Sleep Disruptions
Typically I start Lil's bedtime routine between 6 and 7 PM, and she's in bed between 7 and 8 PM. She cluster feeds before bed. This is a great thing because she initiated it on her own, and it helps her get the food she needs to sleep through the night. So usually I won't hear her again until between 6 and 7 AM.
Recently though she's started waking up around 4 AM. I have no idea why. She eats for about 10 minutes and then goes back to sleep. (This started about a week and a half ago. It's not a growth spurt!) And oddly enough, when we were out of town this last weekend, she slept right through without a 4 AM wake up. I was hopeful. But then last night at 3 AM I heard her (and checked on her via video monitor), and to Lil's credit, she tried to self-soothe. She tried until 4 AM, when she woke me up. She ate 10 minutes, which comforted her, and then fell asleep.
Another note: She doesn't depend on nursing to go to sleep. I put her down at night awake, and she talks for about 15 minutes before falling asleep. At her recent 4 AM feedings she's drowsy but awake when I put her down.
I don't know what to do! Because she's already tried to self-soothe, I'm not comfortable with cry it out.
Moms out there in blogland, any thoughts?
Recently though she's started waking up around 4 AM. I have no idea why. She eats for about 10 minutes and then goes back to sleep. (This started about a week and a half ago. It's not a growth spurt!) And oddly enough, when we were out of town this last weekend, she slept right through without a 4 AM wake up. I was hopeful. But then last night at 3 AM I heard her (and checked on her via video monitor), and to Lil's credit, she tried to self-soothe. She tried until 4 AM, when she woke me up. She ate 10 minutes, which comforted her, and then fell asleep.
Another note: She doesn't depend on nursing to go to sleep. I put her down at night awake, and she talks for about 15 minutes before falling asleep. At her recent 4 AM feedings she's drowsy but awake when I put her down.
I don't know what to do! Because she's already tried to self-soothe, I'm not comfortable with cry it out.
Moms out there in blogland, any thoughts?
Maybe you could try just going in to hold her and console her until she goes back to sleep rather than feeding her so that she doesn't expect to eat when she wakes up? Your guess is as good as mine. My doctor did say that after 4 months, if they are growing well, babies don't really need to eat at night and that they should sleep a solid 6 hours before really needing to feed again. Sounds like she does that though. The one thing I can tell you is that, although it seems stressful right now that you can't resolve this issue, it will change before you know it and then, you have a new issue to try to solve! It is like a never-ending problem-solving cycle. That has been my experience anyway. I know you are laid back and can just kind of go with the flow, so I am sure, solution or not, you guys will be just fine. I do hope that you can figure out something though.
ReplyDeleteShe may be hungry. Babies aren't supposed to sleep for 12hrs without eating if they're breastfeeding. I'm still nursing twice a night, sometimes once. If she's hungry, and eats, feed her.
ReplyDelete