Over the past week I have read a few similar inquires. Our daughter is turning four months old this Sunday. Since 6 weeks she was sleeping and only waking once in the night. She would sleep from 8/9pm to 4am and then until about 7/7:30am. Over the past week she has been waking up every few hours crying. Sometimes she is hungry and will have a full feeding, other times she just nurses a little and then falls back asleep.
A few other things are going on...I think she is getting her first tooth (she has a little white bump on her bottom gum and drools like crazy), she just started to flip on to her stomach at night but can't quite turn herself back, and she is not longer swaddled. She started getting out of her swaddle and it was getting wrapped around her neck so we stopped.
Every time we lay her in her crib she flips over and then starts crying. We can't keep her on her back but she cries whenever she rolls onto her stomach at night. When we get her to stay on her back she will fall asleep much quicker, but we can't really control when she flips. We do try to let her cry for 5-10 minutes before we go in but her cries are so intense it is hard to wait.
Other info: she is half breastfeed and half formula fed. Recently I went back to work so she gets much more breast milk at night since I pump during the day and can supplement with a bottle of breast milk at night. I am thinking that since she has a feeding before bed and then flips right over to her stomach she may be having stomach aches??? It is hard to know.
Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions?
Welcome to the world of teething. She is waking up because she is in pain from getting teeth..............Once the teeth come thru, she will go back to sleeping all night.
My peditrician suggested a sleep positioner until she is 6 months so she stays on her back. We used it for the first time last night and she slept from 8-8:15!
If your daughter is waking up at 4am, you are putting her to bed too late. I got the 3 Day Sleep Solution and it was like the lady had been in my house. My 6 month old would wake up @ 12am and then 4am. The lady said we were putting her down too late. Now she goes down between 6 and 7 and will sleep 11-12 hours straight. She may wake up, but now she has the tools to put herself back to sleep. Thank GOD! There is a 30 day money back guarantee. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Signed, Sleeping in Pasadena :)
I was going to give you some long advice but basically my advice is basically the same as S.H.'s. When she wakes nurse her more. You aren't teaching her any bad habits. She needs you right now (if it's a growth spurt- she needs more food. If she's teething, she'll want to nurse more and it's okay) The fact that you work during the day, this may also be her way of making up for lost time with you.
As for her flipping over, it's not likely due to a stomach ache. She's learned something new and she's using it. Plus they're more comfortable on their stomachs.
I drove myself crazy for a while when my daughter started turning over. I would stay up and continue to constantly flip her over due to fear of sids. No sooner would I get settled in bed again, she'd flip back over. Finally I just gave in and let her stay on her stomach. I'm pretty sure that's when both of us slept longer.
I responded to my daughter's needs and my son's while he was a baby and both of them sleep very well. They didn't end up with poor sleep habits, in fact they sleep great.
My son is 12 years old now, closer to 13.
You will miss these moments later and they go by faster than you realize. Before you know it, it's gone and you'll wonder where the time went so enjoy them for everything that they are and remember them. When my son would do this and I had to be up longer, I'd write to him and then put them in his baby book. How he looked as I put him back to bed, the little smiles he'd give me when he should be tired because I was exhausted and he wasn't...All of them just memories now.
Don't take any of it for granted :)
Do you have a swaddle me blanket or a regular one?? If you don't have a swaddle me blanket I would get one. They are at Walmart and Babies R Us. Get a large one and make sure you put it on tight. Our little one is almost 6 months old and she tries to wiggle out, but she can't. You can try that or get a sleep positioner. They sell those at Babies R Us. My friend had the same problem once she started not swaddling and that helped her. Good luck.
sounds normal to me too!
did you try using one of those foam things that you put the baby on and it cuddles the sides so they dont roll away? im not sure if they really work, but it couldnt hurt to try?
I am going through the exact same thing right now. I am typing this bleary eyed and exhausted after 4 weeks of dealing with my 4 month old waking every hour or so. I do agree that it is a combination of learning new skills (rolling over and becoming more mobile), growth spurt and teething. My little one was an amazing sleeper until 16 weeks or so waking up only once in 12 hours to feed and then going right back to sleep. Now she goes down at 7pm and sleeps until 1am then is up every hour until she is ready to wake up at 5:30 (she used to sleep until 7am). I have heard it is also about the 4 month mark where they are adjusting their nap/sleep schedule and it takes them a few weeks to work things out.
Things were getting better for us a few days ago where we actually had 2 straight nights of sleep. The thing that helped me was feeding her at 11pm before we went to bed. But last night it was right back to no sleep. I wish I had more advice for you but just wanted you to know you are not alone and hopefully this is just a phase for both of our little ones!
