I am a first time mom and I have what most people are telling me to be a pretty easy baby. she usually sleeps in 3 - 4 hour intervals and I have even seen her sleep 5 and 6 hours at a time. For the first 4 weeks she was very good about going back to sleep after her middle of the night feeding. In the last week or so though she has been waking at 2 for her night time feeding, which is still consistent with what she has been doing since she has been home, but instead of going back to sleep she is alert and awake for about 2 hours. Once i get her back to sleep sometime putting her down is tricky and sometimes its not but either way she seems to only sleep for two hours after her middle of the night feeding. I started reading Healthy Child Healthy Sleep (or whatever its called) and tried some of his thoughts yesterday, like never ever wake a sleeping baby. I guess my question is, if you are nver to wake a sleeping baby then she is demand feeding. I guess there is just so much information out there and so much that contradicts itself, I just need help figuring out if I should let my baby take a 5 hour nap in the middle of the day if she wants to or shoudl I be waking her to feed her?
If it was me....I would just let her sleep, and follow her cues for now. I think 6 weeks is way early to try to figure her schedule out/get her on a schedule. Because pretty soon she is going to be doing something completely different! When ever I have tried to feed a sleepy baby, it never really worked out. They keep falling asleep, and don't eat much anyway. So I would just let her be for now. Congrats!
Just let her sleep. Babies at 6 weeks should still be demand feeding. They aren't on any kind of schedule. I guarantee that as soon as you get a schedule set up, she'll change it on you! It seems like what they want/need changes almost weekly when they are that young. I can remember thinking that my dd was on a great schedule, and sure enough, she'd change it a few days later. Their little bodies and minds are going through so many changes right now. I know that you desperately want a routine (who doesn't) but at this stage of the game, it's just too early. Have fun with your little girl!
I know as a first time mom myself of a now 3 months old it is SO hard.. everybody tells you conflicting things and you have to guess who is right.. I also am lucky to have an easy baby who sleeps well and eats well all without alot of fussy time..my advice is do what feels right to you...for everybook and person that says do you will find just as many that says dont..other than in the hospital i let my sweetheart sleep and eat on his schedule and it has worked out fine for us. Good Luck i am sure you are doing just great!
You're right, there's so much info. and advice out there, and it can be overwhelming as a first time mom. So, I'm about to give you more!!!
First piece of advice is to follow my heart and your baby's lead. She'll let you know when she needs to eat. I guess we did the on-demand feeding with our two children. They were like clock-work at times, but other days were crazy. Each day is different, and the baby is ever changing. They're human too, each day is not the same for them.
We believed strongly in "don't wake a sleeping baby". Put your fears at ease, I fretted with my first baby too, until my mom set me straight! Love experienced moms! The hospital had me so scared about feeding every 4 hours, and you HAVE TO WAKE THE BABY if they're sleeping. I was so upset, I didn't even want to bring my daughter home! Again, the on-demand feeding comes into play here. Let them sleep and when their tummy rumbles, they'll let you know! The night feeding may start to get more spaced out too. Babies ususally start sleeping through the night around 8 weeks, which is soooo nice! Both my babies slept 12 hour nights once they gave up that 1 night feeding too. It was awesome!
So, I hope I was helpful. Again, take from this what makes sense to you. Follow your mommy instincts, and you'll be fine.
L. S.
She may be going through a growth spurt that's throwing things off. My kids both slept more and ate more during that time. I'm assuming you are keeping the lights dim and her diaper is not wet etc. when she gets up for her 2am feeding? Is she getting plenty of sunshine during the day? 5 hours seems pretty long to be sleeping during the day. Are you bf or formula feeding? Sorry so many questions...try reading the Baby Book by Dr. Sears because his advice leads to more responsive parenting and is great for first time moms (I say this because I used Weissbluth for my 1st child and Sears for the second so I am intimately familiar with both methods). Congrats on the new baby!
I went through the same thing with my infant. Of course all babies are different but I found that it didn't matter if I let her sleep all day, or made her stay awake, she still slept the same at night (up every 3-4 hours). The only difference was if I woke her up from her naps I had to deal with a crabby baby :)
I read the same thing that you shouldn't wake a napping baby or try to force them to stay awake when they're tired. "They" say a baby who sleeps well during the day will sleep better at night.
I also found with my daughter that it takes MUCH longer to establish a routine then I had anticipated! Everytime I think I have one down pat, she goes and changes on me! (Especially as her need to sleep continues to decrease)Thank goodness we have finally at least gotten a bedtime regiment going!
Good Luck & super congrats!!
I never woke neither of my children from sleep. By waking them up, you are setting a schedule that sometimes is hard to break when they get older. She will wake and feed when she is ready. Take all the sleep YOU can get because her sleeping schedule will probably change once you go back to work. You'll have to start all over again. After I fed my boys in the middle of the night, I immediately put them back into bed. It also teaches them to put themselves back to sleep. The most wonderful item we have is the Mommy Bear - you turn it on and it sounds like a heartbeat from the womb. It works so well that my boys loved it in their crib. My husband loves it too because he can hear it through the monitor in our bedroom. He sometimes asks me to go turn it on so he can go to sleep.
Hang in there!!!!
