4.5 Month Old Waking up Every 2 Hours at Night

At his age, he doesn't need to eat, and you even say he's not hungry. Swaddling will help the flailing if you think he's waking himself. Also, if he's used to sleeping in a swing, he may have a little reflux that bothers him when he's flat. Try raising one end of the pack'n'play to see if that helps. I agree with Jen. Give him a few minutes to see if he's really going to wake up, or just pat him and shush him back to sleep without picking him up.

I do agree that we don't need to go running the second they start crying because sometimes they will go right back to sleep after a few seconds to a minute of crying.

But to say that babies don't need night feedings is just a bit off the mark. Tell my breastfed babies they didn't need night feedings and see how far that would get you! It has nothing to do with training them to feed at night. Babies need round the clock feedings in the beginning to maintain their blood sugar levels, because they have very tiny tummies, and are going thru huge growth and changes their first year.

Nighttime parenting is different than day parenting. It does help to recognize that there is a difference and our little ones have different needs at night.

One big thing to realize is that there are no absolutes with babies. Babies go thru many changes and stages, especially this first year. You have to able to go with what they need when they need it. And that is what very young babies have-needs not wants.

I was able to learn a lot about baby sleep by reading Dr. Sears Baby Sleep Book, The Baby Whisperer and The No-Cry Sleep Solution. Lots of helpful info in each to help form a sleep routine th.at worked for my little ones

He is a bit too young to approach any kind of sleep training yet but you can establish good routines that he will learn what to expect and what is expected. But you would certainly want to go in, check on him and what always worked for me (when mine didn't need to nurse)was to place my hand on baby and put my head down on the side of the crib. They knew mom was there and they were comforted and felt safe.

If he is showing signs of hunger, then feed him. Breastfed babies need to eat more often than bottle-fed babies. I know that the pedi said not to run to him - it is very possible that he will make a few noises and go back to sleep so you can wait a minute or two - some might say up to 5 minutes - after you hear him to see if he settles himself. He is too young to cry it out though. Also, keep in mind that babies aren't supposed to sleep through the night before about 6 months of age and even then "sleeping through the night" is considered to be 5-6 hours. So if he goes to bed at 7 then he might be awake by 1am!

Try swaddling if he likes it and see if he has some reflux or if he has some post nasal drip. When my son was an infant and he would get a cold / post nasal drip, he would sleep in his infant car seat and we would put that into the crib. (Only safe if your son won't tip it over!). Teething can cause all kinds of other discomforts also.

Eventually all children sleep through the night. Try reading the Happiest Baby on the Block or get the CD if reading is too exhausting right now!

C.

i agree with your pediatritian. babies wake up at night all the time. If he is in your room I would move him so you can't hear every little grunt. Give him 15 minutes before you go in there. Check and make sure he is ok, reswaddle or whatever. (check out the kiddapatamous for more secure swaddling) Leave the room and wait another 15 minutes. repeat until he falls asleep. He needs to learn how to fall asleep on his own. It would help if you lay him down awake to go to sleep at night too. it will take about 3 or 4 nights before he gets this down. I would say don't feed him especially if he was sleeping through the night in his swing. He doesn't need to eat! Stick with it. Letting him learn how to self sooth is one of the first and most important things we need to teach our children.

My daughter slept in our room as well, and at 4 months discovered her voice! She would wake up several times a night to babble to herself. She would never cry, wasn't hungry, she just wanted to talk for a little while and then go back to sleep. It was about that time that we moved her to the crib in her room and got a monitor. Honestly, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but she got really good at soothing herself back to sleep, and I was able to hear that she was ok and go back to sleep myself. You will be surprised all the things you can hear on that monitor. I really thought that all I would be able to hear was crying, but you can even hear them turning over! Try keeping him awake a little longer between that last nap and bedtime, even if it means a shorter nap. He might be a little cranky at first, but he will get used to it and you will get a little more sleep. Hope this helps....it will get better!

Well contrary to what some may say... OUR Pediatrician said that for the 1st year of life, a baby needs to be fed on-demand, 24/7... and especially at growth-spurt times. If not, intake will not be keeping up with their growth needs.

He is also teething and while you said it is not bothering him, maybe it is... he is waking and seems uncomfortable.

I Ditto Dori W.

Or, if you are not against it, what about a pacifier? Although that is controversial, for some.
But not all babies will take a pacifier.

I used the 5 minute rule with both of boys. If they woke up I waited 5 minutes to go comfort, they almost always went back to sleep on their own. And I never feed them back to sleep. My Doctor told me babies do not need night feedings after the first 10 days of life, and that they do it because we train them too. Following that advice and the 5 minute rule I had both of my boys sleeping from 8 pm until 530 or 600 every night. The 5 minute rule also works for self sleep training. I would put my boys down at 8, awake, and comfort every 5 minutes if needed. I never had to go in more than once.
It drives me crazy when people say "they are too young for sleep training". I learned in my developmental psychology courses that the reason so many have to use sleep training is because they teach poor habits early on. If you just use good habits from the start of life, it comes very natural. I started at 1 month, and did not have to train my children to sleep, at that age they are just learning what to do, and so it comes natural after only a night or 2.

I dont have much advice for you. I have a 2 (almost 3) year old and a 3 month old (almost 4 months). My first son didnt sleep through the night for one year!!!!!! And I am not kidding. I tried everything. He was always wanting one more bottle! My new baby was sleeping great and now he is teething too I think. So he has been getting up every 2-3 hours. I am just letting you know you are not alone! Im so tired but this too shall pass and I know that. I really do believe all babies are different. My 2 are way different in their sleeping, eating etc.

Depending on when you first put him to bed at night, you CAN do some what of schedule. I would put mine down at around 7 or 8. Then at around 10/10:30, I would feed (breast)...yes I would wake him up! But I would keep the room dark, sit in the rocker & then put him right back to bed after feeding. If he fell asleep after a few minutes, I would just kind of tickle his chin or pull my nipple out a little. My goal was to get him to feed at least 20 minutes. Then he would sleep til around 6am. Good luck!