The 4am Wakeup

The 4am Wakeup

by Sleepy
(NY)

My baby boy

My 8 month old goes to bed at 8pm and wakes up once at night (anywhere bet. 4am and 5am). He nurses for 10 minutes and then he's back to sleep until 6:30-7am.

How do I drop this 4-5am wakeup? I know he is not getting much from me anymore - my supply is way down since he drinks a lot from his sippy cup during the day.

I'm sure it's more of a pacifying need than hunger need at this point. He also refuses the pacifier. We've tried to let him cry it out but it hasn't worked.

I just want to bridge that short time gap between 4-5am and 6:30am! Any advice??

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The 4am Wakeup

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May 14, 2009

Tired Mama
by: Baby Help Line - Annie

Hi Sleepy Mama!

How cute is he! How can you not want to get up to him at 4 am? I know, at 4am he probably doesn't look like that!

To be honest I would just put up with it until he grows out of it himself. You are lucky he is going that long anyway, and that he goes back to sleep fairly quickly! Some babies do sleep from 8pm-6am but many wake several times in the night and take an hour or so to settle again.

Towards the end of the night our sleep cycles are not very deep and we wake a lot easier - that is why we tend to remember our dreams in the small hours of the morning.

Your little boy is waking up a bit, realizing he is on his own, might be a bit worried you have disappeared, may be a bit hungry or thirsty and having Yummy Mummy come and give him a cuddle and a drink is so reassuring.

Needing a cuddle is just as important as needing a feed. I am not a big fan of pacifiers as they are often used to ignore what a baby really needs, body contact and love from the best people in the world.

I know it is hard having broken sleep, but in the long run you are setting the scene for a happy well adjusted little boy who knows he is loved and is confident he can go out into the world knowing Mom and Dad are there for him.

Have you tried Dad having a turn to give him a cuddle and a drink with the sippy cup? More often than not it has to be Mom, but it might be worth a try in the weekends.

Enjoy your cute little boy, and don't worry you won't be getting up to him when he is 15!

Annie Desantis

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May 14, 2009
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Submitted by: Baby Help Line - Annie

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Comment
Hi Sleepy Mama! How cute is he! How can you not want to get up to him at 4 am? I know, at 4am he probably doesn't look like that! To be honest I would just put up with it until he grows out of it himself. You are lucky he is going that long anyway, and that he goes back to sleep fairly quickly! Some babies do sleep from 8pm-6am but many wake several times in the night and take an hour or so to settle again. Towards the end of the night our sleep cycles are not very deep and we wake a lot easier - that is why we tend to remember our dreams in the small hours of the morning. Your little boy is waking up a bit, realizing he is on his own, might be a bit worried you have disappeared, may be a bit hungry or thirsty and having Yummy Mummy come and give him a cuddle and a drink is so reassuring. Needing a cuddle is just as important as needing a feed. I am not a big fan of pacifiers as they are often used to ignore what a baby really needs, body contact and love from the best people in the world. I know it is hard having broken sleep, but in the long run you are setting the scene for a happy well adjusted little boy who knows he is loved and is confident he can go out into the world knowing Mom and Dad are there for him. Have you tried Dad having a turn to give him a cuddle and a drink with the sippy cup? More often than not it has to be Mom, but it might be worth a try in the weekends. Enjoy your cute little boy, and don't worry you won't be getting up to him when he is 15! <a href="http://www.easybabylife.com/annie-desantis.html">Annie Desantis</a>

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