unified on that belief.

Hang in there, and know at least you are not alone :) My husband and I have also started taking turns so we both don't end up loosing sleep every single night. The other one of us sleeps in our room with a sound machine on and the monitor off, while the other one sleeps in the guest room or on his twin bed in his room. That has been necessary for my sanity lately since I have found out I don't handle sleep deprivation well.

Dear K.,
I do agree with some of the other post. Try infant cereal, rice is the easiest on the stomach. I do not suggest putting it in a bottle. Your child is old enough for a spoon, which will be messy at first. I was wondering did you try putting him to bed a little later, even 15-30min is a long time for infants. When you go to feed him do you turn on any lights, or do you just use the night light. Try to see if something is stimulating him. Have you tried playing soothing music all night long to see if that helps. Most breastfeed babies to wake up a lot longer than bottle feed babies, but usually go back to sleep after feed. Good Luck!
B.

It's hard to gauge ounces when you're breastfeeding, but my son's pediatrician told me when my son was three months old to put him on cereal --- though usually they suggest waiting until closer to six months. My son was drinking 50+ oz a day and not spitting up... and was still hungry and would wake up frequently at night. I began giving him cereal and he slept better because he was fuller for longer. I used Oatmeal cereal -- but a lot of babies develop an allergy to Oatmeal so you may want to use Rice to start. He didnt do well with spoon feeding so I bought one of those blue strainer bottles and mixed the cereal with formula (I only breastfed until my son was 6 weeks) to make a slightly thicker formula.

My son used a binky (pacifier) from the time he was born, but if you havent started that habit I would not advise starting it now -- because then your child will become dependant on it to fall asleep and you will have to wean him off if it when he's older anyway. If he already uses a pacifier, make sure you leave one in his crib so he can easily get it himself (nothing like contridicting myself!).

You may also want to delay his bedtime a bit... maybe 745-800, and feed him cereal (or breastfeed/formula) right before he goes to bed so he's going to bed with a full tummy.... and a fresh diaper!

With the cooler weather, be sure to check for drafts in his room.... and though you might be tempted to layer him and crank the heat already.... he'll wake up more if he's too warm.

good luck!

I know this is probably not what you want to hear but...breastfed babies generally do not sleep through the night until well around a year. You may just need to hold out and wait to get more sleep than presently. I know its hard but treasure it cause soon he'll be running around and talking and you'll miss this sleepless stage. (the older stage is also fun) But honestly, you may want to take him into your bed to get more zzz's at that point. If he's sleeping for all those hours beforehand it isn't the end of the world to give him that closeness for those last few hours and you get more sleep consequently. Remember we make choices sometimes as mothers that are difficult but our sanity and sleep are critical to be optimally functional. You also didn't mention if you're home or working. That can effect him as well. If he is not nursing enough during the day because you are not on a close feeding schedule throughout the day, he is not getting enough nutrition during his awake hours and he is gonna beg for them during his night hours EVEN if he needs sleep and is tired. Food is first on their list, then sleep, and then love. Although they are all intertwined with eachother. Good luck and hang in there! This is the best time of your life!!!