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My baby is 4 months, 2 weeks old. I have read tons of baby sleep books (with conflicting advice) and have not had a problem till he hit the 4 month marker. Most of my friends read “Baby Wise” and have had their babies on strict eating/sleep schedule since 6 weeks. I didn't feel it was right for me.

My son falls asleep for the night quickly and easily, on his own, with no sleep props (i.e. he doesn't need a pacifier or blankie…at least initially). I learned early on to put him down when he's sleepy and not yet asleep so he would fall asleep on his own. He is very “textbook” and was on an eat-play-sleep schedule from the start.

I have been back at work since he was 9 weeks old and get Infant Reports of his sleep habits at daycare. He is a great napper!  Yesterday he took at 2 and 1/2 hour morning nap and a 1 and 1/2 hour afternoon nap. He'll take a third catnap of 45 minutes around 5pm. This is not the same as it used to be with eat-play-sleep he was napping all day long. Since I've been back at work, he would wake up once a night to nurse and I was completely fine with this and actually came to appreciate this time as I am apart from him all day. Several people told me to “keep him up later” so he would sleep longer, but as I now know, this is not true. He used to sleep 10pm to 2am and 2:15am-6:30am.  I kind of deviated from a bedtime routine, but now I know how important it is to develop sleep cue's and a bedtime routine. 

Bedtime routine

At 8:15pm I go upstairs, change his diaper, and put him in his pajamas. I read him a short story in the glider, turn off the light and play a lullaby CD. By 8:30pm he is in his crib. He rarely fusses and puts himself right to sleep. All is great and fine until about 1:45am when I pick him up and nurse him. I put him back to sleep at 2am. He then proceeds to wake up and whine/cry every 45 min to hour and a half–2:45am, 4am, 5:30am, etc. I know he's not hungry. I go in, pat him on the back and give him his pacifier. He goes right back to sleep. Sometimes I'll wait to see if he puts himself back to sleep but he just works himself up to a full cry eventually. Finally at 6am, I nurse him again and he goes back to sleep till 8:30am.  I am willing to let him cry it out if it's something that works.

I would like him to sleep 2am to 6am (or even 8:30am would be awesome), but if I must nurse I'd like to nurse him at 2am and 6am and not get up 4 other times to soothe.

All advice/opinions appreciated on the night wakings.

Many thanks,

Joey

Thanks Nicole! I will try what you say this weekend and not give him the pacifier. Hopefully he will learn to self-soothe!

Joanna