Baby waking at night after sleeping through?

Question

My now 17 week/4 month old son has been sleeping through the night since he was 12 weeks old.  He would have his last feed at 6.30 pm and then go to bed at 7 pm.  I stopped feeding him the 10.30 pm feed before I went to bed, and he had been sleeping through for 11 to 12 hours every night, with his last feed being before bedtime.

He kept this pattern for 19 consecutive nights, but then at 15 weeks old he started waking in the night at around 2.30/3 am.  As I knew he was capable of sleeping for so long without a late night feed, I tried to settle him, but then relented and fed him.  However, I followed the diluted feed idea.  For three night you give 6 oz of water to 4 scoops of formula, then 5 oz and 3 scoops and so on.  I got to 4 oz and 2 scoops.  He went to sleep but then woke up again an hour later, so I fed him but he only took 3 oz.

I started weaning him onto solids five days ago and he has taken to them really well.  However since Sunday he has woken every night around 3 am except for Tuesday when he had his last feed at 6.20 pm and didn't wake up until the following morning.  I know he can do it as he has done it for 19 nights in a row and he is a big baby!

I feel like he is waking up out of habit.  I don't know what to do now.  I feel as if he is waking because he knows he will get milk.  Do I try controlled crying (is he too young at 4 months?), doing the diluted feeds again or just offering water?  

After having the sleeping through its hard going back to the sleepless nights.

? · Accepted Answer

A 4 month old baby is not waking out of habit, he is waking because he is hungry. Did you really expect to be sleeping through the night when you planned on having kids? Did no one tell you they get up to eat? You should never do "controlled crying", that is horrible and diluting formula is a big no, no. Getting up to feed baby is part of the territory when you become a Mom. My daughter was sleeping through the night for a while too but she went right back to getting up 3-4 times a night, most babies that start sleeping through do start waking again. Wait until he's teething, then you'll really have some sleepless nights.

*EDIT* His needs are not going to be the same from day to day, week to week, or month to month, just because he has slept through the night without a feed in the past doesn't mean he can now. Babies go through many growth spurts in their first year and when they do they need to eat, even in the middle of the night.

? · Answer

My little bundle of trouble who is 12 weeks old has gone from waking once a night to waking 3-4 times. She just has a little feed then back to sleep (she's breastfed) 

She's only been doing this since she's been showing teething signs such as dribbling lots, rubbing her cheeks and trying to get both hands in her mouth at the same time! 

Is your little one teething? It may be a cause of his waking... ?

I personally do think baby shiuld be having full milk rather than diluted as he could be waking simply cos he's hungry...

I also don't think crying it out it fair on baby or parents. All of your will get stressed which won't help with sleeping so just five lots of cuddles to reassure him your there and he'll settle much better

It'll be one of many phases that babies go through and he's still so young x

Lisa · Answer

It's awful when you ask for help and advice on here and people are patronising or just mean! My little one is also a great sleeper hes been sleeping through for a while now and he's 5 month old although he has started to grumble in his sleep I pop his dummy in and he's off again! Anyway a little while ago he did start to wake up and i gave him a bottle I was told that because he sleeps through normally he is probably waking because he's thirsty not hungry so try giving him a drink and  that advice was from a feeding specialist. Good luck hun! 
Ps my little one can go 12 hours do that lady that says babies can't is just wrong!

LoveMyMommyLife · Answer

4 months is way too young to be giving diluted formula, he shouldn't be getting any water at this age! He Needs Milk! Not water, not solids.

And he is Waay to young for you expect him to sleep 11 hours without eating. When do you ever o 11 hours without food??

And CIO is lazy an uneducated. Not only is it not reccomended for kids under 6 months, it's not recommended at all. CIO raises harmful levels of adrenaline and stress in your baby; it increases the risk of SIDs, screws up his sleeping patterns more then just comforting him and having go back to sleep, and damages his trust in your being there for him. (he doesn't know where you are or why you not pick him up) Babies who are responded to right away when they cry have better self confidence and less seperation anxiety as adults.

Get Up And Feed Your Kid!!!

? · Answer

Every baby is different but as a mum & grandma I would say give him more solids at tea time and put him down little later at night and if he sleeps during the day them shorten the nap or try and stop it completely, if that doesn't work then go back to the formula, Good Luck

? · Answer

My baby boy is 11.5 months old. He still awakens (on average) 3 times per night. I get up with him every time. I sit and rock him and breastfeed him every time. 
Once per night for a 4 month old is great. Consider yourself lucky.

? · Answer

I am a night nanny, and i know just how hard it is! if you offer food at night they begin to expect it. I would just offer water at night and then settle then back to sleep. try patting their back and eventually they should realise that they dont need to wake up. Good luck

Trending News

Baby waking at night after sleeping through?

7 Answers