5 wk old feeds every 2-3 hrs during the day but every 1-2 hrs at night - agh! Any advice?

[MrsHY1]

Hello
I know she's still very small but just wondered if there's anything I can do to improve my baby girl's night time sleep as she's setting quite a demanding schedule! Basically she's napping quite well during the day (still hit and miss but will have a few power naps as well as longer one out in the buggy in the late morning, and perhaps an hour in the mid afternoon) and will feed well every 2-3 hrs, however I can count the times I've had 2-3 hrs at night on one hand. I'm co-sleeping with her so I can get as much rest as possible but do wonder if I'm contributing to the problem - maybe in my half-sleepy/ sleep deprived state I'm not interpreting her signals correctly and am shoving a boob in her little face when actually she might not need feeding. That said, she does seem to drink well when latched - albeit sometimes for a very short time - although often hard to judge as I'll often nod off once she's latched (I've perfected a technique where I can lie flat on my back and drape her across me). I can't complain too much as she'll then nod off between feeds unless the poor thing has a windy behind (!) but I am rather envious of my NCT buddies who can often get a 4 hr or even more uninterrupted stretch (one of them got 7 hrs last night!!). Any thoughts? x

It does get better I promise! Why don't you join the postnatal threads for the month your dc were born (if you're not already on them)? Sometimes just hearing that someone else is going through the same thing makes you feel a bit better

Your DS' health is not relevant. You cannot know the impact of your choice as he is only 7 years old. Your advice on this thread is just plain wrong. Can you admit that?

But I would understand if he had bad health and other problems yes I k no he is 7 and like I said his lifestyle had a lot to do with it aswell but it was for my son at thattime and like I said EVERY child is different it may be wrong to you but it wasn't at the time. It was in the past and can't change it now

It was wrong advice at the time. He must have been born in 2006. The guidelines then were the same as now. It was wrong advice in 2006 and it is wrong advice today.

Look at the end off the if you think it's wrong it's wrong but for my choice it wasn't and like I said you don't kno the whole story behind it he got weighed and checked every week and was gaining a healthy weight

It is still irresponsible to post on a thread advocating it. As you say, it was your choice. But, it just wrong to suggest it to another mother especially if you already know it contradicts guidelines and is downright dangerous. Which you do, correct?

At the risk of returning to the OP, I do wondered whether you are giving her a feed when perhaps you could persuade her to sleep again?

I've just started trialling this with my twelve week old. He can sleep through, or wakes around 4am for a quick feed. Last night he was noisy, wriggling about, but not quite awake about 1am, I didn't pick him up or turn the light on, I just thought I'd wait to see whether he actually woke up properly. He ended up settling down again, and slept for several more hours. It might be worth incurring a slightly more sleepless night to trial out whether she really needs to feed, or whether she can be settled for a bit longer?

Look I aint replying to you any more like I said it may have been wrong I ain't telling people to give there own kids anything. It may have came across like that and I'm sorry if it did

Again, your choice, rach.

OP, many apologies for the hijack of your thread. There are many very knowledgable posters in Bottle & Breastfeeding who could give you advice regarding the issue with your LO.

I take it all back Both my children are awake when they're teenagers I will get my revenge....

Thanks all and stargirl please don't apologise- I do like a healthy debate as much as the next person
Good idea re feeding.
Apols as on my phone and can't see the name of the poster who suggested watching and waiting- good idea. She slept from 10.30-1.45 last night in one block so when she woke again around 3 I felt refreshed enough to watch and wait. She then showed hunger cues so I felt confident feeding, even though she nodded off I then encouraged her to take the second breast but she wasn't on for long and woke a couple of hours later. Not complaining though- I feel like I've taken a step forwards even since yesterday and am going to a) watch and wait and b) encourage bigger feeds. I think the 'problem' is that she sort of dream feeds through the night- she rarely opens her eyes. Do your LOs wake for their feedings?
Good point re feeding thread star

Callamia, thanks!

Dear Mrs HY1
Please look at the Kellymom website and run a search under the term "reverse cycling". Apologies for not sending a link but am a Luddite. Good luck.

Dontfencemein I have to say a big thank you to you- I read that kellymom article and wondered whether I'd just been a bit too keen during the day to get her napping at regular times, watching the clock to judge feeds, get her sleeping in her own basket etc. Yesterday I just decided to sod all of that, offer her the boob if she was unsettled regardless of what the clock said, give her loads of cuddles, have her nap on me, and we even had a lovely soak in the bath together with loads of skin to skin. Could be something or nothing but she slept for 6 hrs in a row last night, then another 1.5 on top of that! Either way, I'm just going to be more relaxed from now on, go with the flow and place the Gina bloody Ford/ Baby Whisperer books well out of reach.

Wow great sleep op!

Back to what seemed like every 45 mins last night...babies aren't fans of consistency are they!!