6 Week Old Sleeping Patten

My daughter is 10 months old and STILL does not sleep! We worried too, but her Dr. says that she will self-regulate and as long as she is growing not to worry. I know the days and nights are long.... but as I always say, "love makes you smile when you are tired". So smile, enjoy and remember they grow up in a blink of an eye!

Hi S.,

I have 5 month old and when she was 6 weeks she slept all day pretty much and was awake most of the night. Now she sleeps periodically through the day, a few small naps in the afternoon and early evening that last anywhere from 10-45 minutes and one hour long nap after her first meal of the morning. She then sleeps all the way through the night from like 10:30-12:00pm/am to anywhere from 7-9:00am. Also remember every child is different. Yours may not sleep much and you might find someone else's child will sleep all the time. At that age though nothing is really normal since both mother/father and baby are all adjusting. With time your baby will develop a pattern.

S., my son was the SAME WAY!! It is really hard to not be concerned about every little thing when they are this young, but I promise it will get easier and time will fly by. My son is now 8 months old and he still has his "phases" when he will get up once or twice during the night. I saw that two other moms suggested letting him sleep with you, which is what we have been doing for a couple of weeks. I initially breastfed him and let him sleep with us, then I stopped when he was two months old until he was 6 months then I let him sleep with us all the time again because he would not sleep all night long. It seems to work when he is in our bed because I think he feels our body heat and knows we are right there. Sometimes I would hear him wake up in his room over the monitor and he seemed to get scared or not know where he was at. Hopefully this doesn't backfire on us like the books say it will :) but I would say that as long as you let your daughter be independent during the day while she learns to play and eat and do things by herself then sleeping together at night won't become a crutch. My son is not clingy by any means and is very curious and loves to explore everything so I don't think it has affected his courage to do things without us at all!

You're daughters sleeping habits are perfectly normal, as the months and weeks roll along she will fall into a better pattern. Some of mine would sleep long periods during the day and then a few slept more frequent shorter periods, My now 9 month old slept almost all the time in the beginning, and has found a better pattern that includes two naps a day, Don't worry everything is okay, take it from someone with 7 there is really no normal at your daughters age you kinda roll with the punches and slowly things have a way of righting themselves. I hope this helps!

It sounds like you are concerned so I would talk to you doctor about it right away. My children were formula feed so they slept regularly. If you are breast feeding, perhaps what you are eating or drinking is effecting your baby girl?

S.-
It is completely normal for their sleeping habits to shift all over the place especially for a young baby. I would not worry about it until the baby is around 1. I second the other poster about co-sleeping, it's something you should investigate. The baby is used to being in your womb imagine how that feels suddenly being alone. Co-sleeping has worked great for us, I've done it since the birth of my first child.
Brekka

IS she eating during that time? Cranky? It is true that newborns sleep alot but not always in long stretches. How much sleep is she getting (in toal) throughout a 24-48 period. I would recommend a sleep log (I know you are busy and this only adds to all you have to do-- but it might iv you some idea of how much total sleep she is getting). But the fact is that all babies are different and they will not all sleep the same amount of time (I think average is about 18 hours for a 6 week old), as long as she is getting somewhere near that and is not otherwise fussy, then it may be just what she needs.

Good luck!

If it makes you feel any better, my 8 week old seems to sleep ALL the time, which makes me wonder too. He seems to have days he is awake much more, and days he sleeps ALL day. So go figure, either way you wonder!

Best wishes!

My daughter was that way...she has always been very active and sleeps less than what is considered average for her age. As an infant, she napped about three times a day, but often they were much less than an hour. At 5-6 weeks is when she started to settle into her sleeping patterns, but about the time I would get them figured out she would change again! As long as she is eating well and seems content, I wouldn't worry....but be prepared for it to continue!

Although I was very blessed by having a baby that slept through the night pretty much right from the start. I was the same way thinking that they would come home and just do nothing but sleep, wake up and eat and then off to sleep again. My son who is now 3 mos old never did that. He was the most alert baby I had ever seen. And just like your baby he would only take little cat naps throughout the day. Now, luckily, I have him on a schedule and that was just the best thing for the both of us. But with that when he is awake. I tried to entertain him, play with him, do tummy time. You know try to wear him out so that when nap time comes he is ready for it.

Hope this helps, and like the others say you will figure out what is best for the both of you it just takes a little time.

Newborns dont have a schedule, but boy do we wish they did!! It sounds like she might have her days and nights mixed around, which is perfectly normal. You really cant force them on your time, at this age, they are in charge!! (and it doesnt change until they move out!! lol) I dont see anything different from any other baby I know, well maybe the expection was my son, who sleep thru the night at birth (he so spoiled me and totally unprepared me for the next one who was colicky lol) If she is just awake and not crying from 10-midnight, there is nothing wrong with leaving her in her crib in the dark. This will help her realize that dark is for sleeping, plus it will bore her enough for her to just fall asleep. Now if she is cranky, that is a different story. Also, you may want to try limiting her day time naps. Its hard to do, as when they are tired, they are tired. Also, dont be afraid to call your doctor, or talk to them next visit about it. They are there to help, though I dont think its a problem, they might have some suggestions that can help you. Finally, remember it doesnt last long, its a stage and she will outgrow it, not to depress you, so enjoy her babyness, because unfortuantly it doesnt last. Congratulations and Good Luck!

well dr Spock would say to leave her alone and let her cry, do not hold her; keep her in a crib and create a strict scedual... But He has been discredited so... MAsters and Johnson would say to create endorphrins in her any way you can... there are massages you can give her to help her sleep, there are great books on baby massage and some hospitals will offer classes to new parents.
I would suggest that you sleep with her, my son was not a sleeper until I started using his crib as a toy chest and he slept with me... I FINALLY GOT SLEEP THEN AND SO DID HE!

You just described my baby :o) She is now 20 months old and very much healthy! Every baby is different. We called our baby "the amazing awake" baby because even as a newborn she would sleep for 30-45 minutes and then be up for 3-4 hours. Talk about exhausting for mom.... but we got through it.

Newborns are supposed to sleep alot... supposed to being the key word. My youngest was up all nite and half the day the first week we were home from the hospital. Reason? after a long week we finally realized it was because she didnt like sleeping on her back. She loved her side. I guess what I am trying to say is babies are all different. Not all of them will follow a strict pattern of sleeping. It is all how they want to do it. It is hard but you and her will figure out her sleeping pattern. just hang in there. I did and it all worked out for us. Hope that helps.