3 wks old - sleeping too much?

[bluecheesefiend]

Hi,

my DD is 3 wks old and i'm breastfeeding on demand. i'm trying to encourage a loose routine for morning feed/nap and for evening bath/feed/bed. For the remainder of the day I've just been winging it.

I've looked at Gina Ford and Tracey Hogg for guidance but I'm not using either as gospel (and don't want to get in to the politics of either method.... i know the subject can be a minefield!)

my query is that both of these books and other sources encourage having activity time between a feed and nap so that the baby doesn't get used to falling asleep on the breast but my DD honestly doesn't seem capable of staying awake! She can be very alert in the morning, btw 8am & 11am, but will happily sleep through the entire afternoon (with very snoozy feeds) and will go 5 hrs at night, frm midnight to 5-5:30am.

I'm sure some might tell me I'm lucky but I'm just a little worried that she should be more alert? or are my expectations unrealistic for her age? she's healthy, hydrated, gaining weight (10lbs+) and fills lots of nappies, but I have never been around babies before so would appreciate some guidance / reassurance.

thank you

y ds (baby number 3 for me) sleep so much more than my dd's did as a newborn. I was a bit concerned but very quickly learnt to most the most of it as it's very normal!

If she's healthy, hydrated and gaining weight then I wouldn't worry. DS2 was like this, but DS1 hardly slept for a year. DS2 is now a very very energetic and alert 3 year old so I don't think it's a reflection on anything. Looking back I know which I preferred.

She is only 3 weeks old! It sounds fine to me, they don't really have that much activity and awake time at that age? Well maybe some do but neither of mine, they both slept lots at that age. Ds2 even used to just fall asleep on changing table while putting his clothes on etc. Wouldn't worry, it is good for them to get plenty of sleep and probably easier in the long run to have a good sleeper than a very wakeful baby? As she gets older she will start to have more and more time awake between feeds, I don't think there is any need to rush that though it should happen naturally. I just let mine sleep as much as they want? There's a saying sleep induces sleep, so if they nap alot in the day it still helps them sleep @ night, wont necessarily cause a problem.

brilliant - thank you ladies - I kind of thought as much but needed to hear it from others! xx