I am working on eliminating one of the two night feedings (between 10pm and 6am) for my 7 week old baby girl. She goes 3-4 hours between feedings, is over 13 lbs, has slept 4-5 hours comfortably many times already and is pretty good at putting herself to sleep on her own. This week I am trying to put her on a 4 hour schedule, feeding at 10pm, 2am, 6am, 10am, 2pm and 6pm. My question is about evening waking. She usually falls asleep between 6pm and 7pm each evening. I have been waking her very briefly at 10pm for a brief feeding before bed, and she goes right back to sleep. But in this pattern she often wakes around midnight or 1am. I am now trying to decide if I should wake her earlier (say 8:45pm or 9pm) and try and keep her awake for an hour or so before I feed her for the last time that night. I did this last night she was happy for 15 min, then fussy for 30 min before I caved and fed her. But she slept from 10pm-2:30am! (She woke again at 5:45am.) My question is if other moms have suggestions about when/if to wake her in the evening. FYI: I exclusively breastfeed, but do give her bottles of breastmilk a few times a week, when my husband gives her the last feeding of the day and I sleep!
Thanks for the advice I will take it all under consideration. Please know I never deprive my child of food, I just want to be sure she is truly hungry, and not just in need of a cuddle, a nap or a change of scenery. She is a big girl, getting plenty of food! Nor do I let her "cry it out," I respond as soon as she cries. I am simply trying to find ways to lessen those cries in the middle of the night if she waking b/c of routine, not hunger. The 4 hr schedule is working well for her so far, along with the 9pm wake up, 30 min "entertainment" routine and last feed between 9:30pm and 10pm. She slept 10pm-3am last night. Might be the same with a dream feed at 10pm w/o "entertainment." It seems she is eliminating the midnight feeding all on her own.
Hi,
To be honest I think she's too young to put on a schedule...I'd give it til she's at LEAST 3 months..maybe 4. Good Luck!
I personally would not sleep schedule a 7 week old baby. i was an on demand feeder. i figured if my son wanted to sleep i would let him and if he wanted to eat he could eat. IF you were to wake her i would say just wake her when you are going bed long enough to feed her and lay her back down. You are a very lucky momma to have such a good baby. my son was a nonstop eater nursing around the clock every 2 hours for the first 2 months and then every 3 until he was 7 months old.
my DS is now 8 months old, and I have always fed him on demand. I believe all babies are different and to follow a schedule of every 3 or 4 hours for every baby, has never made sense to me. And a 7 week old is just too young to allow to cry it out.
sorry if we don't agree, but I had to share my thoughts.
I would not "eliminate" feedings.
Per our Pediatrician: for the 1st year of life, a baby needs to be fed on-demand... and breastmilk or Formula, is their PRIMARY source of nutrition.
A baby this young is real young to be on a "schedule." A newborn/baby goes through many varying levels of "appetite" and caloric/nutritional needs. ALSO, MANY babies also "Cluster-Feed". Meaning, especially during growth-spurts, they feed even every single hour. Both my kids were like that. There is NO way to "predict" that... nor their daily appetites, which does change and ebbs and flows every day. It is normal.
Also, during normal "growth-spurt" periods and developmental changes... a baby naturally will need more intake... if put on a "schedule" then these natural instincts and growth-spurts in a baby will not be fulfilled. There have been studies that say a baby fed on a "schedule" can also lack adequate intake... and it affects growth and development.
Also, a newborn's "patterns" of sleep, is not yet developed. AND... a baby's and child's sleep "patterns" will always change... per their growth-spurts/teething/when they hit milestones/sickness/hunger. It is not static.
When a baby also hits a change in age... it also affects their sleep too.
Every 3 weeks in a newborn, and every 3 months in a baby, is a "growth-spurt" period... in which they naturally get hungrier and need more intake. 3,6,9,12,15,18 months is also a growth-spurt period in an older baby. BUT... these growth-spurts and their hunger needs can also occur sooner.
At this young of an age... I would not "eliminate" any feedings. A hungry baby will not sleep well. Go according to her cues.
Also, if a baby is not latching on properly, or if your milk production is not enough, or if the baby is not nursed long enough for her to reach the hind-milk... then a baby will not be getting adequate intake/nutrition/caloric needs, for example. It takes about 15 minutes... for a baby to suckle before the "hind-milk" is reached, for example. Nursing can take anywhere from 20-45 minutes, for each session... until the breast is emptied.
A Mom's breastmilk production AND its composition, ALSO naturally changes per the baby's needs and age. So that is also why it is important to nurse on-demand, and letting the baby nurse as long as they need to, until they are full or pull-off on their own.
It is completely normal... for a baby to wake. That's what babies do. They need to get their own natural rhythm about it. And a baby will either wake because they are hungry or need comforting. At this young of an age... they are also needing to "bond" with their Mom... and it is very important for development.
A baby also naps a lot during the day. They need it. It also helps brain development and their growth and health.
