7 week old sleeping habits - is this 'normal'?

[firsttimemamaa]

Hello all,

First time mum & first time poster so please bare with me!

My daughter is 7 weeks old on Wednesday. When my OH was paternity leave we woke her every 4 hours to feed (as advised by my midwife). Once he went back to work I decided to feed on demand as sometimes she couldn't make it to the 4 hour mark others she wouldn't take the feed. She naturally got into her own pattern - slept for longer stretches through the night & generally stuck to the 4 hours between feeds.

I decided to go back to a 'schedule' about a week ago as I'm terrified of having to do a cry it out method when she's older. My theory was if I get good sleeping habits now maybe I'll be lucky and can skip the majority of the screaming!

So now I feed at 7am then every 4 hours until 7pm, we formula feed and is currently having 6oz! Again sometimes she doesn't finish it. I aim for 26 ounces per day (she's formula fed). She tends to fall asleep between 7.30-8.00. I then let her decide when she wants feeding through the night which is only once between 1-2am, but today it was 3am!

I think we're extremely lucky after listening/reading about other little ones sleeping habits. She goes down without a fuss normally. We put down drowsy but awake, swaddled for night sleep but whatever she is wearing for naps. Sometimes we use white noise, dummy, rocking her bedside crib or if she's having a bad night I let her fall asleep on me and try out her down without much disturbance!

Once she's down for the night she stays asleep without a peep, but after her feed she is really unsettled. She sounds like she's being possessed! She isn't crying it's a grunting/moaning sound. I get all the wind I can out of her and when she starts making the noises I try again but nothing. I've also tried feeding her more or less at this feed. Does anybody else get this?

She is usually fast asleep (and silent) at 7am but I'll wake her and change her into a new onesie and have some bonding time with her, she's a very happy baby in a morning which is lovely for me! Feed her and she settles for a catnap at 8 (I get ready) then I take her for a walk around the park between 9-10 which she sleeps through usually.

I have just done what feels right and hoped for the best up to now but I'm worried about the hours she's grunting/moaning as it doesn't happen during any other sleep time!

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!

First off all your doing great and congratulations. Personally at that age they are still so young so would go with what they want. As far as I'm aware they won't learn any bad Read up on fourth trimester will explain more.

Newborns are noisy, no one really tells you that other than crying!! Completely normal so don't worry about it. It may be her 'self settle' noise. Congratulations on your new bubba

It seems better to let baby decide when she's hungry and how much she wants. Babies and small children are usually better in tune with their hunger then adults are.

Grunting and weird little sighing sounds are common with my baby at least, the grunting happens all day the sighing is when I think she's dreaming.

Mine made that noise a lot about that age- it seemed to be him getting used to his digestive system

It's bollocks about good or bad sleep habits at this age. You're just lucky that you have a baby that sleeps. It may well change with one or more upcoming sleep regressions. THere are ALWAYS alternatives to crying / sleep training too

Thanks for your replies!

I think she may have just been through her 6 week sleep regression (she went back to waking up multiple times and fed a lot) but she's gone back to the once a night wake up. It was only the night before last so hopefully it hasn't just been a one off!

Don't get me wrong I won't force feed her the full 6oz if she doesn't want it, I'll wind her a few times and try again once or twice but then I'll let her Benz 9/10 she will have the full 6oz.

About the digesting of milk, we swapped her to comfort milk 5 days ago so maybe it's that. I can't quite remember when the possessed noises started, my days seem to roll into one! She has taken the swap well otherwise.
It's possible she might just want a good stretch after being in the same position for 7/8 hours, I noticed last night she was trying to get her arms above her head (how she sleeps during naps). But the wasn't enough stretch in the swaddle. I've put her down tonight with her arms out of the swaddle so I'll see how that goes! I might swap to the love to dream swaddle. We've been out since 9am so she may be worn out anyway.

I've read up on sleeping routines (what to do, what not to do etc) but they all contradict each other! One thing that has stuck with me is not to create bad sleeping habits in the early days. I'm quite conscious on her falling asleep on me all the time. But I love the cuddles. I should also mention the groaning stops if she lays on me! Anyway I'll just carry on as I am and let her lead the way :)

thank you for the advice!

I think she may have just been through her 6 week sleep regression (she went back to waking up multiple times and fed a lot) but she's gone back to the once a night wake up. It was only the night before last so hopefully it hasn't just been a one off!

6 weeks is a growth spurt.

8 weeks is the regression!

Seriously at this age, there are no such things as bad sleep habits. Mine wouldn't really sleep at all without being on/ by me.

I will and do still cuddle him now. And Bf to sleep if it works (it often doesn't now) and BF back to sleep through the night. He's 13 mo. I do still bedshare on nights when we've had more than 3 wakeups as otherwise I end up going a bit loopy (and he usually sleeps til well past 7 if not 8)

It is the norm to cuddle, hold etc

Feed on demand don’t follow a schedule.

Sorry pressed send too soon! As PP said babies appetites vary just like adults, they are hungry and thirsty at different times. The 4 hour thing is very outdated x

One thing that has stuck with me is not to create bad sleeping habits in the early days. I'm quite conscious on her falling asleep on me all the time.

Okay. Bit of a fact check.

Your baby should still be inside you. All human babies are born at least 3 months premature.

When inside you they are rocked to sleep by your movement, fed on demand, they hear your intestines, your voice and your heart beating. All of those things are comforting to them.

Why you’d deprive them of a biological need for fear of them becoming needy sleepers is beyond me.

We survived hundreds of years without baby books. Follow your instincts. The rest is just marketing.

Hundreds of thousands of years.

Feed on demand and cuddle all you can. She won't be little for long. You may find that when she goes through a growth spurt she wants to feed more often- let her. The idea that babies ought to feed to a set 4 hour schedule is discredited (though some do so naturally, which is fine). Your baby sounds like she is a fantastic sleeper, multiple night-wakening would be more common at her age!

I'll look forward to that regression then!!

Sorry I think I've put the 4 hour schedule across wrong, if she wants feeding earlier I'll feed her. I wouldn't starve the poor girl! I just try to stick to the 7am & 7pm feeds.

I think because the midwife said 4 hours the day we went home it's just stuck, I didn't know any different up until a couple of weeks ago. Even when I did feed on demand she generally went 4 hours, maybe she's 'text book' (if that's even possible). I was constantly told I had a text book pregnancy!

I feel better about long period cuddles now, so thank you, she's already changed so much and I do want to savour every moment with her. I will give her an extra long snuggle tonight!

I also think that about surviving for thousands of years without all these gadgets and what not. Just entering this world of unknown you get sucked into everything trying to give little baby the best life possible - At least I do! I just want to make sure she's as comfortable & content.

She's an amazing sleeper, we're so blessed at the moment. I couldn't ask for anything more really. I know it won't last though!!

Just enjoy her!