Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

Following baby's 'rhythm'?

10 replies

angel1976 · 08/04/2008 14:07

Hi all,

Just wondering... I've been trying to implement a loose routine of sorts following the feed-activity-nap pattern but have noticed that my LO definitely has his own 'rhythm' and no matter how hard to try to keep him awake sometimes, it doesn't work. He sleeps a lot (like his daddy!) and his day looks like this at the moment... It does vary a bit but generally it stays rather closely to it.

7.30am - Wake up, feed and mummy-daddy time
9am - 11.30am - Nap and a bit of awake time
11.30am - Feed
11.30am - 2:30pm - Big nap
2.30pm - Feed
2.30-3.30pm - Awake / Activity time
3.30 - 5pm - Small nap
5pm Feed
5-8pm - Wide awake / Nonstop entertainment from mummy
8pm - Feed / Bedtime routine
9pm - Sleep

Generally he will wake up at around 2-3am and then around 5am before getting up at 7.30am when my hubby gets up for work. Does this look normal to you? I don't mind it as I am getting plenty of rest while he is napping (though the nonstop entertainment that starts at 5pm kills me!). I just don't know if I should try and 'force' any other pattern on him as it's clear to me he loves his sleep and at certain times of the day! I am aware that the pattern will change as he gets older and more awake time... Any advice or comments please?

By the way, he is just over 6 weeks old and just to be clear, I haven't forced this 'routine' on him, it's a pattern I have noticed and my question isn't whether a routine is right or wrong but more if I should just go with the flow or try and keep him up for more 'awake' time? He does seem to sleep a great deal! Not that I am complaining...

Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mankymummy · 08/04/2008 14:10

I would personally let him sleep. Did this with DS and he was very contented baby. He really led me with his routine (how badly I miss the two naps a day!)... make the most of it! 6 weeks is very young and he prob needs his sleep.

UniS · 08/04/2008 14:14

don;t forget that he is awake while your feeding him.
sounds like a fine pattern. keep on going with teh flow, it will change with time thats normal.

pinata · 08/04/2008 16:53

defintely go with the flow - you can't really make a sleepy baby stay awake any more than you can make an awake baby fall asleep. i read all sorts about routines before DD was born but found it impossible to implement one, so i have given up!

all i do is watch that she eats at roughly the right intervals and that i put her to bed when she looks tired, all of which vary pretty much every other day.

cosima · 08/04/2008 17:02

oh my god, he sleeps from 9pm till 7.30am AND naps during the day? want to swap ?

Original poster

angel1976 · 08/04/2008 17:19

Cosima, I wish! He wakes at 2/3am and then at 4/5am. I REALLY want him to drop one of those feeds to no avail (yet!). He naps a great deal tho... To be fair, DH can sleep for England so no surprises who he takes after then...

OP posts:

lindenlass · 08/04/2008 19:01

Have you tried asking yourself why you feel you need to change things?

He knows his body and trusts his instincts and you can too, so long as he's developing and growing! Routines are for parents, not babies - babies grow up perfectly happy individuals just going with the flow, and are usually very adaptable too. If he sleeps a lot he probably needs it. The time will come when he'll be awake all the time and you'll be on here again asking for advice as to how to get him to nap more . Enjoy it while it lasts

dairymoo · 08/04/2008 19:40

I'd say it looks pretty normal to me and that you should enjoy it - and get all the rest you can! My DTs were (and still are to some extent) very sleepy and I used to worry that they were getting too much sleep, and not enough awake time. But they've always slept well at night (feeding times roughly the same as your LO's) and so I stopped worrying about it. It WILL change, maybe soon, maybe not (mine can only just now stay awake for more than 2 hours, and that's at a push - they are 7.5mo!!) but they are developing fine otherwise and I'm always the envy of my friends as I can normally sit in a coffee shop and sip my coffee whilst they try and entertain their babies!

And I think the night feeds sound pretty good to me, assuming he goes back down farily easily afterwards.

HTH

Original poster

angel1976 · 08/04/2008 20:51

Hi,

Thanks for all your re-assurances! He never moved much while in my belly and now it seems he's just a sleepyhead. He goes down real easy at night (touch wood!) after his feeds. He just seems to sleep so much of the day away and being a first-time mum, I have no idea what's normal. I feel like I should be doing stuff with him (like play on his activity mat or something) but he doesn't stay interested for long though I know that he is very young to be doing all that! I will enjoy his sleepiness while it lasts! Thanks all.

OP posts:

phlossie · 08/04/2008 21:03

Let him sleep! Looking at your routine though, it may be worth thinking about aiming for an earlier bedtime? Maybe more like 7.30pm. It's normal for them to be a bit manic from 5pm-8pm, but you could start the bath/bed routine at 7ish to try and get him down for 8pm.

Original poster

angel1976 · 09/04/2008 12:27

I'm trying different things... I used to give him the bottle at 7.30pm and try and put him down then but that meant he woke up really early the next day (like 5am and refused to go back down!). I might try it again though... Thanks for the suggestion. It's just trying to find something that works.

OP posts:

Flip