Mumsnet Talk

I am probably worrying about nothing, but would just like a bit of reassuance or advice.

Ds is 6 weeks on Sunday. He constantly feeds during the day and is only happy with someone else for 10 mins at most. He doesn't really sleep for longer than 30 mins at a time during the day and will always wake when put down. I am trying to express so hubby can give a bottle now and again. He is putting on weight well and will usually have a 5 hour block of sleep at night.

Is this normal?

I have slight paranoia as my dd never gained weight and i had to top up withformula.

Thankyou

Sounds normal to me, or at least like DD at that age. He will get better at being with other people and I'd try him in a sling so at least you can get on with other bits whilst having lovely baby snuggles.

Apart from the 5 hour sleep at night, my 2 year old has only just started doing that

Congrats on your baby by the way (very jealous and broody!!)

No expert, only having had one, but that sounds pretty normal for early breastfeeding baby. Gaining weight great sign that all is well and five hour stint sounds good too.

Thankyou so much for the reassrance. Met a baby a few days earlier who sleeps well and doesn't feed as often. Just have to remember all babies are different.

I am enjoying the snugles as probably my last baby

Yeah, wish the little monsters would read the baby books, I keep telling DD what she should be doing but she pays no attention!!!

I have a 5 week old dd3 who is following a similar pattern, I've done quite a bit of reading/googling and think it is totally normal. I have also been expressing so that once each day I can have a bit of "time off" so today I used it to take the dog out! I've not been able to find any rules of thumb as to when feedings will start to space out more, for now I'm not planning much during the day other than taking dd1 and 2 to playgroups and hanging out at home eating chocolate!! Just going with it really! Good luck with it, I will watch this thread with interest.

Sounds normal to me. My DS is now 13 months. He was just like your DS. In fact, 5 hours was the longest he's ever slept.

I tried pumping and giving him a bottle but he wouldn't take it. I've since discovered that some mums have enzyme problems that makes their milk taste foul once it's been frozen, so you have to scald it before freezing. I keep meaning to try it but can't pump enough now

Thanks everyone, really good to know.

I have started takinf him for long walks during the day. He sleeps for a while, but will eventually wake up. Is he the only child who can stay awake in a pram?!

Sounds exactly like my dd at that age. She is now 14 weeks and enjoys being on her play mat, bouncy chair and gurgling at everyone in between her feeds (now 2-3 hour gaps)
as for sleeping, well it's not amazing, but she does often go down for a nap by herself now, albeit only for 45 minutes tops.
I found a sling a lifesaver, and still do. She will have at least one of her naps in it every day (esp as she won't tolerate the pushchair)
I know how you feel cos my DS lost weight with bf, but stick with it, it got better for me second time round :-)

And no- my dd stays awake in a pushchair, and a car seat! At 6 weeks I would drive half an or and she would still be awake. Not normal! She is much happier to fall asleep in in now, which is also a lifesaver when i'm ferrying DS around...

sounds normal to me but what are the nappies like? lots of wet ones? some poo ones?

All sounds very normal. And five hour sleep is quite good IMO.

If you can't put him down and you're on demand feeding, would a Kari me or similar be useful to you? I found very young dd went to sleep in it and I could drink tea and read.

Thanks for the advice.

His nappies are very wet and he does several poos a day, all yellow.

Sounds great to me. My 16 week old will only cat nap (20-30 mins) during the day and likes to be held constantly (by me) He still feeds 2-3 hourly at night so I am very at your wee sleeper.

You are doing a fab job! x

Ds has slept quite a lot today, which is great timing in terms of reassuring me.

Thanks to everyone for reassuring me that the constant feeding is normal for his age, as I'm sure we have more days like this to come.