Eating, Sleeping and Gas for a 5 1/2 Week Old

Hmm, well, first of all, I thought pediatricians had stopped giving this advice about feeding on a schedule. It's nonsense, meant to be a convenience for you, but not necessarily what's best for the child, as it's likely to encourage overeating, but also taking small meals more frequently--not conducive to a long night's sleep. It's best to let the child eat when he's truly hungry and sleep when he feels like it, unless he's resisting napping at all or going down at night. But, a baby living on swing shift is not unusual, and they generally will gradually change sleep schedule to fit yours. It's too soon to be trying to put him on a schedule, convenience or no!

But, the answer to a wakeful baby is two-fold and simple. Babies grow rapidly during sleep--you'll notice a sleeper that fits at bedtime may suddenly be too short in the morning, and this has been documented in studies. So, it's not surprising that a baby may wake after only a couple hours of sleep, ravenous. You don't mention any feeding other than breast. Feeding baby a supplemental bottle of your breast milk with a bit of cereal mixed in--rice is easiest on the tum--and the nipple openings a bit larger to allow the slightly thicker texture, should see baby through most of the night. It may seem too soon given his age, but his size at birth means he's going to be ready for supplemental food earlier.
However, if you think it isn't appetite but a touch of cholic, then get some baby--size glycerin suppositories--ask the pharmacist if you can't find them in the aisles. Just before bath time each night, every so gently insert one just a little ways in baby's rectum, where it will quickly melt--they are narrow, soft, and smooth and will slide in with no discomfort. Gently move the suppository just a bit for a little more gentle stimulus. The effect is to help soften the stool, but also to stimulate the natural urge to push. Babies need to be taught how their bodies work, from using hands, to focusing eyes, to making sounds---to pooping. A week or two of this routine, and he'll figure out how to expel gas and poop on his own, making for a happier tum and more restful night. The glycerin is completely safe, and the most gently laxative around. Follow up with a warm bath and a good feeding, and baby should sleep most of the night. This is absolutely the best remedy for cholic, regardless of severity, and was recommended years ago by my grandfather, who was a family physician. This has been used successfully and safely by at least 3 generations of our family. Hope this helps!

I'd agree with the first post about tossing the schedule out the window - esp now when your breastfeeding relationship has been well established. If he's tired, let him sleep! As far as the overnight questions, I was told that a "full night's sleep" was considered a stretch of 5 hours. Your little guy sounds like all three of mine. They'd sleep a good 4-5 hours, then it was back to eating every 2-3 hours.

A couple ideas for you. Around 6 weeks babies hit another big growth spurt, like around two weeks, where you feel like you're nursing all the time! It's normal, and your body will catch up in a couple days with rest and water. I've certainly been in the need-as-much-sleep-as-possible camp. Definitely sleep when he sleeps, at least for his longer daytime nap, if you are home with him. The house will survive, and you'll find more time to get things done as he gets bigger. FlyLady.net has some great ideas on building routines to keep your house under control. I also got a wrap to carry my little ones around in while I did some housework, a Moby, or Ergo backpack when they get a little older - or our hiking backpack, you know - one of those Kelty things?

To get a longer stretch for myself at night, I would wake my little ones a little as I went to bed to feed them so that their long stretch at night went from 11-3 or 4, which was better for us then 8-midnight and then every two hours after that.

I agree with your gut that he's trying to go to the bathroom during those wake-up times. And little ones like your guy really seem to go all the time! Some kids (like mine) are very sensitive about that and never seem happy with a wet/dirty diaper. Some don't seem to care after they get used to it. If you think your son might benefit from it, check out the Elimination Communication websites. It's interesting info, even if you don't use it right away.

Most of all be patient with yourself with this new process!!! It took me about 6 months to feel like I "knew" what I was doing, or to forget what had come before!! :) Other resources that have helped me are La Leche League and Attachment Parenting International. At the very least, it got me out of the house with some like-minded mommies, and I know they are pretty active in this area, down in Alexandria. Congrats on your little one!!

i found the eat, play sleep routine worked great for all three of mine. during the day then eat, sleep at night. day: feed then keep them awake for a little while (the time awake changes as they get older) then put them down for nap. for a three hour routine example: 9am feed, 10:30 am nap 12 noon feed ect. this goes on until night then feed and sleep. let him fuss for a little while before you go in to see if he will settle himself back down. put the baby down awake when he naps and sleeps for the night. questions email me ____@____.com
with this routine m,y kids were sleeping 6+ hours by 6weeks and all night soon after. good luck :)

I had the same problem with my son. The mylicon drops didn't do much for him. I started using a product called GRIPE WATER. You can find it at Buy Buy Baby. It works great. He also had the problem with gas at night and would only go to sleep with a breast in his moutn (I thought I was the only one). But after using the Gripe Water, it's improved. My pedi also suggested letting him suck on his pacifier at night and that has also worked. Because in the middle of the night he will get tired of it and spit it out. I agree with the other ladies on the sleep schedule. My son was a preemie (3lbs) and they had him on a schedule at the hospital. After the 1st month or so, that didn't work. So I feed him when he was hungry. I asked about the sleep thing also, and they told me that him sleeping longer during the day was normal and to not wake him unless he slept for more than 6 or 7hrs. The told me he was getting adjusted. It must have worked, because he is 6mths (today) and is 12lbs.

Good luck!