THREE month sleep regression? If BTDT, how long did it last for you?

[Blanca78]

DD is 14 weeks. For the past two weeks she's been a much more disturbed sleeper, with a few good nights thrown in (from 8-12 weeks she was sleeping 5-7 hours the first stretch). Lately she's been doing 2-4 hours the first stretch followed by waking every 1-2 hours, and she's been much more difficult to settle. I used to be able to just nurse her and lay her back down (she sleeps in a crib in our room--co-sleeping just doesn't work for us) but lately she does this hellish thing where she falls asleep as I rock her but the second I try to sit down or put her in the crib she starts yelling. It takes several false starts to get her down, and then she wakes up an hour or two later.

I thought it was the 12 week growth spurt plus "wonder week", but this has been going on for a while now, and I'm SO tired.

Could this be the 4-month regression, just early? How long do these things last? I'm feeling scared and depressed that I will never see a good night's sleep again, that she'll somehow forget how to do those longer stretches.

[Lauren82]

We are going through that too! Oliver is waking up more often at night now than he ever has. I find it next to impossible to get good sleep because every time he stirs, I wake up and think "Oh crap, here we go again!". He also wants to comfort nurse constantly. As soon as I try to slip my nipple out of his mouth, he wakes up and fusses for it back. I have tried to give him a paci but he spits it right out and gives me the stink eye. I don't remember this with my other kids. Right now I can't remember anything though because I am so darn tired. I don't know what it is, but you're not alone.

[Blanca78]

Well, I'm kind of glad to not be alone, though of course I wish we both were getting more sleep! Actually, since I posted this, the last two nights have been good, so I hope it's passed. Not calling it yet, though, till I get a few more good nights. Poor little peanut.

[cromulent]

This is also going on at out house right now. Eleanor is 13 weeks old, and she has slept through the night consistently since she was 4 days old. Seriously. This ended the last two nights. I was really getting spoiled with all the sleep. I will never take that for granted again!

[ashleyc]

Originally Posted by Blanca78 

I thought it was the 12 week growth spurt plus "wonder week", but this has been going on for a while now, and I'm SO tired.

What is wonder week?  I'm scared :)  Weeks 6-10 were so exhausting for me and I feel like things are kind of, maybe, just falling into place (a little bit), but what is "wonder week"!?!?
 

[Blanca78]

Don't be scared! You can read about "wonder weeks" here: www.thewonderweeks.com. Basically, over several years of research, some Dutch people found that all babies tend to go through certain predictable fussy phases that correspond to leaps forward in mental and/or physical development. During these times, which can last up to a week usually, babies tend to be fussier, clingier, and sometimes eat more often and have disrupted sleep. There is one at eight weeks, then 12, and I think the next one is at 19 weeks. They have a chart that shows you windows when you might expect your baby to be a bit more difficult. The book is neat, because it suggests games you can play that engage your child and help them through each leap forward, and it provides space for you to chart their developmental changes.

I'm happy to say that she seems to be basically back to her normal self for now--the last four nights have been peaceful, and for two of them she slept over seven hours the first stretch!

Originally Posted by ashleyc 

What is wonder week?  I'm scared :)  Weeks 6-10 were so exhausting for me and I feel like things are kind of, maybe, just falling into place (a little bit), but what is "wonder week"!?!?
 

[Blanca78]

Since she was four DAYS?!

Originally Posted by cromulent 

This is also going on at out house right now. Eleanor is 13 weeks old, and she has slept through the night consistently since she was 4 days old. Seriously. This ended the last two nights. I was really getting spoiled with all the sleep. I will never take that for granted again!

[cromulent]

Originally Posted by Blanca78 

Since she was four DAYS?!

Yep. Four days. I'm really not bragging, because it was insane for my milk supply to deal with, but she has just really enjoyed sleeping at night right off the bat.  She only woke up 3 times last night. I really hope whatever is going on is ending soon, cause I am so freaking tired.
 

[Blanca78]

I didnt' think you were bragging, I"m just in awe! I thought I had it good with the 6-7 hour stretches she's been giving us. I bet she'll get back to her old self soon. Since I posted this, I have been doing some googling and talked to other mom friends (and also searched old threads in this forum) and it seems, anecdotally, that sleep disturbances are VERY common between 3 and 4 months.
 

Originally Posted by cromulent 

Yep. Four days. I'm really not bragging, because it was insane for my milk supply to deal with, but she has just really enjoyed sleeping at night right off the bat.  She only woke up 3 times last night. I really hope whatever is going on is ending soon, cause I am so freaking tired.
 

[cromulent]

Ahh it's cool I've had a few people IRL accuse me of  bragging. :)

Now may baby has a cold and she was awake ALL NIGHT LONG because she couldn't breathe. Poor little thing. I just hate sucking snot out of her little nose.

[anne1140]

My son is 3 months, and he's never gone longer than 4.5 hours. Usually, his longest stretch is about 3 hours. If this is going to get worse...I'm going back to work in a week, too.