No sleep to sleeping all the time

Justone13 · December 2015

Hi there! Ok wtf. 4 months old yesterday. For a whole week my little DD was up every hour at night. Only taking a 20 minute nap during the day. Screaming hysterically. Nothing would soothe her. She wasn't nursing any more so I didn't think it was a growth spurt.

Then yesterday BAM only up twice a night. Taking 2-3 hour naps 3 times a day. She's sleeping all the time.

Is that the dreaded sleep regression? What the hell just happened? Not that I'm complaining (now) just wondering. Tia!

NurseRieger · December 2015

Sounds like it. I'm in the same boat. 1 night can be great the next can be horrible. Your is August 25th? Mine is too. This crap has been going on since 16 weeks and he basically weaned himself because he just bites and screams at my boobs now. Once I have him totally on formula and I dry up I'm gonna Ferberize that boy!

AKOL0 · December 2015

The sleep regression is more likely the waking up more, though different for all babies. When babies start the sleep regression it is because they learn a new sleep cycle and have to get used to it.

Some babies just learn how to sleep more. I couldn't get my baby to stop waking up every 2 hours so we Ferberized her. How I get every 3-4 hours. I really want an all nighter...

Justone13 · December 2015

@NurseRieger yes the 25th. I had two glorious nights of sleep. Only getting up 2-3 times which I can deal with back to up every hour last night. I am exhausted. I still have her swaddled and next to my bed. She refuses formula from me. Will only take pumped milk or nurse. She takes formula from my dh but fights him too. We've tried a bunch of kinds. When are you moving your lo into his nursery? My step kids wake her up all the time when she's in there (bathroom next to her room) so that's why she's still with me. Plus I'm nursing and she's still swaddled. The list goes on.

@AKOL0 how long did it take? Hearing her cry is the end all for me. I so can't take it.

AKOL0 · December 2015

To sleep train it took about a week. But again she is a horrible sleeper and it is off and on. What we have trouble with is her waking up in the middle of the night and naps. Hopefully your baby is better.

NurseRieger · December 2015

I use a sleep machine and it helps drown out other noises. It's also a sleep association so it helps him go down. I'm focusing on weaning 1st before I move him to his room because I don't want to do too much at once. He's taking the breast when he's tired but if he is hungry just wants a bottle. Your LO probably smells the milk on you and that's why she takes formula from dad but not mom. I'm working on getting him to take a paci, he will when my mom watches him and she pretty much has to get him in breastfeeding position and hold it in front of her boob. I'm trying that because it does relax him like nursing does. He took a 4oz bottle at 0200 so I don't think I can really sleep train until he's done with night time feeds. Reading the Ferber book now so I know what I'm doing. Got it on amazon for $ 10

NurseRieger · December 2015

Oh and I would try to stop swaddling. My Lil guy was fighting to get his arms out and waking up more. He's in cozy footed pjs now and moves around a lot while he sleeps. By 4 months the startle reflex should be nearly gone if not entirely so she probably won't startle herself awake anyway. Worth a shot 1 night

Bigboobsmcgee · December 2015

I wouldn't recommend sleep training at 4 months. That's a little young and sleep is still all over the place at that age so it's sort of pointless IMO.

I would recommend getting her in her own room and not right next to you at night. I'm also thinking that the swaddle is bugging her and might be making sleep even harder because she's probably fighting to get out of it. 4 months is a little old for a swaddle. I also recommend using a sound machine or fan for white noise. I've always used one for each of my kids and it does drown out noises in the house.

Justone13 · December 2015

@NurseRieger I have a little white noise machine. I might have to upgrade to a bigger one. She still startles when she's sleeping. I think on my next days off I'll try to start unswaddling her. With the multiple night feeds it'd just so much easier to have her next to me. I guess one step at a time.

@Bigboobsmcgee I'll have to try to unswaddle her again. Before she just kept waking herself up. And that was about two weeks ago.

NurseRieger · December 2015

Bigboobsmcgee said:
I wouldn't recommend sleep training at 4 months. That's a little young and sleep is still all over the place at that age so it's sort of pointless IMO.
I would recommend getting her in her own room and not right next to you at night. I'm also thinking that the swaddle is bugging her and might be making sleep even harder because she's probably fighting to get out of it. 4 months is a little old for a swaddle. I also recommend using a sound machine or fan for white noise. I've always used one for each of my kids and it does drown out noises in the house.

I know all babies are different but what age do you suggest starting sleep training? I was hoping to start next month after he's completely weaned and in a more consistent routine. His sleep is erratic right now and I know there's no point in trying. Plus I still get a milk release if a random baby cries at Target so I'm not going to think about CIO until I dry up completely. Just looking for suggestions while I prepare myself.

Bigboobsmcgee · December 2015

NurseRieger said:

I wouldn't recommend sleep training at 4 months. That's a little young and sleep is still all over the place at that age so it's sort of pointless IMO.
I would recommend getting her in her own room and not right next to you at night. I'm also thinking that the swaddle is bugging her and might be making sleep even harder because she's probably fighting to get out of it. 4 months is a little old for a swaddle. I also recommend using a sound machine or fan for white noise. I've always used one for each of my kids and it does drown out noises in the house.
I know all babies are different but what age do you suggest starting sleep training? I was hoping to start next month after he's completely weaned and in a more consistent routine. His sleep is erratic right now and I know there's no point in trying. Plus I still get a milk release if a random baby cries at Target so I'm not going to think about CIO until I dry up completely. Just looking for suggestions while I prepare myself.

Depending on what type of sleep training you decide on, I would recommend closer to 6 months. I know that sounds like forever but I really feel like up until that age, they just don't get it and nothing really sticks. At least that is what I've experienced with my 2 kids. It's also tricky to sleep train if your LO is still waking at night to eat. My youngest was still having a MOTN bottle up until about 9 months old BUT I knew when that was coming and I was able to curb the other wake up's where she didn't actually need anything. That wasn't as easy to do with my first kid because it was all so new and I had no idea what I was doing!

With that being said, I think your plan of having him completely weaned and in a more consistent routine is a good start. Once your LO has a more consistent routine it's easier to start applying some sleep training techniques. I've said it a million times but it's all trial and error so give some things a try and see how it goes. Consistency is what works, not the actual sleep training method you choose. Keep that in mind!

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