I know many of you may read this and say what the heck are you worried about, but I feel I need to throw this out b/c it just doesn't seem normal to me.
My 8 week old is formula fed and eats every 3-4 hours during the day. His last feeding is between 8:30 - 10:30pm. Most nites he will then sleep 8-9 hours. I woke him this morning at 8am b/c he had not eaten since 10:30pm last nite. Believe me, this is not a complaint! I just wonder if it's normal. He seems to be a very happy, laid-back baby and is a good eater. His Ped. said to keep him on a regular schedule during the day, but let him sleep at nite. My hubby thinks I shouldn't even wake him in the morning, but let him wake up on his own when he is hungry. What do you all think?
Ladies, thank you sooo much for your encouraging words! Believe me, I do feel lucky that he is sleep like he is b/c I have a very active 2 year old!! I've been able to stay somewhat sane b/c I get a little sleep!
Thanks again!!
Let him sleep! I know in the beginning sleeping through the night can be a little stressful, but as long as he's gaining weight, growing and having plenty of wet and dirty diapers, let him sleep! He'll let you know when he's hungry. :)
WOMAN!!! Let that baby SLEEP!! LOL!! Congrats on having such a sweet baby to let you have a full night's sleep. He's healthy, he's eating well and he's sleeping well...no problem. Is it normal? Of course, it's just not as common...there are sleep deprived Moms out there that would love to be in your shoes! All of my kids slept through the night by two months...Relax and enjoy!!!
girl you know what i'm going to say :) let him sleep! lol. my son discovered his thumb around this age and we never looked back - he slept about 8 or 10 hours a night, straight through, from that moment on. my only suggestion would be, if you want to get him on an even more comfortable routine, try to make that last feeding a little closer to the same time, like between 8 and 8:30 instead of between 8:30 and 10:30. that's just my suggestion. it will get him waking up at a more predictable time each morning and you might just worry less when you know what to expect from him! also keep in mind though, if he has an exciting evening, or is sick, or anything is out of the ordinary for him, it might make him sleep for longer or less time. good luck! sounds like you're doing a great job! lucky little man :)
I agree to let him sleep. My son slept through the night at a very young age also. Babies will always let you know when they're ready for eating, etc. Enjoy your sleep while you can get it, too! :)
My two girls were both sleeping 8-10 hours at night at 8 weeks old. I just kept them on a regular schedule during the day with feedings every 3-4 hours. If it got to 8:30am and they were still sleeping I did wake them to eat because otherwise the other feedings would get pushed back later and I liked to stay close to the same schedule everyday.
I would feed at approx 7:30, 11:30, 3:30, 7:30 and 10pm
Nightime sleep: after last feeding to approx 7-8am
I think it's great he's sleeping through the night already - they do all their growing while asleep and those long stretches of sleep also aid in brain development. Enjoy the sleep!
If the pediatrician is not concerned, I wouldn't be. Every child is different. I would have been thrilled if any of my kids slept like that when they were babies!
My daughter is almost 11 months and she has been doing that since she was 3 weeks old. I understand how you feel. My husband and i were worried and he would wanedt me to wake her up. But we talked to the ped. and he said that it was ok, and I also listened to my instinct about it. It has worked out perfect! She is so healty and happy, and is still that way!! If your baby is still gaining weight and is move up the charts are her check ups no need to worry. I hope dthis helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
My Grandma always said "never wake a sleeping baby". If he is eating enough through out the day I would let him sleep unless you think it will throw off his nap schedule.
My baby girl did the same thing. My husband was like you and worried that she should not sleep that long without eating. So I let her and everything was fine. My ped. said that it was fine too. Now she is five months old, eats at 8:00pm and doesn't eat until 7:30 when she wakes up in the mornings. If he is too hungry to sleep, he will wake up and let you know. Just enjoy the 8 to 10 hours of sleep you are getting now because it may change when he gets older.
My 8 week old did that too. It also worried me too. But my ped told me not to worry because she will eat when she needs to eat. She was a premie, so she was always under weight. She's doing fine now and she isn't too skinny or too fat. I always worried about her eating too much! I did wake her up every morning at the same time because I wanted her to stay on my schedule during the day. As long as she is getting her normal amount of sleep in 24 hours, you should be fine. Happy babies make for happy mommies! Don't make your life complicated! Enjoy having an easy baby, they don't come around that often!! :) Good luck!
