FF newborn not sleeping as much

[purplepingu]

My DS is three weeks old on Wednesday. The first couple of weeks he was feeding every four hours including through the night and pretty much slept when he wasn't being fed. He was taking between 3 and 5 oz at a time.

For the last week or so it's gone pretty erratic with him only going every two hours and taking 4 oz each time or sometimes going four hours but only taking 2 oz and then dropping to sleep (to the point where I can't physically wake him to take more).

Last night he had a full 4 oz bottle at 10:30 but then woke at 1 and wouldn't go back to sleep until gone 4:30, we had crying, attempts at sleep and an eventual extra bottle but he'd one take 2 oz out of it.

The HV said last week it could be a growth spurt but can it really still be a spurt one week on? Or are we destined never to get back to our 4 hour feeds?

I know he's really new and I shouldn't expect a routine this early but I feel like I'm failing after having it fairly easy in the beginning. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

[Notfastjustfurious]

You're still at the beginning, baby is only weeks old! There's going to be lots of changes in feeding in these early weeks and you are definitely not failing. You might never get 4 hourly but that's ok even adults don't wait 4 hours between eating/drinking.

[nottheOP]

The only thing you can do to encourage less food at night is more in the day but this is obviously easier said than done with a newborn.

I'd try to not count the number of wakings and just enjoy any good nights you may get.

[purplepingu]

It's the random three hour awakeness last night that's done me in. I was coping with the two hour wakings when he'd go straight back to sleep but no amount of cuddles, shushing, winding, feeding or pacing around the bedroom with him last night would send him back to sleep.

Should I be trying to keep him awake more during the day to get him to sleep at night?

[NovemberRainbow]

Firstly you are not failing, changes in feeding and sleeping patterns are completely normal. I found the first 3 weeks the easiest (apart from recovering from childbirth) as my DD slept most of the time.

Please don't worry about routine too much, as babies have growth spurts regularly and change patterns all over again.

Just keep feeding on demand, looking for hunger cues (rooting, hands to mouth etc).
Also keep an eye out for tiredness cues, my DD (4months) sometimes crys because she's overtired. For some reason babies don't always just fall asleep when tired and need a little help. I always find a walk with the pram or a car ride does the trick.

Also it doesn't seem to make a difference for us if you try and keep baby awake during the day. You just end up with an overtired upset baby.

Congratulations btw having a baby can be hard work but so rewarding. The first smiles and giggles are amazing.

[nottheOP]

I'm of the opinion that over tiredness is worse for getting sleep at night. It's pretty hard for a newborn to have too much sleep.

To try to keep daytime bright and loud and nighttime quiet and dark. Learning the difference between the two comes eventually

[purplepingu]

November, I did wonder last night if it was overtiredness rather than awakeness because surely he could not have been happy being wide awake all that time! If it had been the middle of the day he'd have been off in the car or out for a walk!

We've got the hunger cues down to a tee, he's predictable with the rooting and hands in his mouth.

One other thing, he seems to have moments where he roots but when you put the teat in his mouth he keeps his mouth open and shakes his head from side to side. It's like he's forgotten how to suck. But if you persevere with him he will eventually start and take some more. That was new this week too.

[NickyEds]

I wouldn't try and keep him awake during the day, sleep begets sleep and over-tiredness is awful in babies this little (or babies that are quite big come to think of it!). With ds at this age my first point of call was always milk (ds was mix fed), before rocking, sshhing etc. If he had a feed at 10.30 it's perfectly plausable he just needed more at 1 (was he crying/colicky or just unsettled?). TBH the 4 hour gap between feeds was very unusual (if welcome!) newborn feeding and this sounds much more like "normal".Congratulations!

[purplepingu]

Thanks Nicky, from what's been said here I'm thinking I'm seeing the signs of overtiredness. Wish it was in the daytime rather than at 1 in the morning when it seems to hit, would be able to do more about it then!