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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Waking a 4 week old to breastfeed at night???

16 replies

maveta · 23/05/2007 07:15

All the advice seems to say not to wake a baby to feed if they are sleeping at night but how long should a 4 week old really go without eating? the night before last mine had his last feed at 8pm, fell asleep at 10pm and didn´t wake until 4am.. even then he was only lightly stirring and would have carried on sleeping if I hadn´t got him up. Then last night he ate at 7.30pm and fell asleep by 10pm.. at 4am he was still sleeping but I woke him to feed as I was worried he was going too long without eating.

Is this necessary? Obviously if I should let him keep on sleeping I´m more than happy to! I just worry that it´s a long time to go for such a small baby. Any advice?

OP posts:
ScottishThistle · 23/05/2007 07:18

Try topping him up at night before you go to bed & see how he does.

Original poster
maveta · 23/05/2007 07:24

a couple of times when i´ve woken him at e.g. 12am he then goes back into his 3 or 4 hour feed pattern i.e no extended sleep...

OP posts:
octo · 23/05/2007 07:38

Maveta - in my sleep deprived world - I would say leave him! His pattern could change any day - do you feed him at 10pm before bed? We are two hourly at the moment and I have conceded that a bottle of formula by dh at 11pm is the only way to regain some sanity! It really all comes down to whether he is gaining weight - if he is then not an issue if not then waking him for a feed would probably be recommended here.

NotQuiteCockney · 23/05/2007 07:39

Woah, why suggest introducing formula when things are working fine?

As to whether I would wake a four-week old ... I guess it depends on how he's doing. Is he gaining well, nice and plump?

octo · 23/05/2007 07:41

Not suggesting it to maveta - to myself! I cannot do 2 hourly feeds and no sleep - have two other children to look after and completely knackered - am going to continue bf the rest of the time - I just need sleep!

NotQuiteCockney · 23/05/2007 07:42

I meant Scottish Thistle was suggesting formula ...

Original poster
maveta · 23/05/2007 07:53

lol octo - i did think it was funny to see our very different queries right next to each other! before you kill me for my ingratitude let me stress i am NOT complaining, just concerned!lol these last 2 nights i haven´t woken him before i´ve gone to bed, no, for fear we lose the big stretch of sleep. i´d still rather have 6 hours and wake up at 4!

i haven´t weighed him for about 10 days but in general he´s a healthy, strong, robust litlle boy.. not quite chubby yet but definitely growing.. it´s just that 10 hours seems a long time to go without food..i know it is for me! lol

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 23/05/2007 07:57

I might try to do a dream feed before going to bed, but I probably wouldn't wake him. It sounds like he's doing fine, and isn't sleeping so long out of weakness or jaundice.

I assume he's feeding loads in the day?

Original poster
maveta · 23/05/2007 08:19

well he was feeding about 6 times a day but after his long sleep the night before last he fed very frequently yesterday, about every 2 hours and then in the evening he was barely off me for about 2 hours. he was also a grumpy little bugger yesterday and didn´t sleep more than a couple of hours all day and was a nightmare to settle in the evening (a bath, a long walk in the buggy and lots of cuddles over about 3 hours before we could get him to drop off)... i guess that´s the trade off? Be interesting to see if today goes the same..

OP posts:
ghosty · 23/05/2007 08:28

ScottishThistle said, "Try topping him up at night before you go to bed & see how he does"
I don't see the word 'formula' there. She may have meant top him up with an extra breastfeed ...
Maveta, I would leave him. If he is happy and feeding lots in the day like you say then he is obviously not hungry. My DD fed 2/3 hourly in the day and would sleep from 10pm till about 4am at 3 weeks.

shonaspurtle · 23/05/2007 10:13

Has he got the usual amount of wet/pooey nappies? That's a good sign that he's getting what he needs.

Might be an idea to get him weighed for your peace of mind. Otherwise am very happy for you - enjoy your rest! It does sound like he's filling himself up for the night in the evening, what a considerate son you have!

ScottishThistle · 23/05/2007 10:29

Em excuse me where exactly did I say the word formula???

If he's feeding 2hourly you don't need to worry about whether he's getting enough, though I do suggest you 'top him up' (breast) at around 10/10:30 (Dream feed), you don't have to wake him to do this.

CarGirl · 23/05/2007 10:33

I would honestly say unless he's not gaining weight or is generally too sleepy 24 hrs a day (suggesting there is something amiss) let him sleep. Honest one of mine slept to 7-7 from birth with one feed around 3am, and the last did 7pm-7am from a few days old but I was a mean Mum and woke them regularly during the day to get lots of food in then!

NotQuiteCockney · 23/05/2007 12:21

Sorry, ST, I normally hear 'top him up' wrt bottles. I don't think I've heard people use it to mean breastmilk before.

ScottishThistle · 29/05/2007 09:11

No problem NQC, I'm not a formula pusher!

GiantSquirrelSpotter · 29/05/2007 09:14

Oh blimey at 4 weeks old as long as he's happy and gaining, let sleeping babies lie imo and be hysterical with joy that you're getting so much sleep!

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