PS About the rolling over..our daughter does the EXACT same thing and it is so frustrating. It is like she automatically flips over to her belly and then remembers she doesn't want to be there and cries for us to rescue her. This does get better with time because after 4 weeks of this, she learned to flip herself back and 90% of the time can roll back now.
I went back to work with my first when he was 18 months. His sleep schedule got wacky at first, too. Luckily we co-slept and I was able to just cuddle him back to sleep or put him next to me and pat him softly while shushing him. I think he missed time with me during the day so I welcomed the catch up time. If he was in a crib I might have put a cozy rocking chair next to him and just rocked him back to sleep for a while, kind of half sleeping, or just patted him.
He's 5 years old now, and he's getting too big to rock. As I do the same with my 3 month old I already miss my big guy, and I remember that special bonding time. I was tired then, and with all the excitement and worries mommyhood brings, I think I'l be tired from time to time for life, if I'm lucky enough to keep my children on this planet that long.
I know there will be a time in the not too distant future when both of my children will be too big to be held and comforted, so I try to remember that through the exhaustion. Meanwhile I try to eat well, lots of protein, water, and minimal sugary junk. and I'm working on getting more organized to so I feel more space in my head and house. I write in my journal to sort the bugs out, and I try to exercise, even if it's just walking. You sound like you're a great mommy. She'll grow out of it. This time is so fleeting. Good luck figuring out the mystery. Maybe she needs a few more burps then usual, with the extra feeding. My guys were belly sleepers from the start, it was the best way to make sure they burped. It helped their bellies, never upset them. The pressure gets the air out.
Hi Ilis, I don't think sleeping on her stomach would give her a stomach ache, all 3 of my babies slept on their stomachs, at four months old if you get up with her every time she wakes up, and plus feed her, you are creating a habit and pattern, and as long as she knows you will get up she will wake up automatically. Try giving her rice cereal vat night before she goes to bed. Mine were on rice cereal at bed time at 6 weeks old and were sleeping through the night. Mom for 24 years J.
Concerning the flipping, I kept "baby wedges" on either side of my baby (babiesrus? target?) to prevent him from rolling. They were also useful in preventing "flat head" by putting him on his side with the wedges to prevent rolling and every time I nursed him, I flipped him to his other side.
She might be needing more food; ask your pediatrician if rice cereal should be put on the menu now.
Also, perhaps letting her cry for a few minutes will allow her to go back to sleep on her own. This will help her learn to comfort herself without needing outside help. I made the mistake of responding to EVERY sound of my first child by picking him up and nursing him. I learned to be more patient with my second and it allowed for more sleep (and sanity) on everyone's part.
Good luck
I think the majority of the problem is the new tooth! This happened with both of my kids at exactly the same age. Is she isn't getting a stomach ache at any other time with the same formula/breast milk then you're probably ok there. Hang in there....one that first tooth cuts it's alot easier and you'll know what signals to look for the next tooth
Going through developmental changes can be a huge disruptor of sleep. Thank your lucky stars that you got so much sleep before!! My son didn't sleep for more than 3-4 hours at a time for the first 2 years of his life. In my opinion you don't need to leave a 4 month old to cry. A baby's cry is a way of communicating a need, and you don't ignore that just because it's "night time".
Good luck, trust yourself, and take naps!
Just my 2 cents...it is completely normal for a child of that age to get hungry every few hours. the more active they get the quicker they will digest. I know bm digests in 45-90 minutes. I never gave formula so I'm not sure about that.
Sounds like teething. She will continue to turn over during the night now that she is able. All babies drink and then go to sleep. My 3 babies actually slept on their stomachs. They would stay sleep longer.
Sounds like a growth spurt. I increase my calcium/magnesium when my BF kid go through growth sputs and then they sleep better, etc. I've found that not all calcium are created equal. So far, this is the best one I have found with 7 different types of calcium. I take 4 in the am and 4 at night and my babies have always only woke up once at night to BF.
http://www.worldlifesupplements.com/products_main.html
If that doesn't help, whihc I don't know how it couldn't...then you might want to change her formula. It could be that.
She's obviously going through LOTS of developmental changes right now. This WILL wake them and abrupt their "regular" sleeping pattern. It is a phase, and will pass...but you need to endure it. A Baby can't help it when they are changing physically and cognitively.
ALso, your baby is obviously going through gross motor changes...ie: she can flip over now. THIS change, WILL affect their sleep, it is instinctual, they don't do it on purpose, it is due to their changing development.
