Breastfeeding: How long should my 9 week old be sleeping at night?

[hmo2b]

My HV says my 9 week old should be sleeping much longer than 2 to 3 hours between feeds at night and that it might be that he is using me to get him off to sleep when he wakes. When can I expect him to go longer? She suggested controlled crying but I am not really keen on the idea. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Your HV is wrong and should not be advising controlled crying for a 9 week old baby 2 or 3 hours is completely normal, falling asleep at the breast is completely normal. Your HV needs retraining if she is dishing out advice like this.

Here is some info on the early weeks. Here is some about sleep.

If you are not keen on controlled crying, that is OK :) Babies do not need to be 'taught' to sleep. You sound like you are doing a fab job.

If you are up to it, perhaps you could write to your local surgery or whoever organises the HV and tell them about your experience.

mine woke every hour for feeds at that age til about 14-15 weeks. including through the night! there's no "should" with babies, they're all different. hth

i would say if they go 3 hours between feeds then you are very lucky!!!!!!

Your health visitor is talking abject shit.

Sorry, but this type of 'advice' makes me soooo angry. Your baby is normal, and even the strongest advocates of CC don't advise it on a 9 week old baby .

hmo2b - that is truly shocking from the HV....yes, of course your baby is 'using you to get off to sleep when he wakes". He's 9 weeks! What does she expect? What a shame you have been made to feel undermined in this way :(

You can't do CC on a 9 week old, I don't think

Both mine started doing a longer stretch around 8 weeks - around 8 hours (then my period came back )

But it just happened really. I'm not sure I could have done anything to make it happen.

Please do use controlled crying on your tiny baby. At 9 weeks their tummies are so small, they need feeding often. Your baby is still just working out that they are a separate person from you. I don't believe babies develop bad habits at this age and there really is no "should" as they are all so different.

My DD has never done what she "should" do in regard to sleep/naps and as soon as I relaxed & stopped worrying about this we are both so much happier. My day is scheduled around my baby not a hypothetical text book baby. Please don't worry, go with your baby, you will both soon work it out!

My DD is now 6 months old & still wakes several times in the night to fed, but this is what she needs so I'm going with it!

No. She is wrong. Cc is not appropriate on such a small baby. It would emotionally damage him. Bf at night 2-3 holy is NORMAL at this age. It is related to stimulating your milk supply when the hormones are at most active. It will get easier and be very much worth it. Please don't let this misguided HV put you aff all hv's. There are many very experienced, well informed hv's. Like any profession you get crap sometimes.

I would say that 2-3hours is totally reasonable for a baby that age, some will feed much less and some much more.

If you are very tired it might be worth thinking about safe co-sleeping?

ANd it will vary. Some mornings you'll wake up and think, "ooh, dc didn't feed at all last night, hurrah, I've done it!"

The next night it will be hourly.

DD is 5 months and completely unpredictable.

Just wait til the weight drops at 4 months, hvs love that one.

I'd say feeding 3 hourly at 8 weeks is pretty good - my DD has only just started going longer than that at almost 7 months....

HV talking absolute rubbish! DO NOT do CC on your little baby! It is only recommended on babies of 6 months and over, and I personally would never do it.... (but that's not relevant!!)just trust your instincts and trust your baby s/he knows what she needs!