My daughter is nine weeks old today. A week ago, she was eating great and cat napping through out the day, and then sleeping through the night. She most of the time woke up crying to eat between two and three hours since her last feed, and would sleep at least six hours at night before waking up to eat. Now she seems to have gone back to sleeping for most of through the night and needing to be woken up to eat. We go to bed usually a few hours after getting her to sleep, and always just let her be the alarm. I've has to start setting my alarm again this week because there were two instances where she ate and then after getting her down she didn't wake up for her next feed until about ten hours after her last! When she is awake she is very alert and smiles and coos and acts like a happy healthy baby, but I'm really concerned!
Thanks to everyone for all of the great feedback. When we went to the pediatrician on Wednesday she said to let her sleep at night but during the day wake her at four hours and that she shouldn't really be sleeping most of the day because it could effect her sleep at night. Thanks again everyone! I thought I was a horrible person at first because my baby was going like ten-twelve hours at night without eating! I'm glad to learn that that's normal! Thanks!
Hi E.-
I have a 9 week old and she went through the same thing. My pediatrician told me to let her sleep and when she was hungry she would wake up. Enjoy the time she sleeps :)
You have nothing to worry about. Most babies start sleeping through the night at 8-12 weeks old. Enjoy the extra sleep.
If your doctor says that she's growing properly...then just relax and enjoy your full nights of sleep!
If you're really worried, or she starts moving her longer sleeping stretch to the earlier part instead of the later part of the night, you can always give her a bottle with a few ounces of milk (breast or formula--doesn't matter)in her sleep at about 11pm. It's a technique called 'the dream feed' that I read about in Traci Hogg's The Baby Whisperer when my first child was a newborn, and it's been a lifesaver with my 2 1/2 month old daughter now as well!
My son was 8 weeks old when he started sleeping through the night...from roughly 7:30 or 8 PM til 6 or 7 AM (first morning, it was 6 AM, within a week, it was 7 AM). As long as she's growing, gaining weight, etc. enjoy the long sleep stretch!
As long as she is gaining weight, healthy and doing well just let her be. New babies sleep!! That is their big claim to fame. If it makes you feel better, feed her every 2 - 2.5 hours during the day, and however long she sleeps at night is just perfect!! Good Luck
E.,
When my first was born at 3 weeks old (her christening day)
she slept 14 hours. From that day on that is what she did. She made up for it during the day. At 33yo today,
she is an accomplished euestrian, she teaches riding,
trains horses, and manages a farm. So what I am saying
if she is happy and alert, she is fine. Just enjoy
your sleep. My motto is never ever wake a sleeping
baby (of course preemies are different).
Enjoy your new little wonder.
The same thing happened with my nephew, however he was not gaining enough weight so my sister-in-law was told to wake him for feedings. Also, his body temperature was low so they told her to keep a hat on his head to hold in his body temperature and attributed that to him not waking up. In your case as long as your baby is gaining weight, urinating, pooping, and seems alert when she is awake then she is getting everything she needs. Being a new mom is so scary and what is normal for one child is not normal for others. If you are still worried call the pediatrician and make sure she is gaining weight appropriately to put your mind at ease. Congratulations on your new baby girl!!
E.-
Is this your first child?? I am guessing that it is! You are very lucky that she is sleeping through the night. You absolutely do not need to wake her up to feed her. The doctor might say you should but if she is sleeping, let her sleep...haven't you even hear the line "never wake a sleeping baby"?? My 1st started sleeping through the night at 3 weeks...but I never woke her and she is still a great sleeper. And she was a very healthy baby--always well over the 100th percentile for height and weight. Good luck!
J.
I agree - so long as she is having enough wet and dirty diapers every day and is gaining weight I would not worry. Sleep is super important and it is true when they say never wake a sleeping baby. Enjoy a good night's sleep!
Hi E.:
Sounds like she's adjusting to being out of her mommy's womb and into this new life. Consult with your pediatrician as well.
All the best,
N.
Maternity-Newborn Practitioner
www.WholeCreations.com
As some of the others said, as long as your baby is gaining weight, there is no problem in letting her sleep. My daughter was sleeping for 7-8 hours straight at 7 weeks old, and only increased her hours from there on. When I inquired with the ped. if this was okay, he said absolutely, that she will not let herself starve, and just enjoy the fact that she's a good sleeper. So my advice to you is to relax, and and enjoy getting those extra zzzzzz's in yourself!
-Jen S
I had this same problem w/ my son "oh so long ago". He started this when he was about a week old.He would go to bed around 10:30 and I would wake him up in the morning about 9 - 10. The ped. said to wake him. I personally felt that if he was really hungry he would let me know. He was always a sleeper. He's now almost 25 and is perfectly fine. My other son on the other hand woke up at 1 and 5 after being put to bed at 8:30. Different strokes for different folks. I personally would not be worried.
