where did the routine go!

About 12 weeks old, my dd got herself into a great routine - she started sleeping thru (about 8hrs), would wake 6-6.30 for a feed and by 8, would be back in her cot for a nap, which was normally 2- 2and half hrs, and following that she would do the cycle of feed, play, sleep in 3 hourly blocks until early evening. This was great, except this week, its gone out the window. She's started waking up at night again, won't sleep for longer than an hour for her first morning nap (not at all today), and has slept periodically throughout the day. I've had to feed her to sleep a few times as she just won't go to sleep and gets herself into too much of a paddy. Today, she didn't sleep at all until 11 (woke up at 7) and even then, I had to feed her to sleep, slept only for half an hour, and then again at about 2, I had to feed her to sleep, she woke up after half an hour and some more feed and fell asleep on me for about an hour and a half (it was the longest sleep she's had so I just let her go). She normally settles really well for sleeps, and even though some of her naps are only half an hour, these are long enough for her.

Is this just an age thing? Did wonder about it being a growth spurt or a wonder week, but even though she's started waking up at night, its only once, and she settle really well, as she does when she first gets put to bed at night.

Any tips/ideas? Is it just a glitch and I should ride it out? Will she work it out on her own again? Its just driving me crazy coz she's been all over the place.

Thanks :D

SammyRo, my bubs is almost exactly the same age, and he has just been through a very similar thing. His night-time sleeps went all over the place after being fairly settled, and we have been very tired.

The good news is:

1. From what I can tell, it seems to be a common thing at this age. I am on another board as well with LOTS of women with babies at this age and many, many women reported a similar thing happening. Evidently it even has a name- "four month sleep regression"- google it and you will find some stuff.
2. The past two nights, Peter has gone back to his normal nighttime sleeps- yay! I am sincerely hoping this continues and this signals the end of this phase (and this better not jinx it!!!). So maybe this will end for you soon too!

The bad news is that Peter still does not settle well for day-time naps. He used to....not anymore. I think its just to do with being more alert and wanting to stay awake and play- sleep is boring! Its a fight everyday....sigh.

Best of luck!

Yes this happened to us too - not only at that age but also many different times over the months! You just have everything working well for a few weeks and then it goes out the window. You find yourself thinking 'is it teething/growth spurt/wonder week/changing pjs/different sheets/something they're eating/how much activity they're doing/the way you lie them down...etc, etc - you get the picture! LOL And you'll probably never know.

In the end, I personally think just keep the pre-bed routine the same and ride out the rest until the next 'good' period. If you expect it, it doesn't drive you as insane. Good luck!

Thanks ladies!

Amber - Alyssa seems to have settled again this week, although still a fight to get her to sleep when I'm at home. Out and about, either in the sling or the pram I have no issues, hmmm, maybe I should just spend all day every day out of the house!

Sacha - it would be great to know what was going on in their little heads! My mum reckons my problem is that i try to analyse everything! I can't help it - I need to know this stuff! :lol:

I'm in exactly the same boat, DD is also 4 months old and every nap is a fight. She also wakes from her sleep crying after bedtime (7pm) every 30 minutes or so until about 10pm. I have absolutely no idea whats going on, I also try to analyse everything! But I've given up now and decided to just go with the flow. The Mum's in my mothers group are also going through the same so it's normal, who knows why but it is.... :dunno:

Glitch! Happened to my DD at 4.5months, all of a sudden she just changed, thought I had a different little girl. But never fear! They return to their routine again, my DD is now 9 months old and is fine. It DOES get better, I assure you, ride it out :p