Hey J.! That schedule can be very normal; lucky for you!! Most of the time babies will let you know when they are hungry. So, if he is gaining weight appropriately, I would feed him when he asks for it. Fortunately both of my kids starting sleeping through the night early. My son is a better sleeper and he is laid-back like your little man.
My rule of thumb with both of my children has been not to wake them when they are sleeping and let them sort of fall into their own routine in their own time over time. I can do this easily b/c I am a stay at home Mom, as are you. My mother in law swears you have to wake a baby when you want them awake to get them on your routine. (ho-hum....) If this was my child and I had checked in with his Ped about my concern, I would likely let him sleep and not wake him. It has been my experience that in time he will eventually start waking at a "normal" time and then napping at regular times and then going to sleep at the same time each night all on his own. My two sons sleep patterns were different in the beginning when I brought them home, but the newer one seems to have fallen into the same sleep patterns the first one did, and I didn't do anything but follow his ques about when he wanted to sleep. Anyway, hopefully that helps some. If you've checked in with your ped you should be okay, at the same time err on the side of "mothers intuition" and if he starts sleeping way longer than you can stand I'd check into it further.
I agree with your husband. Babies will let you know when they are hungry. As long as he has wet diapers at least every 4 hours, he is getting the nutrition he needs.
Many babies "cluster feed", which is eating several times close together right before going to sleep so they can sleep longer. If you can, let him sleep.
Good Morning J., It sounds like you have a wonderful routine and good little guy. I agree with hubby, he will wake up when he is ready and hungry. No worries. You are a very blessed Mama for sure.
God Bless
K. Nana of 5
PS Be ready cause things can and do change in the blink of an eye ;)
Every baby is different and it seems he is just able to sleep through the night early.All three of my kids were like that and I never woke them.If you continue to wake him his body will get used to that and start waking up earlier.I always let my kids set their own schedule even that young.And believe me he's not going to let himself starve.Consider this a blessing!Lots of women would trade with your shoes!
Oh girl, you are definately one of the lucky ones! I agree with your hubby, just let him sleep. Now if he were only 10 days old or something, then i would say wake him, but hes at the 8 week mark, where for most working moms are returning to their jobs and praying to god their child sleeps through the night by that point. For instance, my son did not sleep through the night until 6 months, so enjoy it!
Hi J., I say let sleeping babies lie. At about 6 weeks my girls would sleep for 6 hour stretches and between 8 and 12 weeks would start to sleep for about 8 hours at a time. I think he's fine and LUCKY YOU! :o)
I agree with your pediatrician & husband - let him sleep. Around 8 weeks is when my son started sleeping 12 hours at night and was taking 2-2hour naps during the day. He still ate every two hours during the day and was in the 98% for height/weight. I nursed, but I'm not sure that that makes a difference.
I would call the doctor just to be safe.
my daughter who is now one has slept through the night from day one. Trust me I worried about it so much that I used to set an alarm to wake me up every couple hours to feed her. I would have to say just enjoy the fact he sleeps so well. But do make sure to check his diaper before you go to bed. I eventually just quit waking myself up caught up on some sleep and woke her up when i woke up for the morning. I had the problem of having to wake her up every time to feed her. still to this day she won'tlet me know when she needs a diaper change. so each kid is different just enjoy the fact you got a laid back baby. cause mine isn't so laid back anymore she has to be on the move all the time now! enjoy the peace while you can.
This reminds me of the old joke about the nurses waking you up in the hospital to give you a sleeping pill!!!
DO NOT...I repeat do NOT wake a sleeping baby to feed them!!! Enjoy those moments of peace and quiet...as Nana of 5 says..it can change in the blink of an eye...and probably will!!!
R. Ann
I kind of worried about the same thing. The first time my daughter slept for more longer than a 4 hour stretch I wanted to wake her and feed her. Trust me, you get over it. Let the baby sleep. If he's hungry, he'll wake up and definately let you know. Enjoy your sleep.
I agree to let him sleep and wake on his own. My first were great night sleepers early. The last didn't sleep through the night until 2 yr old. Cherish your time because it may not last.
