Advice needed breastfeeding and sleeping through at 3 mths.

[tori32]

Does any one have a breastfed child who slept 7pm-7am from 3 mths? If you did then can you tell me how to achieve it? Thanks?

[tori32]

How long is a sensible amount of time to have them latched on in the beginning? The first time I had dd latched on for 2 hours sometimes, appeared to be feeding but couldn't possibley be.

[tori32]

Oh msappropriate I hope you don't think I'm one of those ff sleep better crap. I only mentioned it because I had that experience with my dd1 so unfortunately in my mind had a link with changing to ff and sleeping. Thats why I am getting advice now!

[tori32]

Sorry oregon I have to draw the line at co-sleeping. Its a lovely idea, however, with last dd1 got no sleep even when she was just in same room! If I could hear her breathing it kept me awake and when I couldn't hear her I kept having to check she was still breathing!!

[oregonianabroad]

I did that with ds1, but with ds2, there just wasn't the time!

[msappropriate]

no don't worry! its just the advice I always get when I moan about getting no sleep.

I can't seem to see any pattern to those who sleep through early or not - size gender, co-sleeping, sleeping in same room, sleeping in own room, using sleeping bags, routines, on demand, being on solids, being able to fall asleep by themsleves, giving a late night feed, etc etc. I know babies in all categories.

As am totally sleep deprives at the moment this subject is always on my mind!

[oregonianabroad]

oh, i know, co-sleeping isn't for everyone, just mentioned it in case you hadn't considered it before.
I was talking about leaving ds1 to bf for hours in my last post, btw.
One thing you could consider is going for it for a few months (as long as you can stand) and then maybe trying controlled crying?
I really liked this book too:
no cry sleep solution

[SuperMonkey]

The key for me has definitely been a bottle of hungry baby milk at 11pm - DS now usually sleeps from 11pm to 6/7am (and goes to bed around 7pm). I tried to BF him but he was too sleepy and wouldn't latch on, I can be a bit more pushy with a teat! During the day he is fed about every 3 hours - approx 7am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 7pm - and has been from the day he was born. I'm not Gina Fording, it's just what he has demanded! Always offered both breast, usually takes some from the second.

[SuperMonkey]

DS was in a crib by my bed at the start, I moved him into a cot in his own room at about 8 weeks. He's a restless sleeper and I'm a light sleeper so having him in another room has helped my sleep - I can hear him easily if he needs me, I just don't wake up if he turns over!

[octoandflash]

Bottles don't seem to make any difference to us.

[tori32]

Poor you! I have to say that after what you have told me I consider myself very lucky since at least when I switched it did help with sleeping. However, My dd was sick after most bf and this stopped when I switched to ff as well so probably some physiological reason why she couldn't keep breast milk down. I've only been woken about 6 times between 7pm and 7am in 16mths.

[Seona1973]

I dont think there is a tried and tested method of getting babies to sleep through at and early age - why do you think there are so many books about getting babies into routines, sleeping, feeding, etc??!! My ds was formula fed and didnt sleep through till 8 months.

IMHO it is not all to do with food - it is about your lo's personality and how well they learn to settle themselves. The ones that find it easy to settle are the ones that sleep through early regardless of the amount of feeding/feeding method. I dont think you can realistically set a goal of having your lo sleeping through by a certain time as if you dont reach that goal (or your lo is not able to) then you will feel as if you (and baby) have failed in some way.

Wait till your lo is born, play it by ear and guide your lo towards the goal BUT dont be upset if your lo doesnt quite get there when you want them to.

[octoandflash]

ds3 was 4 months last weds and he slept through - one night only special! Can get up 6 times a night ....

[tori32]

Thanks supermonkey that sounds like a good framework. Do you need to express at the 11pm feed? Had same sleep issues with dd in my room in a moses basket!
(gets hard hat!) I actually did Gina Ford it from dd being 6 weeks but thats another thread entirely! {grin}

[tori32]

seona thanks for very pragmatic advice

octoandflash hats off to you I don't know how you keep your eyes open during the day!

[silverfrog]

aha, now that you have admitted being gina ford friendly, I can divulge that I have followed her methods with both dds. (I would havementioned it earlier, but you can never be sure of the reception you'll get ) Not to the point of worrying if they went down for naps 5 mins late, but as a guide, something to aim for. she is a big advocate of not going longer than 3 hours in the day in betwen feeds, and this is something I felt worked for me.

[Just5minspeace]

Hi - Both mine started going all night at 4mths. Breastfed all day then offered bottle at night followed by boob if wanted. Never woke them up to do late-night 10pm feed as found it just disturbed them and made them wake more.
DS woke a few times at 4am but I put music on/offerd water and left him. After 20mins went back to sleep until 8.30am. Did this two nights and third night slept through. Has been going all night for 2 weeks now.
It does depend on how big they are though..I decided DS's thighs were chunky enough to support him and he wasn't going to starve!!
Good luck - don't rush it,it will come eventually

[octoandflash]

I just feel that 4 months is too young to start controlled crying etc - have tried the bottles and baby rice ((ducks)) but nothing made any difference - in fact he was only waking up twice at 2 months! Having said that once they do start sleeping through the night it is great - but my older two, esp my 4 year old still wakes us up inthe night ....

[SuperMonkey]

Tori - I have actually just started to express at 11pm because I have found that if he does wake in the night to feed then my milk is low for his breakfast!

[msappropriate]

I really don't know many babies who go longer than 3 hours between daytime feeds, on demand or routine fed/sleeping through or not.

[silverfrog]

(I only mentioned the 3 hr thing because tori said earlei she had let her dd regularly sleep for 5 hrs in the day)

[tori32]

just5minspeace My dd was 9lb 12oz at birth so if thats any guide to size it will probably be big. Also DH 6'4 so tall as well. Thats why I think it should manage longer nights.

silverfrog yes thats why I mentioned the hard hat! Like I said, I did Gina with the bottle from 6 weeks and dd has slept through since 12 weeks. Also hardly ever wakes in the night (maybe 6 times in 16mths)

[tori32]

octoandflash Believe it or not psychology studies have proved that babies cry solely for attention as opposed to for a direct need for something from 6 weeks old. So I agree that 4 mths is fine to use controlled crying. I also had a video monitor which I could view dd on tv with which proved the theory was correct. My DH went upstairs whilest dd was crying, she heard the creak on the floor boards stopped crying and looked at the door, when DH came down stairs she started crying again. She was not distressed- no fist clenching, or angry look, just arms down by sides going wah wah i.e. come and talk to me!!!

[silverfrog]

YOu won't hear any complaints about gina ford from me - I really do not function well on reduced sleep (get really snappy and irritable ) so I sympathise with your worries. I was convinced that it was a fluke that dd1 slept so well, and that I'd never have another who did the same. Thankfully dd2 thought otherwise, and practically begs to be put to bed at 6.30.

I did, however, only loosely follow gina ford - both dds wanted to cluster feed of an evening until they were about 10 weeks or so (possibly even a bit later), which I always took to be them trying to stock up so they could sleep longer (always the optimist, me!)

[octoandflash]

tori - I don't talk to him - shuffle in, pick up, feed, put back down, leave ... ahhhh bless him snuffle snuffle snuffle ... he is getting his own way