4 Mo. Old Waking up Twice Every Night Again!

*Adding this: him going to bed at 10:00pm and waking at 5:00am, which you said he previously did... is not enough sleep for a baby.
Here is a link, which explains how much sleep/naps a baby needs, per age:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-chil...

The 3 previous respondents are right... tis' the way it is.

Whenever a young baby is on a trip or anything else... a change in their usual sleep routine... they come back home and it is not the same. Or, it takes MUCH time to get them back to their previous routine. Or it may not go back to their usual routine.

BUT, the thing about feeding on demand and upping his intake is par for the course... at this age, this is a growth spurt time... and they will wake because of it because their intake has to keep pace WITH their growing bodies and development.

But, if it's any consolation, your baby is normal. NO baby keeps the same sleep pattern all their life, especially in the first year... it changes, per their development. Upcoming will be changes in sleep patterns due to teething, colds, separation anxiety (which at this point has not happened yet), night terrors, increases in their motor skills/ability to sit up & pull up & stand IN the crib, etc. Lots of stuff that affects their sleep.

One thing though, is when he gets older, like from about 6 months old, you can have a consistent pre-sleep/pre-nap routine for him... everyday. (of course making exceptions for his normal developmental changes), and this helps.
He's too young now for what they call "sleep training." I don't believe in that, especially as this young age. And, for the first year of life, as Sophie mentioned... a baby has to be fed on-demand, 24/7. This is per our Pediatrician as well.

A baby this young... usually gets tired after about 2-3 hours after waking. So, this is usually a good time for baby to nap. And babies this age take 2 naps a day... at least.
Naps are important as it contributes to a baby's brain development, their immune system, and overall development.

Him waking 2-3 times a night, to nurse... is completely normal. Sorry. But both my kids did that too.

For a baby- "sleeping through the night" means sleeping for at least 5-6 hours straight. It's not on adult notions of sleeping "all" night. He will attain that, again... and it will normalize... but not for now. And once a parents gets used to them sleeping well... it usually changes, again- per their developmental changes/growth spurts.

But yes, your baby is/was capable to sleep on his own... but apparently, that has changed. And he is changing.
Lack of sleep for the Mom, periodically,... will continue for at least another year. For me, with my 2 kids... I had abbreviated sleep for 6 years... because by the time my first child started sleeping well.. then I was pregnant with my 2nd child, then he was born, then I was back to square one and getting no sleep with a new baby. NOW... that my kids are older... they sleep all night, on adult notions of it, for at least 10 hours straight. NOW, I can get sleep myself. LOL

I know its hard.... but I don't believe in the crying it out methods... these are for the Parents sake, not the baby. Its a kind of "forced" sleep... which a baby may or may not be truly ready for. And these methods, exclude a baby's natural and normal needs for feedings... per growth spurts and developmental changes.

Sorry, I don't have a magic answer for you..

All the best,
Susan

Babies' sleep schedules change ALL the time. And yes, at 4 months old you still NEED to feed him when he wakes up at night (until about 12 months). 2-3 a night times is perfectly normal! My daughter used to wake up 8-12 times a night - so count your blessing and be happy its only 2-3 times!! LOL I know its no fun, but its one of those things that you just have to "suck it up and deal with".
Good luck!

When a baby is around 13-15 pound they no longer need to eat at night as long as they are getting enough calories. I just went through this with my 4 month old as well. I realized he had a growth spurt and wasn't sure my milk supply had gone up to meet his needs.At about 3 months my milk had regulated and he is not a strong sucker... so he never got me to make the amount he needed after his growth spurt. So since the growth spurt I had been up with him at night for 10 days. i took some fenugreek a couple days ago ( a herbal supplement that boosts milk production) And I noticed my breasts seemed fuller yesterday and last night he slept through the night (9 - 6) again.
Hope this helps.

I totally agree with Sophie. My son was waking on and off through the night for feedings until he was around 10-11 months old. But, even if he didn't wake for feedings it was something else...growth spurts, teething and seperation anxiety can play a part in waking.

When I asked my son's Pedi what I could do to help my son sleep through the night he mentioned the Ferber Method or he told me I could just 'grin and bear it'. And, that's what I did...and I empathize with you on the working. But, hey its all part of the job.

If he's good as far as weight, and especially because he was able to sleep that long before, I think with a little "help" from you he'll go back to his schedule in no time. I think you should read Ferber's book and then decide if you believe in his method or not. Meanwhile, if you'd like I can forward you a different book that has some solutions to the changes your son is going thru. I wish you luck!