Do I need to raise my expectations?

[butterbeerfloat]

DS turns 6 weeks today and for the past week or so many people have asked me if he sleeps through yet

He tends to sleep for 3 hours, feed, then 3 hours, feed, then every 2 hours until I get up. I feel well rested during the day (although shattered before the first 3 hour slot but then I'm revived again) and thought he was doing quite well really for such a young baby?

Now that so many people have said he should be sleeping through by now I'm starting to think I should expect more? But really so far I've just been letting him lead the way.

Sounds perfectly normal to me - I read somewhere that about half of six month olds sleep through (>5 hrs) and the other half equally normally don't. If you're getting enough rest don't let them make you feel bad!

I think he/you are doing well! 6 weeks is really young still and I would think most babies this small are not sleeping through the night. My DD only started sleeping for 3 hours between feeds at around 9 weeks then from about 12 weeks (she' 14 weeks now) she usually sleeps 7.30-11 pm ish, then a dream feed, sleeping through until 4 am, then a feed then sleeping until about 8 and I think this is pretty good. Obviously it would be great if she slept for 8-10 hours a night, but fingers crossed that will come!

Mine didn't sleep through (bedtime to morning) until 8 months and I class myself as extremely lucky!

Thanks for your replies!

My niece was a terrible sleeper so I have been feeling really pleased with him, I'm glad from the sounds of things he is doing good as I thought. I don't know why everyone keeps asking if he sleeps through, then looks let down when I tell them he doesnt!?
I've even had people recommend me techniques and websites I should be looking into to get him to go longer between feeds, but I'm feeding on demand and I don't want to deny him if he's hungry.

It must be just another one of those things where everyone has not very helpful advice on how your life could be so much easier if you just ....
!

I don't actually think you can "make" babies go longer between feeds - just feed when they want it - it doesn't last forever.

Mine started reliably sleeping all night about three weeks ago.

She is two next month! But they are all so different.

If you are bf (I think you are) then carry on feeding on demand, sounds like you are doing just fine. I had similar comments from my DM and mil and dsm at that age and it got to me, but advice was different in their day.

Also even if sleep is going well at 6 weeks, it all may change in a few weeks time....! So grab any chance to sleep while you can (sounds like you are)

that sounds really good to me! my ds just started sleeping in a similar pattern at around 10weeks and i consider myself lucky (and know it might all change tomorrow) i figure if he's just waking, feeding, going back to sleep every 3 hours then he must just still be hungry that often- in which case I'd be concerned if he slept all night! Though id love some wider spacing..

At 6 weeks my colicky baby didn't sleep at all! So I would have loved that sleep/feed routine. However you are spot on letting baby lead way at this age. 6 weeks is very young and I think its less common for them to sleep through than not by now. When they are ready they'll do. Could be tonight, could be ages off and you'll wonder what happened!. For reference my dc slept through at 12 weeks then intermittently until toddler age. Unfortunately ds is back in a non sleeping cycle and Ive just bought him a gro clock. I too am back in the 'when will he sleep through' stage again. And he's 3 (sob). So every child is different and every stage is different. You sound sensible to me!