Help! Doctor says we need a routine.

[nomfup44]

Hi I really need some advice! Took my 7wo DS for his 6 week check this week and the doctor said he should be able to sleep through the night with maybe one feed and I should try and get into a routine with him. Up until last week DS was BF but now he's FF but I've just been feeding on demand.
He can go to sleep in the evening anytime from 6:30 onwards but last night I woke him at 8 into pjs had a bottle (3ozs) then put in his pram awake, he went to sleep quickly, then I took him up to bed at 10pm tried a dream feed but he only had half an ounce and went back to sleep! He woke up at 12:45, 3am, 5am 5:30am and was ready for the day! Each time he wakes up he'll have 2-3ozs then I'll put him back in his crib awake and sleepy and he'll fall asleep in a few minutes.
Basically I have no idea what I'm doing or how to start a routine with him so any help or advice would be great!

He's too young for any meaningful routine , you are right to feed him on demand.
You will find very very few 7 week olds that are sleeping all night with one feed, even the best sleepers don't do this till a bit later and most not for ages!
You're doing great, take no notice and just feed and cuddle!

Your Doctor is a completely twat.

It's the biological norm for babies to wake up regularly for weeks. Your baby is still a newborn ffs.

Read up on the fourth trimester, and get a new doctor.

Thank you! That's what I'd been thinking so I was in a bit of a panic that I hadn't been trying harder with him, we'll keep going with what we're doing!

I don't think your doctor knows what they're talking about. Six week old babies are pretty resistant to routines. Occasionally you'll get one who settles and sleeps through at that age but it's pretty rare. Lots of six-weekers have growth spurts as well and it's often when babies 'cluster feed' (i.e. want to suck constantly!)

It's horrible when your sleep is broken up like this, but it won't last long. Hang on in there.

The doctor is talking bollocks, you are doing the right thing feeding on demand.

Your doctor is a total idiot.

Thank you everyone I feel so much better, I don't mind his sleeping pattern as it is now he seems happy so I'm going to keep going and we'll tackle a routine in a couple of months. The doctor was very lovely but I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks he is expecting a bit much.

I second Dawnofthemombie, he's too young. Not all babies manage to sleep through until much later my DS was one of them. He still wakes at 5.

Your baby sounds normal and is surely too young for a routine as he will need to feed a lot when he has growth spurts etc? I was smug mummy a week ago as mine had four days of sleeping through (bliss) and now he has gone to two feeds a night. Sometimes they just get hungry. If you need reassurance join a breastfeeding group or contact your local hv or bf support worker - they will probably have more experience than this doctor.

I'd actually complain about that time the practice manager as that's really shocking advice!

Feed your baby when they need it

In my experience some babies will
naturally drop into a kind of routine, sleeping at the same time of day etc from about 3 months and then you can start being more planned with feeds etc. Before then anything you try is likely to fail and cause you a lot of stress!! Enjoy your baby and feed when they are hungry for goodness' sake! Stupid doctor.

**to not time

Excuse me, but... your doctor is barking.

You and your baby do your own thing. Sod everyone else. Baby-time passes in a few years and it doesn't come back. Love your baby your own way.

thank goodness! i have a 6 week old and I was reading this like but how?!

i had my 6 week check yesterday and my dr (whois very lovely and helpful and a mum) suggested spacing out his feeds a bit. again, how ????! anyway, my mum is an experienced mother of 4 and neonatal nurse and assures me not to worry!