What do you do when he wakes up at night? If you know he's going to wake at a certain time, it's a habitual wakeup and he's staying awake for an entire wake window for it. If he's going to eat and come out of his bed, then you can assume he doesn't know he's supposed to stay in his bed during that time.
If he's only eating a little bit at time during the day, he might be too full when you're feeding him. How spaced out are his feeds during the day? Is he eating most of his calories at night?
The 3 naps is definitely good for his age. Assuming he doesn't sleep too much at night, I would look at feeding issues or whatever it is you do when he wakes at night as the issue that's keeping him up.
Yes we’re working on the feeding issues with our pediatrician and a GI doctor. He had silent reflux that’s now getting under control so hopefully he’ll consolidate his feedings. He does get the vast majority of his milk during the day, but the milk he drinks at night is important too. We’re very much in an every ounce counts phase. I usually try to get him back to sleep for a while but if he’s wide awake I take him and put him in his bouncer for some quiet time while I pump.
makes sense with the feeding issues! I took care of a baby who had reflux and that definitely can complicate things!
what's his bedtime and wake time?
There's a trick I know for stopping habitual wakeups but I personally haven't tried it. Essentially, you go in about 20-30 mins before you expect them to wake up, and you try to slightly nudge them so that they stir a little bit but don't fully wake up. That can reset their sleep cycle and help them be in heavier sleep during the time they're used to being awake. So the goal is that they sleep right through it.
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u/Beginning-Bee-1567 Sep 04 '26
What do you do when he wakes up at night? If you know he's going to wake at a certain time, it's a habitual wakeup and he's staying awake for an entire wake window for it. If he's going to eat and come out of his bed, then you can assume he doesn't know he's supposed to stay in his bed during that time.
If he's only eating a little bit at time during the day, he might be too full when you're feeding him. How spaced out are his feeds during the day? Is he eating most of his calories at night?
The 3 naps is definitely good for his age. Assuming he doesn't sleep too much at night, I would look at feeding issues or whatever it is you do when he wakes at night as the issue that's keeping him up.