4th leap

chelseajeanene

Noah will only sleep if he's being held now. All day for naps and bedtime too. This is completely new for him and I'm nervous this will become a habit. Anyone else's LO doing this too?

xJKxOR

We're at about 17.5 weeks now (so almost done this leap if all works out) and LOs sleep went slowly down hill the entire leap (I've posted about it a few times on here).

I went into survival mode and nursed, rocked, held, walked him to sleep right up until tonight. I even coslept with him a few nights which is not something I am comfortable with. Last night he woke up 11+ times and tonight im nursing him for the first time after he's slept in his crib alone for 6hrs! Tonight may signal that he's getting better, or it's an anomaly, but it proves I didn't make it a bad habit!

This leap is brutally hard so do what you have to do. My hubby and I took sleep shifts eventually and I enlisted my FIL to help for a short bit so I could nap in the day. Plus your LO is sick too isn't he? Even more reason to just do whatever it takes to just get through this and then, if needed, address any lingering habits when he is mentally and physically better after the leap.

ElleKH

Aaaah, yes, over here! It's not every single nap or MOTN wake, but it's becoming a trend that we hadn't seen before. I could hardly get him back to sleep after two or three wakes last night. As soon as I put him down, he would get super restless and whine until I picked him up again. Totally unlike him. He usually falls right back to sleep after nursing.

Getting him down for the night has been a lot harder the past few weeks. Lots of holding and bouncing. Lots of waking and having to do it all over again. He's a dream when he's awake, though! So happy and interactive. It's just naptime and bedtime that have been tough.

ElleKH

@chelseajeanene - Do you have/use a stroller? That's how our LO sleeps best during the day. I take him out for a walk and he's a goner within 2 to 5 minutes of being out in the fresh air. If it's nice out, I leave the stroller in the yard with the baby monitor in it and try to get some chores done (or just relax) while he finishes his nap. If the weather's not so great, I bring the stroller inside, take off his thick blanket, and unzip his fleece bunting so that he doesn't overheat. You might want to give that a shot, if you haven't tried it already.

ETA - ^Sorry if that's unwanted advice. Just trying to help.  

kmcshane0211

I think them sleeping is the most important thing. Because we know overtired babies don't sleep. So, I say get him to sleep however you can for now. We know this is a phase that will pass. I'm sure it won't create a habit, but if it does...you can work on breaking it. It's easier to work on that then to extend the sleeplessness phase due to him continuously not sleeping!

Plumeria1214

Yes!! We're in leap also and it's gotten progressively worse. Last night I sobbed over LOs crib. She wakes up multiple times between 12 and 3 and will fall asleep in my arms but as soon as I put her back down she's completely restless and cries. The night before I took her into bed with me and my husband just because I needed to sleep, which we don't do. She's also congested which isn't helping. Last night I did it again but after 10 minutes I said let me try one more time and got her in crib. She will only nap on me also... I hope this ends soon, I'm losing my mind!!

goatgettingmarried

'm in the middle of this, too. I have a question. LO is 15 weeks, so 3.5 months and has been sleeping progressively worse for one week. Do you guys think it's possible for the four month sleep regression to have started early for us? Or is it more likely that this is leap-related behavior and I have a regression ahead of me? He's down to waking up every hour of the night, so I'm not sure how it could even get worse. I too feel like I'm losing my mind.

ElleKH

@goatgettingmarried - It's definitely possible! The 4 month sleep regression typically occurs anywhere between 3 and 5 months. It sounds like you might have hit it. Good luck!!

wilcoxev

Same issues here. My LO was sleeping through the night but stopped during this leap. Whenever I move him he wakes up like he isn't getting into that deep sleep. I said I would never cosleep but it's the only thing that works, I nurse him to sleep laying down and we sleep all night for the last 3 weeks. I've tried a million different things but this is the only thing that works. I will continue to try have him sleep in his crib but I'm not going to make myself crazy over it. Its survival mode now lol

cait040415

kmcshane0211 said:

I think them sleeping is the most important thing. Because we know overtired babies don't sleep. So, I say get him to sleep however you can for now. We know this is a phase that will pass. I'm sure it won't create a habit, but if it does...you can work on breaking it. It's easier to work on that then to extend the sleeplessness phase due to him continuously not sleeping!