When she flips over, yes, you will need to help her re-adjust and put her back into a sleep position. They can't do it by themselves yet...until a baby can competently flip over in BOTH directions....thereby reducing the safety hazard in it. And she has obviously grown out of being swaddled. She is simply changing, and so you will need to assist her, even if it means waking up at night. Babies flip over onto their stomach because often times, they sleep better this way...but being she is only 4 months old... you still need to be careful of her suffocating and getting "stuck" in this positions...ie: SIDS. So keep an eye on her and help her when she wakes due to rolling over. Your baby flipping over, shows she is developing well... and actually, is ahead in skills. So that's good. :)
She is obviously also going through a "growth spurt" as well, this typically occurs at every 3 months or so... and it means they get hungrier, feed more, and feed more frequently....they need the extra calories and feedings. It's normal. If she wakes because she is hungry, feed her. She is only still 4 months old. Also, for the first year of life.... breastfeeding/formula is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby. If they don't get enough intake and calories...they will get hungry and/or not gain appropriate weight etc.
Your baby is ALSO going through teething obviously. THIS ALSO wakes them. You can give her "Hyland's Teething Tabs" or drops...it's homeopathic. Or, per your Pediatrician, you can give her Tylenol. But ask Doctor about the dosage. Don't "guess" on dosage yourself.
So, your baby is going through a LOT right now, she is changing and going through developmental/cognitive and gross motor changes. It IS going to wake them and throw them off as far as sleep. All these changes are NOT easy for them either... they are just babies and they can't help it. Take heart, and bear with it. Yes, it's tiring... but imagine for the baby... it's not easy and they need their Parents for comfort and solace. You can never "spoil" a baby.
A baby grows up so quickly... and this "phase" will pass, and other phases will come up too... so head's up. All of these "phases" will change and affect them, AND their sleeping patterns. Make sure also, that she is getting naps... naps are very important for development, it is not just sleep for sleeps sake. It helps their brain development, healing, recuperation, and is important. You cannot "control" their developmental changes and their flipping over... it is instinctual and will just happen. Also, the baby is "practicing" their new skills... and this is the way they learn...through repetitiveness.
Your baby seems to be growing fine... I know it's not easy and it's tiring waking up all night... but before you know it, the baby will be all grown up... write a journal diary about her and it will be a prized souvenir for later when she is a grown up girl. :)
Oh, "sleeping through the night" for a baby, means sleeping at least 6 hours straight. NOT all babies do this... each baby has their own appetite levels, growth patterns, sleep patterns and so forth. MANY children do not sleep through the night until toddler-hood... sleep is NOT a static thing. Even adults have trouble sleeping sometimes, and WE do not sleep the same way we did as a baby. It is constantly changing. BUT, as she gets older... it's a good idea to get into a ROUTINE and regular sleep/nap habits and sleep times. Regularity REALLY helps them to acquire good sleep habits down the road. But we have to help them with that.
Good luck and all the best,
~Susan
You might want to look up growth spurts online. I think they occur at 4mo, 6mo, 8mo or somthing like that. My daughter was (is) an excellent sleeper since birth also but every so often around those mentioned intervals she wakes up at night for an extra feeding or two. It usually lasts a week or two and then it's back to her normal sleep schedule.
HI I.-
Congrats on your baby girl. You sound like an excellent, caring mom.
Please check out the SafeTSleep ____@____.com is amazing! Both of my babies have used it and sleep great, My son used it for about 16 months and my daughter started using it when we took her out of the swaddle and she is now sleeping so much better with it on, as she can't roll onto her tummy with it on.
Also, the teething really interrups most babbies sleep. She will come right again once the pain is over. I would get her in the SafeTSleep and maybe try giving her a little Tylenol or Hylands teething tablets for the pain.
Best of luck, you are doing great!!
H.
My daughter also loved to roll, because it was a new skill that she loved to practice, but hated sleeping in the new position. Until she learned to roll both ways, we'd be woken up, sometimes several times a night, by her angry cry, and know that she'd flipped herself over again. We'd have to go turn her over. It'll be miserable for a few weeks, but then she'll learn to roll the other way and settle herself back down. Hang in there!
You might want to reconsider swaddling again. My daighter was born Jan 11th and I had stopped swaddling her around 3 1/2 months, but she started to only sleep for 15 to 25 minutes at a time. I remembered the same thing happening when my 2 1/2 year old was that age, so I went back to wrapping her up in a light blanket (on hot days, I just use a pillow case!) and her sleeping cycles have straightened out again. It's a compulsion to do whatever new thing they can do (in your daughter's case - flipping over). I doubt it's a stomach ache as much as she's just stuck on her tummy adn can't get back over. We're going through the same thing here! Congrats on your baby, too. I'm trying not to be heartbroken that mine isn't a newborn anymore! They grow so quickly!
We did two things when our son was teething. First, we gave him Tylenol every night before he went to bed and if he woke up in the middle of the night and was due for some we gave him more. Second, we got the Swaddle Me by Kidopatamus at Babies R Us. This helped him a lot. Good luck!
