5 week old feeding/sleeping routine

[Dljen]

Hello,I have a 5 week old and was just after some advice really.She is currently having 4-5oz of formula every 3 hours which I am sometimes having to wake her up for.Should I be leaving her longer than 3 hours if she's sleeping? Also people have been saying that she should be staying awake after her bottles for up to 2 hours before I let her sleep again so she doesn't spend all day asleep and sleeps at night.She barely even manages an hour after her bottle awake.Is it possible to have any sort of routine this early on? Thanks

Just go with her flow, she’s only 5 weeks old, at this age 2 hours awake is a lot. I wouldn’t leave more than 4 hours without a feed at her age. I did once as was enjoying the rest and then by ds was too tired to feed, was a bit scary!

Up to 90 mins waking is normally at this age. If she has no health problems and is putting on weight it’s fine to let her sleep but I would be waking her every 3 hours to feed during the day in the hope she sleeps better at night.

Routine is easier with bottle feeding but expect a pattern of behaviour eg feed, nappy, cuddle, sleep rather than set times. Google the EASY routine.

By 'routine' do you mean times for naps/feeds etc? If so that wont come for a good few months yet.

Id go with the flow and be flexible, but your day would be something like sleep, feed, change, maybe minimal awake time, sleep. As for 2 hrs awake time, theres no way I would have got 2 hours out of my son at that age. He turned 5 months yesterday and he's just about doing a 2hr awake time. I think at 5 weeks it was more like an hour, maybe less.

Dont doubt yourself! You know your baby better than any of your family members/friends. You're doing a great job!

In answer to your question about waking your baby for feeds, is she a healthy weight? Any concerns about feeding at all?

If thats all fine id leave your baby to sleep, she'll probably (loudly) let you know when shes hungry.

An hour awake time definately sounds right at that age! My 16 week old can't even stay awake for 2 hours at a time.

Sleep breeds sleep - the more the better. Less daytime sleep won't mean better nighttime sleep at that age. Sounds like you're doing great

I have a breastfed 5 week old, she also sleeps a lot. I used to just let her fall back asleep (usually after a feed) but now after a nappy change or something I lay her down and play with her, talk to her, and she's perfectly happily awake for a while as the nappy change wakes her up a little first. I think sometimes you have to make the effort for them. Also remember all that time they are feeding and being changed also contributes to their total wake time. Good luck! Congrats on the baby :)

She's gaining weight well and having plenty of wet and dirty nappies. Keeping her awake is a real struggle,I change her nappy after feeds to try and keep her awake for abit,talk 2 her,put her on her play mat and show her pictures.If only she was as sleepy during the night 🙈😴