how they go to sleep is how they expect to go back to sleep...please explain!!

I've been doing a lot of reading due to DS's ongoing sleep issues. And I get the premise that how they go to sleep initially in the evening is how they expect to be put back to sleep if they wake up...but it doesn't seem to work for DS!

A few nights this week, I've had amazing success with getting him happy and sleepy, putting him in his sleeping bag, saying night night, in your cot you go and lying him down. I then sit on a chair next to the cot and close my eyes, and he's put himself to sleep happily. But he then wakes up later in the night (repeatedly) and nothing expect a boob will get him back to sleep, can't just put the music on or give him a cuddle to calm him down and then pop him in the cot, pat/ssh doesn't work, nothing works!
So if he's going to sleep in his cot with just my being there, why isn't it working later in the night? What am I doing wrong! I am completly at the end of my tether as DH will try to settle him, but after 15mins, he comes to get me. And I'm just plain exhausted!

maybe he's hungry?

Big, big hugs :hug:. You aren't doing anything wrong! Your DS is 4 months old and this age is notorious for constant wake ups! Their sleep patterns change at 4 months and they tend to need some more help getting back to sleep. If you Google "4 month sleep regression" you will find you are not alone.

I went through it with all of my babies at the same age, it was so hard at the time, but it did pass.

More hugs :hug:, you will get through this :)

I found with both my kids this was the case. Always and only the boob.
In the end I co- slept with both of them so feeding would be easy and I could get the maximum sleep. Plus it's lovely to cuddle them.
Obviously it's not for everyone but, wanted to let you know you are definitely not alone.
Goodluck, I hope you get some sleep soon.

Eta- they do get there, ds started sleeping though at about 11 months. Dd... Well that's another story ;)

I agree with co sleeping. Not only does it make feeding & sleeping easier for you to do, they'll usually wake less simply coz you're there. From what I've read (a long time ago), its more about how they wake up. If he falls asleep & you're there right next to him, then he wakes up thinking you'll still be there, but you're not.
Then I'm thinking he only wants you & boob to settle, because that way he knows you're still there & that maybe, if he's in your arms, you won't leave him again.

He's about 8 months old? It is common to still wake through the night at this age. My DS had only just finally stopped feeding every 2 hours at 8 months. He also started crawling at the same time, so slept a little less coz he'd found something new & exciting to do, lol.

Have patience. He is still only little. It does get better :)

I'd put it down to him being hungry too. He's still so little and probably not ready to drop that nighttime feed yet. You're doing everything just fine and the fact that he does go to sleep initially in his cot is fantastic!

4 month growth spurt & hunger. That's it unfortunately. I hate this age! But it does get better.

Just chiming in with the others. DD self settled for a few months there, but I had to wean her off night feeding at 18months, and you know what, I was feeding her bananas in bed for about 6 weeks there because she was HUNGRY and would not settle until she had a full tummy! Even at 18 months they're tummies are so little, so at 4 months I would expect probably 2 night feeds. Babies need frequent food, so i would just try and cope with the night feeds as best as you can (such as cosleeping etc).

Good Luck!!

I'd say he's hungry as well... if he wasn't he'd probably go back to sleep his usual way. growth spurt maybe? building up your milk supply?

Does he take awhile to get back to sleep once he's had a BF?

Thanks everyone...

I think I need to change my sig... he's 8months old practically! And he's been waking up a minimum of 3 times a night from about the 4month mark, and some nights it as many as 8.I'll often offer a feed. Some nights, he has a feed and will go straight back to sleep, others nights, he has a feed but as soon as he's finished, he wakes up. We do end up cosleeping from about 3am onwards, but some nights he wakes up at least twice before midnight, and often before we've gone to bed so ideally I'd like him to sleep in his cot. Plus I find I don't sleep well with co-sleeping and he will only sleep for extended periods with a boob in his mouth if he's in our bed.