I have an infant son that is just shy of a week old. For the past two nights, he has been sleeping in 3-4 hour stretches, not waking up to eat. In fact, last night I was the one waking him up. In the hospital, they were adamant that I should wake him every 2-3 hours to feed him, and I did, but it was so difficult, as he really didn't seem to want to wake up. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't just let him sleep. I would love to get him to sleep through the night, or just wake once or twice instead of up every 2 hours, but I'm not sure if its too soon. I don't want to "train" his belly to expect lots of food at night, which is what I've heard is the main reason most infants don't sleep through the night right away. I didn't have this "problem" with my first son, who sometimes woke up every hour to nurse, and didn't sleep through the night consistently until he was 8 months old. I know this may sound silly, but I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be doing my son any harm by letting him sleep until he woke and wanted to nurse. Any thoughts? Thanks so much!
When I had my first child the midwives told me that during the night it was okay to let the baby sleep 4-6 hours without waking them up to eat. And after having two children, my experience tells me that I would let them go that long as well. Sleep while you can and let him. At this age, I personally, wouldn't let him go longer than 6, but I'd let him sleep that long. During the day, however, I would make sure I was feeding him every 3 hours or so. They do need a certain amount of calories and if you try and fit them in during the day, letting them sleep longer at night is a benefit to you both! Congratulations!
My 1st born was the same, and I agonized over trying to feed him "on schedule" and I got no sleep. The hospital call line confirmed I needed to wake him every 2 hours and gave me ideas on how to keep him awake like stripping him down so he was cold(!) I'd spend an hour feeding him and get 1 hour sleep before having to start all over. Now after my 3rd I realize the stupidity in that and assume it was a textbook answer from them. If the baby is thriving, its fine. You may not get the sleep-through-the-night milestone because the patterns will change, but you need rest now, so get it when you can. I never got him to nurse well and I think my tension was not a small factor in that. LeLeche was the ones that said let him sleep! and I trust them. Took me awhile to find them as a source, but with www it should be easier.
Let his diapers be your gage. If he has plenty of wet diapers, then he is getting enough food, and has probably already mastered the job of getting a full feeding every feeding, allowing him to sleep longer. The rule I always followed was not to wake them at night (but don't go longer than 5 hours). During the day, I would wake them every 3-4 hours to help them establish a good day/night pattern. Routine is very important, and as you know it usually doesn't come til later...but I wouldn't fight it if he does it on his own.
~Lacy
a doctor will tell you one thing (wake him) another mother usually a different thing (let him sleep!)
I let all my children sleep and they slept in long chunks like that! I have 4 kids and all is well :)
I wouldnt even worry at all.. if you wake him you will set a pattern and he probably won't sleep through the night anytime soon....
I have a 5 week old and just went through this. I say don't wake him unless you have a problem with weight gain. I wouldn't let it go much more than 4 hours, though, until you know for sure that his weight is good. Also- this is only for breastfeeding. I hear you can go longer with formula, but I am not sure.
You have to be very careful with a newborn who sleeps a lot, sometimes babies are too tired to eat enough so they sleep to keep their energy...but don't wake up enough and/or often enough to eat....so they sleep more and still don't eat...
A good rule to reassure you that your baby is fine is to check how many wet and yellow poopy diapers you get every day and also to make sure your baby nurses at least (yes at least for a breastfed newborn !) 8 to 12 times a day.
If your baby sleeps 3-4 hours that's great as long as he nurses often and enough (his weight gain must be good too).
If the BMs and wet diapers are not plenty that's a sign that you need to nurse more and more often. Make also sure you nurse when your baby asks for it: sucking, rooting reflex are good signs, don't wait until baby cries because it's very tiring for him (and stressful) so you don't need that if your baby already sleeps a lot.
Forget about sleeping through the night (I know your concern but your baby is way too little and not mature enough to consider it and you'll have time later to instill good sleeping habits), he now needs to eat frequently and gain weight first.
In and all, if your baby wets and dirties tons of diapers and gains weight it's probably fine to let him sleep as long as he wants (nurse 8-12 times/24h anyway). Otherwise, wake him up and nurse him even half awake very often especially if he's always sleepy or needs to gain more weight.
Enjoy !!!
