Any thoughts on my 10 week old DS sleep pattern?

[OldieButGoldie]

My 10 week old DS was going to sleep in his cot at 8pm and his first sleep was up to 6 hours long, when he would wake and feed (he is breastfed), then go back down for 3 or 4 hours when I usually took him in to my bed till morning.

The past few nights however, he has only slept for 3.5 hours before waking for the first time when he takes a small feed (6-8 mins) before falling asleep again. He then wakes every 2 hours or less and again only feeds briefly.

Each time he falls back to sleep I am just so relieved I put him straight back in his cot without making him take a full feed, but realise that this is why he then doesn't sleep for long.

My question is this. Do you think that him not waking properly and not taking much food is a sign that he is starting to need less food in the night and if I don't disturb this pattern he will begin to skip night feeds altogether Or do you think that as I have been taking him in to my bed most nights he has learned to graze in his sleep and if I allow it to continue I will be woken every 2 hours for ever more

Hi hun, i think you need to try and get him to take a full feed when he wakes otherwise he is going to get into a habbit of waking up loads through the night. I know its really hard because when your exausted you'll do anything to get sleep and every mother understands that feeling of relief you get when the baby falls back to sleep, its hard to make yourself keep them awake. It will be worth it though.

I think babies of this age can also get into the habbit of feeding for comfort too, they wake up and use the comfort of sucking on the breast for a few minutes to help them go back to sleep. unfortunately there is no easy answer to that one. I ended up giving mines dummies, but i know thats not right for everyone. I was just fed up (and sore) of having a baby attached to my breast 24/7.

Mine are now 7 and 9 and both sleep brilliantly, i'm sure its because i was firm when they where little babies. hope that doesn't make me sound like i think i know it all cos believe me i don't and i made that many mistakes with mine, only wish i'd discover this site years ago!

Thanks Memoo, I think I'll try to keep him awake for a full feed tonight. He's gone down right on cue as usual, 8pm, so I'll see how long he goes without waking tonight, 3.5hrs or 6 hrs - please please let it be 6 ....or more!

You are so right, he always wants to feed back to sleep and I wonder if he really needs it or if it is a comfort thing.

I'm sure that my Dd was grazing through the night because I took her in with me. It's largely stopped these days because I try to make a point of puting her back in the cot after a feed. I wouldn't do it again either tbh.