J.S. asks from Farmington, MI on July 19, 2010
Newborn Sleep Habits... - Farmington,MI
I have a 6 day old. She sleeps alot...my toddler did not. He ate every other hour. This one sleeps for 3 or 4 hours between feedings. She seems to only be awake to eat...is this normal? And is it too soon for her to have day and night mixed up? During the day she goes 3 or 4 hours between feedings...at night were lucky she goes 2. Your thoughts?
More Answers
M.W. answers from Kalamazoo on July 20, 2010
Its normal for them to do this during the first few weeks. Just be sure that she's gaining weight. My first had a weight crisis and sleeping a lot was one of the things she did (which I didn't realize was a problem) because of it. As long as she's eating well and having lots of wet and dirty diapers you're probably fine. Just keep an eye on things. My second child was not happy unless she was eating or sleeping for about 4 months, and I got her to sleep as often as I could during that time. :)
Best wishes!
B.B. answers from Detroit on July 20, 2010
Feed every 2 hours during the day and let her go as long as she wants at night. I agree with the more than one babys sleeping thru anything... Our 4th is just over 2 months now...
As a newborn she will sleep all the time... With maybe an hour or two all day of awake not nursing time... But it will quickly turn into stretches of several hours, nap, wake for several hours etc...
Start the routine now. Wake her to feed her every 2 hours, put her to bed at the same time every night and let her sleep as long as she wants to. Keep an eye on the diapers and weight, length gain... as long as she's growing and wetting/ pooping don't worry if she sleeps for 6 - 8 hours a night... (all 4 of mine have slept thru the night from 2 weeks, my sisters now 3 week old started sleeping 6-8 hour stretches at night from day 2) BUT make sure to feed every 2 hours all day and for about 20 minutes!!!
J.W. answers from Dallas on July 19, 2010
It is most defiantly not to early for her to have night and day confused but it is probably more about establishing routine. While it is perfectly ok for her to got the 3 or 4 hours I would wake her up every 2 during the day and then let her go as long as she will at night. I know, I know this goes against every bone in our body, NEVER WAKE a sleeping baby! Trust me on this one you really do want too. :) Congrats and good luck!
C.B. answers from Detroit on July 20, 2010
Thoughts?
Kids are different?
C.M. answers from Detroit on July 20, 2010
All very normal! Congrats on your little one! All babies are different. A 6 day old baby is totally unpredictable and for sure can have her days and nights mixed up...she never had any schedule before...didn't even know if it was day or night til 6 days ago. I believe infants should be fed on demand, it all works out in the end. Adults don't eat at the same time and same amount every day. Your infant won't either. I have 3 grown daughters, they were all different. No worries.
A.J. answers from Dallas on July 19, 2010
It is normal for the 2nd child to be accustomed to sleeping during noise. When your son was born you most likely got to rest more during the pregnancy and there probably wasn't a ton of crying or talking aimed at your belly button for the baby in your tummy to get used to.
Most people also try to keep things quiet for the first child's naptimes and find that impossible to do for subsequent infants since there are other kiddos in the house. So yes, second and third babies feel comfortable sleeping in the noisy daytime and wake up more often at night until they adjust to the routine.
Increased white noise or music at nighttime combined with quiet time during the day about 30 minutes before you want her to wake up and eat may help her correct her internal clock a bit faster.
Good Luck!
G.B. answers from Detroit on July 20, 2010
Sounds normal to me. Babies vary in their sleep/eat habits. Main thing is to get enough milk into her, which may mean you have to waken her after a couple of hours until she matures a bit. Babies have no clue about day or night at all.
J.P. answers from Jackson on July 24, 2010
My daughter is now 5 weeks old and she had her days and nights mixed up with naps between feedings. She was more alert during the night/early morning which was really annoying. However, she is now sleeping 4-6 hours on her own at night and more alert during the day. We never woke her from sleep, and I wouldn't recommend it either. She figured it out on her own, and hasn't had any issues. She eats on demand, and is figuring out her own schedule without having to be woke up. It's harder to break them of a schedule once you have them started. Good luck, I hope it all works out.
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