My 7 week old is not taking naps. She nurses for about an hour, will not go to sleep even when I am holding her, and then wants to eat again an hour later, eating about every 2 hours. This is not consistent. She doesn't do this every day, but probably 2-3 times a week. It will last all afternoon and night long. I plan to call the doctor on Monday, but in the mean time, could you please help?
There is a 6 week growth spurt where they only want to eat (and sleep very little). She could be hitting this a bit late, maybe.
Eating every 2 hours is normal. I breastfeed and mine will nurse when hungry. For a growth spurt it's especially normal. Is she content or is she screaming all the time? Sounds like a growth spurt. It'll pass.
It is such a fallicy that infants sleep all the time! My second child was the same way . . . she barely ever slept during the day. But it does change as they get a little older and settle into a rhythm/pattern. Mine finally started sleeping/napping more consistently during the day at about 4 months old.
this is normal. my fourth is now 3 months old so I have ben through it. no pascifers no long periods of crying....they will cry sometimes when tired but if it is more than 10 to 15 minutes or loud screaming something is wrong...wet or burp or something
your milk will come in the best if you let her nurse one side completely before moving to the next...the hind milk takes more effort then the fore milk but has more fat and other good stuff...dont switch back and forth every few minutes...i nurse for 20 to 40 minutes on one side before even thinking about switching...i also start with the side nursed last then move on to the other side.
for the first 8 to 12 weeks they will nurse a lot! they are growing and your body has to adjust to making enough milk...
if it is ever a frantic nursing thatdont seem to be satisfying with crying or fussying while nursing...try burping
also rocking may help...your baby was rocked a lot inside you and could hear your heart beat all the time....they miss that sometimes.
if you have any other questions feel free to message me...besides my 4 I own a montessori school and have taught for over 17 years....
I agree. With growth spurts they usually eat eat eat one week, sleep sleep sleep the next and then grow grow grow. This continues on to adult hood. I can always tell when my kids are about to grow they eat us out of house and home!!
Hi E., I read a book "how to get your baby to sleep through the night" when I had my babies and at 8 weeks my first child was sleeping through the night and it took my second one just a little longer. I think you are letting your baby nurse too long. I don't remember how long the book says it should take because my kids are now 10 and 12 but I do know that it worked. I must say that inorder for this method to work you have to not let your baby "play" on your breast while eating and make sure that they eat, just as if you all were at the dinner table. The schedule for this is eating, playing, and napping and it goes on every 2 1/2-3 hours. This will take a lot of patience, discipline, and perseverance. Also it will take resolve because people will try to tell you to just feed the baby when they're crying and they will cry. But if you know that they've been fed then you know they are crying for some other reason. I don't remember the author but if you just google the title you should be able to find it if it's still in print. Good luck to you.
