sleep clinic/sleep help for 4.5 mth old

[Belle]

I know, I know that 4.5 mths is still really young. however my littler boy is a pretty extreme case. Currently wakes every 30-60 mins throughout hte night. Used to get evenings but has started waking every hr during those too. Am a zombie and we need help! When he wakes he's not always hungry - feeds on average twice a night - but is way more than 'unsettled' - is shrieking. He does have bad reflux but we're satisfied that this is now controlled by medication. Like most kids he has a perma cold at the moment and is also teething...but he has never slept well so am not sure it's something so transient as that. I will see the GP this week to rule out any ear problems but other than that am out of ideas. So, obviously not about to sleep train such a little one but am sure have seen talk of gentler methods on here e.g. someone has mentioned millpond sleep clinic? Or night nanny to come and tell us what we're doing wrong?!

[catgirl]

Gosh you poor thing. I've got a copy of the no cry sleep solution and a Millpond clinic sleep book that you're welcome to borrow although you're probably too tired to read them!

I guess initially you need to try and work out why he's waking so often - you say he's only being fed 2ce a night so presume is not waking for the comfort of feeding or could that be it? How do you settle him when he does wake?

When you put him down initially at night do you put him down awake or asleep? I know from bits I have read and my own and others' experience that is much better to put them down awake so he learns to get himself off to sleep and thus more likely to be able to settle himself back to sleep when he does wake up later on. I know this is easier said than done but I've found it easier to deal with helping them settle at 7.30pm than at 2am!

[lenster]

We had a similar experience at 4 months and ended up hosting a seminar run by Nicola - childsleepsolutions on this forum. Whilst I think we were in fact experiencing a Wonder Week, it was really helpful to have advice on routines and dealing with the night wakings.

Hope it improves for you soon!

[Strawbs]

Belle - you know I've been in a similar situation with Toby and as of 2 weeks ago we have introduced some solids and also done some sleep training and he is now sleeping for 3-4 hours at a time at night.. Was tough going but saw results really quickly.. Let me know if you want to chat x

[Belle]

oh that's interesting...will PM you!

catgirl - generally goes down for the night awake but sleepy (aided by the fact we do bottle, bath, bed rather than the usual order, because of the reflux I don't like to feed him right before going down). with night wakes it's different though - impossible to calm him by shush pat, always have to pick him up,and usually hold fairly upright for a while, and then when he does finally calm down he falls asleep, or if it's a feed can fall asleep after that, so prob does go back down sleeping in the middle of the night quite a bit. I think if I let it happen he would feed for comfort but at the moment the two night feeds are def hunger - takes loads, then annoyingly isn't that hungry come 7am. I would be quite happy with two, or even three wakes for food alone, it's all the other wake up calls I can't cope with! So loud too...not the 'fussing' people like the baby whisperer seem to talk about, proper screaming!

Have considered wonder weeks too though it's an awfully long one if that's what it is...will also PM Nicola.