If he's sleeping for long stretches and those stretches occur during the night, I would not wake him. As long as he's eating enough during the day and has enough wet diapers, all is well. My second baby did this after 2 weeks and it felt like he was attached to me all day long because he wanted to nurse so often. I'd rather have that and a good nights sleep than the alternative!
every baby is different.. my daughter did not sleep at night - and ate all night long.
My son was up once or twice to eat and slept well. It was not unusual for him to sleep 3-4 hours at night from the first day home.
I wouldnt wake him up unless you wake up totally engorged.
and dont worry pretty soon the new baby will have a growth spurt and wake up every hour to eat.
Our first slept thru the night from 9-6 from about 3 days old.
Our second from about a week old and our 3rd about a week and a half.
Use the diapers to gauge it and don't feel bad about waking them if you are engourged.
All of ours were consistant every 2-3 hours during the day and good sleepers at night.
Also use your babys size as a gauge. Our first was 8lbs 3 oz at birth, 2nd was 9lbs 7oz, and 3rd was 10 lbs at birth. If your baby is small it needs more feedings since the belly is smaller.
If you are having doubts as to weight gain the drs office should be happy to just let you bring baby in for a weight check.
Good luck and congrats on getting sleep so early!
Hi Joy. Okay, I had a set of twin girls and both of them slept pretty good when they first came home. When I took them in for their two week visit, the doc was asking about their sleep/eat habits. I told him that they both slept for 4-6 hour stretches at night. He only asked that I wake one of them up for feeding and that was only because she was born 5lbs. 15oz. He said the other one was fine to sleep all night because she was born almost 2 pounds heavier. So I guess my point is if he was born a good weight, let him sleep! My grandma used to say don't ever wake a baby to eat, you are disturbing their growing!
If he's gaining weight properly, has enough wet and dirty diapers, and you're not suffering (because of either engorgement or fear that your milk will supply will suffer) I'd say let him go! As soon as anything changes, go with your gut and feed him some more!
And congratulations!
Hi Joy,
If you're nursing, and your son is only one week, I would continue to wake him at least every 3 or 4 hours, for about another week, mostly to ensure your milk supply. After that, LET HIM SLEEP! My daughter was the same. I was waking her, and it was a struggle to wake her enough to eat. After two weeks, the Dr. said to stop waking her to eat. Remember, there is a medium between every two hours and letting him go as long as he will. Continue to feed him every two to three hours during the day even if he doesn't seem super hungry, and he should be more full at night. Also, give him full feedings, not just a little here and there. That helps them go longer between feedings. He does need to eat at least 8 times per day. Congrats!
We let our daughter SLEEEEEEEP and it has not been a problem. :o) She's still a great sleeper! Besides, I think you'll get a more productive and cooperative eater if they are the one who decides when they are hungry. Congrats on your newborn!
Never wake a sleeping baby!! lol He will wake when he is hungry! If your nursing and breasts become full, try to pump a few ounces to freeze.
Hi Joy,
My son is 10 weeks old and he also was sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night when he first came home. Honestly, I was so tired that I didn't wake up unless he did so I wasn't waking him to eat. At his 2 week checkup he had gained a pound and a half. I would say a 4 hour stretch isn't going to hurt, but I wouldn't let him go much longer than that simply because you need to keep up your milk supply. Maybe you just have a good sleeper on your hands! Congrats and good luck!
Of course it depends on how much he weighs and if he is gaining weight and eating well during the day. I always said with my three - if they'll sleep why wake them!!??? Especially if they are healthy and gaining they need good sleep too so they can grow. Go with your gut feeling!!
My LO always woke up every 3-4 hours, never every 2 and I was told to only wake them if it had been 5 hours
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WAKE YOUR BABY!!!!!
Until babies are around 6-7 weeks old they DO NOT metabolise food well. This means your baby's brain is ONLY getting fed when YOU FEED HIM! I know there are plenty of people who have said 'don't wake a sleeping baby'. BUT, until baby is around 6 weeks, you HAVE to wake him so his brain gets fed. Not enough food to the brain = poor development. I'm not just pulling this out of my butt. This is what our pediatrician told us. THis is why the hospital was so adamant you wake the baby.
Also, if baby is HARD to rouse routinely.... you might want to discuss this with your pediatrician. Unless you are on medication most babies are not that tough to wake.
don't wake him up to feed, when hes hungry he will eat, enjoy your sleep now it won't last forever