For the 1st year of life... a baby wakes at night. It is a given. Then in the 2nd year... other developmental changes occurs too, which impacts their sleep.
Right now it is perfectly normal that a newborn baby wakes at the increments you mentioned.
I would, ask your Pediatrician about "if" you should wake her during the night to feed her....versus letting her sleep. She is very young.
Also, I would not keep her awake... before the "last time" you feed her for the night. With an infant, there is no final feeding... because breastmilk is metabolized very quickly in their body, and they get hungry. If not fed, they will get fussy and/or cry and/or not be able to sleep.
I exclusively breastfed both my kids. I fed on-demand 24/7 for the 1st year. My kids, had GINORMOUS appetites and OFTEN "cluster-fed"... and they needed it. They fed all the time throughout the day and night....sometimes every hour or two hours at the most.... and my milk production kept up with their needs. Breastfeeding is not a piece of cake. If I fed my kids according to a "schedule" they would not be getting their needed intake levels nor nutrition. A baby knows what they need and they develop according to their intake levels.
If anything, really ask your Pediatrician about it, and how you should be feeding your baby... since she is so young.
A great book is: "What To Expect The First Year" which you can get at any bookstore or online like at Amazon.
Your baby seems like a good sleeper. You are lucky. But keep in mind, that a baby's sleep and wakings and feedings will always change, per their needs and developmental occurrences.
All the best,
Susan
Hi there,
Funny to get your note. I have a 7 week old. I am lucky to have a night nurse who has him on the same feeding schedule. 6pm, 10pm, 2am, 6am etc. He is also going to sleep around 6 or 7pm. My reco based on what we are doing is DON'T WAKE her for the 10pm feeding. If she is still asleep give her a dream feed. Then let her go (i.e. sleep) until she wakes on her own. My nanny did this last night and my baby did the dream feed at 10pm then didn't wake til 3:30am. It threw off the am feed (and now he is really awake this AM) but it will help start to stretch them.
Hope this helps...I am seriously no sleep expert but just thought I would mention this...
Oh, by the way, my baby is exclusively breast fed too......I pump at night and give him the bottle to make it a faster feeding and make sure he is getting his entire 5 oz.
Saw the other notes and wanted to comment......this is my third boy...first I fed on demand, second exclusively bottle fed solely with breat milk for 10 mos. and the third is exclusively breast milk both both bottle and breast.
I don't believe in on demand any more....i need some sanity and it is not realistic for a mom with a 4year old, 2 year old and newborn!! So, it won't hurt her (or you) to get her on a schedule as long as she is getting enough milk and you are producing enough. I know lots of breast fed moms that do the 10pm dream feed with a bottle....I recommend you stick to want YOU want...everyone is different...not knocking those who like on-demand but it isn't for me!
I agree with SH. Babies need to be fed on demand.
I am in the same boat. I have a 7 week old and she is a 3-4 hour feeder too. I do wake for the evening feeding if she has fallen asleep and that last feeding is usually only 2-2.5 hours from the last (it's the closest out of all the feedings)I breastfeed as well and my husband gives bm bottle for last feeding. I don't think you can drop a feeding because she'll need to make up for that feeding somewhere.
I am all about starting on a schedule sooner than later...my 22 month old daugthter was sleeping thru the night at 8wks 6:30pm - 6:30am and still does! :)
Consider yourself lucky...many parents wake several times a night! You are doing a great job, just stay consistent and it will fall into place!
Hi, A. My advice is to not wake her at all. Let her own 'clock' wake her up. She knows when she is hungry. If you have to wake her up that shows you that she is not ready to eat, or at least she doesn't know it until you wake her. Let her sleep and see how long she sleeps on her own; you might be surprised. Also, try keeping her up for a while longer after her 6pm feeding. This will keep her sleeping longer, and that should help you eliminate one of the evening (mid-night) feedings. I have done this with all four of my children. Baby no. 3 and 4 slept through the night (10 pm-ish until 6 or 7am) from approx. 7 weeks old. That is how you get your sleep. Well, I hope your baby girl sets her own routine for you both soon. Take care.
i found that w/ both of my kids they put themselves on a good sleep schedule. my daughter is 11 weeks and has been sleeping through the night (6+hours) for about 2 weeks now. i am also b/f....
an idea though for the nighttime ritual or keeping her awake, why don't you give her a bath, baby massage, read her a story & then nurse. routines are great and this will get her into "sleepy" mode.
First off I recommend you read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby by Weissbluth about sleep patterns for newborns.
I would not schedule feedings at this age and definitely not eliminate a feeding. Babies this age should be fed on demand. And you "caved" and fed her, she is 7 weeks old. All she wants to do is sleep, eat, cuddle and poop/pee. Please don't deprive your daughter of a feeding. She is too young.
I wouldn't wake her for a feeding, either. She will wake up when she is hungry. Also, by the time she is about 3-4 months she will have a pretty good sleep/eat routine.