This! We are just starting the 4th leap, so we aren't near as bad as I know it will get yet, and if she isn't sleeping soundly by midnight, I bring her to bed with us. I have to get up at 4:30 and drive a 35 minute commute to work to be there by 7:30. If I don't have at least SOME sleep, I'm not only making myself sick, I'm putting other drivers and myself in danger on the roads! I don't mind co sleeping (I actually love it ) but like PP said, id rather fix a bad habit than have a delirious, too tired baby. They need their sleep too and this is just a phase.

chelseajeanene

Last night he would be dead asleep in my arms and when I put him on the crib he would wake in a few seconds or in 10 mins or so. He would be back asleep the second I picked him up but I gave up by 6 am and just let him sleep with me. He doesn't wake up once I have him. He's slowly getting over RSV too but he would still sleep alone a few days ago but not anymore. I slept with him for a good week but eventually felt comfortable with his breathing so I could put him in the crib. I'm not prepared for this leap

kmcshane0211

@chelseajeanene It's ok! Hang in there! Sleep with him if he needs. It'll be over soon.

lmbrandt

Did your baby's eating habits change during this leap?  Our son is 16 weeks and the last few days he will sometimes finish his bottles, but other times he fusses through more than half of it and will not finish.  He will squirm and turn his head away, and then cry, etc.  Tonight he went to bed not finishing 2.5 ounces of the bottle...you know we're getting an overnight wake up tonight!

Anyone's else's baby eat less during these times?

jwebbbber45678

I've been struggling so hard to get my baby to fall asleep and stay asleep at night! It takes hours to get him down without waking up. Even now I hold my breath as I can hear him moving in the crib! He's also waking up more at night and often sleeps better next to me. I am also wondering like the previous poster if this is because of the leap or if it's the beginning of the dreaded regression. Perhaps they are intertwined? If it's just the leap and I still have the regression to look forward to in two weeks then I'll be devastated!

Bellarose212

@jweber4747 My understanding from everything I've read is that the 4 month sleep regression is directly related to the 4th leap. It sounds like the baby's brain is on overload from developmental growth and because of that they can't sleep. One article I read compared it to trying to fall asleep when you have a really big day the next day and you are tossing and turning, but can't stop thinking about tomorrow. Baby can't turn her brain off and struggles to sleep. My baby (17 weeks, but born 3 weeks early) is starting this leap as of midnight tonight (ahhhhhh!!!!!!), so I can't offer any personal experiences yet. I'm just reading up on everything to prepare myself. But at least you know that you don't have to deal with a regression after the leap! Good luck!

rebekahrathe

I'm dealing with the same thing! I miss my what I didn't realize was such a good sleeper! today my DD took a total of 1.5 hours in naps and last night it took me 4 time to finally get her to fall asleep! Before she would only wake up once in 12-13 hours at night. It seriously gives me anxiety at night not knowing what it's going to be Like! She will be 16 weeks on Thursday so I'm guessing wonder week or 4 month sleep regression on both! She also has a little infection in her eye I'm taking her to the dr tomorrow and I can't wait I have so many questions for her dr!! Good luck ladies!! Hopefully this will pass soon!