C.
Hi E.,
When babies are about 10 weeks old or so, they go through a growth spurt. Sometimes their feeding pattern totally changes. If she is acting ok during the day, is gaining weight and has 8-10 wet diapers in a 24 hour period and at least 3 poopy diapers, she is doing ok. After they re-gain their birthweight they will start sleeping longer stretches. Do a weight check on her and keep track of her diapers. if that all seems good, then enjoy the sleep!
P. T IBCLC
Baby's Sweet Beginnings Lactation/Maternity Center
Lancaster, NY
E., it's your first child so it's natural for you to be very concerned and I know I was like that with my first child. The only time I had to wake my child to eat was my first born because he was five weeks early and premature and needced help to gain weight and he was sleeping 24/7, but eventually he began waking me up which was great. Don't worry about it and it's fine that she sleeps that long. She's not premature, under 6 lbs, she is a good sleeper. Don't worry and enjoy the rest you can get and sleep while she sleeps. You are a great mom and everything is fine. :) May Jesus bless you and your family. God bless that child and congrats!
Hi E.,
Some babies sleep longer than others. If she is going 10 hours without eating, you will likely see her daytime eating increase either in frequency or amount. Let her sleep, but take her in for more frequent weight checks just to be sure - and count those diapers, make sure that she is still peeing and pooping plenty. If her weight gain is consistent and she's still producing lots of wet and dirty diapers, you don't need to wake her to feed during the night.
Good luck!
As long as she thrives, and has wet diapers, let her sleep. My baby (12.5 weeks old) sleeps through the nights, which I enjoy soooo much!
Feeding on demand is best, no matter if nursing or formula feeding (I don't know which one you are doing! I am nursing full time)
If you are concernd with your daughter not gaining weight go see a pediatrician, or if you are nursing, go contact somebody from the la leche league. they should be able to help you as well!
Enjoy your little one, they grow up so fast!
M.
(with Amanda *April 02 and Alexandria *April 92)
OMG let her sleep> I did the waking her up thing and now at 10 months today she isnt sleeping through the night. And to let her cry it out just doesnt work for me! I feel I didnt let my first one cry it out and to be sleep selfish and let her cry it out I just cant! If your onr of those licky one that the baby is sleeping through the night be proud and let her do it< Cause the alternative is horrible.
Sleepless mom of 2
No offense but are you crazy. If she can sleep 10 hrs a night let her. If she is sleeping that long it's because she can. My kids didn't sleep through the night until they were 7 and 9 mos old. I would have killed for a full nights sleep at that age. And even then sleeping for 8 hrs was the stretch and then after a bottle they'd go back to sleep. If you get her use to the middle of the night feeding she will get use to it and in 6 mos your going to be asking us how to weed out that feeding. If she's going without, let her. She may feed more during the day to make up for it.
Babies usually start sleeping thru the night between 2-4 months. Some(but rarely) sleep thru the night when they get home from the hospital. Don't be concerned and count your blessings! Get some sleep and enjoy it!
Don't wake her up to eat! Let her sleep. It won't hurt her, and it will benefit you! At this age she should be sleeping through the night and should only be eating on demand. Oh, and count your blessings she is sleeping through the night.
You do not need to wake a healthy baby to feed her. If she is well and gaining weight she will let you know when she is hungry. Just be grateful you are getting to sleep!
Some babies sleep through the night much earlier than others. My first baby slept 11 hours overnight at 11 weeks old and my second did the same at 8 weeks old. Both were fully breastfed.
I didn't "do" anything - it's just the way it happened, and they ate during the daytime. It is better to encourage good sleeping habits and let them sleep.
Ask your doctor but I had the same experience with my son. He is now a happy 12 year old. Try to wake her for feeding during the day. However, if she is happy healthy and gaining weight, I wouldn't worry about it. It seems like she just likes to sleep like my somn did! Good luck!
Count your blessings!! My theory is, NEVER wake a sleeping baby as long as they are healthy, happy and growing normally. My son started sleeping 10 hours straight at night when he was 6 weeks old... I thought it was just a phase, but he never turned back. (yes he was breastfed, and I know it is not the norm for a breastfed baby to sleep that long that early.). Anyway, I guess I was lucky, so why would I ever get him into the habit of waking up to eat if he really didn't need it!? (he was growing and developing normally). If your baby is happy and growing, let him sleep!! Don't get him in the habit of waking up to eat- he will let you know if he needs it!!