Knottie16867404

This is my child, it's so stressful to feed her at this point.

chelseajeanene

I love my son but this is just awful. It's a 45 minuet scream fest to get him to sleep. Today he didn't go down until after 2am and only took a short nap! At least we're all in this together..lol

hollidar

Our leap started with a bang exactly on the day predicted by the app. Last night was the third night. He's always been hard to get down and no matter what I've tried I can never get him down before 11 pm. I love the website precious little sleep, but even their tips have been futile. The last 3 nights he's not going to bed until 12:30-1. I'm still trying to continue the same routine...and he'll only nurse to sleep. The first 2 nights he was up almost hourly, and sometimes would wake up within 5 minutes of being laid down. Last night was hell getting him to bed. He was screaming bloody murder. I was convinced he wasn't getting enough breast milk so I pulled out a stash from the freezer and he barely ate an ounce (wasn't hungry). Then he got gassy, and then he was pooping (he never goes that late at night). I finally get him down and his Snuza went off and woke him and my husband up at 1 am. It was falling off his diaper. And he is only napping on me now with the exception of a 30 minute morning nap...which was 10 minutes this morning. I am in grad school and go back to work part time in 2 weeks. I wasn't prepared for this. And he won't cosleep, I have tried out of desperation.

Sully3302

We have hit every other leap 2-3 days before the app predicted. We are 3 days in and she has been a little clingy/fussy today. Last night and tonight she had false starts at bedtime and she screamed if my husband tries to rock her. She instantly fell asleep for me. I have been very anxious about this leap. She already is a terrible napper, so I hope our nights don't get too rough!

She had to be held for naps up until 2.5 weeks ago... I can't go back!!

ElleKH

lmbrandt said:

Did your baby's eating habits change during this leap?  Our son is 16 weeks and the last few days he will sometimes finish his bottles, but other times he fusses through more than half of it and will not finish.  He will squirm and turn his head away, and then cry, etc.  Tonight he went to bed not finishing 2.5 ounces of the bottle...you know we're getting an overnight wake up tonight!

Anyone's else's baby eat less during these times?

Yes! As we're getting closer to the end of the leap, his nursing habits are starting to go back to normal, but it has been a long and crazy ride! For a while, he was eating much less than normal - nursing for only 4 or 5 minutes and refusing the other breast completely. I think a lot of it has to do with distraction. They notice so much more of the world around them that they only eat until they feel a bit full, then want to get back to playing/observing/trying new things. This would happen during the day. At night, though - oh ho ho - that's when the REAL fun would start. Constant waking to eat because his little tummy was running on empty all day. I remember one night he woke up EIGHT TIMES to eat before 2 am. It was brutal.

But it does get better! Weeks 14, 15, and 16 were really hard for us, but at the end of 16, heading into 17, it's getting easier. (ETA: He's eating like he used to during the day again - for a total of about 20 minutes per nursing session.) He's still waking up multiple times a night, but he always has. We've gone from nursing every 2 hours to now roughly every 3. I'm a zombie in the morning, but it's totally manageable. Before, I was in survival mode. That's the hardest part. Hopefully you'll be out of the woods soon! Good luck!

aw8611

I don't post in here often but I have been reading these posts and realize that my son must be starting this leap. He used to go down around 8 and sleep until 2:30ish and then go down again until 7ish. Now when we put him down at 8, he wakes up every 1.5-2 hours screaming bloody murder. When we give him a bottle sometimes he'll only eat an ounce or two before refusing to drink more (he drinks 4-5oz pretty consistently). He's 15 weeks - I went back to work on Monday and he started daycare. I was thinking he'd be exhausted and sleep so much better after starting daycare but I wasn't prepared for this lol. I feel like a zombie at work...hoping this doesn't last too long and he'll get back to sleeping better SOON!

ElleKH

In case you haven't come across it yet, this blog post describes this leap perfectly. I laughed out loud reading it this morning, even after being up every hour of the night.

https://www.mannlymama.com/2012/12/wonder-week-19-aka-4-month-sleep-regression/

Sully3302

My LO hasn't been too bad during this leap (so far). She is only waking up one extra time to eat, but... She always has a false start at bedtime. Whenever we put her to bed, it turns into a 40 minute nap. We rock her right back to sleep. Now, she will scream her head off when my DH picks her up and tries to rock her. The second he hands her to me she is silent and falls asleep instantly. She also cries out in her sleep a lot.