Establishing a bed time

brandyleighxx

Do you put baby to bed awake? Drowsy? Do you let LO cry? I currently let DS fall asleep downstairs on either myself or DH after a bottle around 8pm then move him to crib. He usually wakes again for next feeding between 11pm-1am. Again around 3am and up at 5am. Do you eventually try to cut out a night feeding or always feed when hungry? Going back to work next week and DS is 6 weeks today, so I think it's time to start a routine that works for everyone.

aadewitt

I believe that at this young age you should go on what the baby wants.  Feed when hungry and put to bed when tired.  DS is 9.5 weeks and he goes down for the night between 10-12 and wakes around 2-3 and again at 5-6.  I wish DS would either go to bed earlier (its still right around the midnight mark) or cut out a feeding, but oh well.  Its more important to go on what they want at this age then to cater to your needs. 

danieliza1127

The book I've read and my baby's doctor said not to expect the baby to be able to fall asleep on his own until 3 to 4 months old.  Right now, my baby doesn't fall asleep if I lay him down drowsy.  I have to hold him until he's asleep and then put him down.  I usually put him in his pjs and start his feeding around 9 or 9:30 and then he'll sleep until 3 or 4am, up for a diaper change and a feeding, and then he'll sleep another 2 or 3 hours. 

At 6 weeks, you really just have to follow his routine.  If he stays up later than 8:00, you can probably get it down to one middle of the night feeding rather than two, that's what I like about our baby staying up until 9:30 or 10, that way I'm only getting up once during the night.  He has kind of set that routine on his own and I just follow it.  

katieh1017

Agree with PP's, just follow what LO needs at this age. I think sleep training shouldn't start until around 4 months. We still rock L to sleep every night and now she is having issues staying asleep in her crib. We are going to start sleep training very soon.

mben1119

Babies can't self-soothe until after 4-6 months, so don't let LO cry. Cutting night feedings shouldn't happen until LO ups their daytime intake to account for that. Otherwise, they will be missing out on a lot of nutrition (hence, the major issue with Babywise).  Routines are good, but wait until LO sets the pace. Babies will often create their own.

brandyleighxx

Thanks ladies! I've been dreading trying to start a routine because I'm thinking there's no way that 1. LO will skip a feeding, he's a big boy and 2. He needs some help getting to sleep. He gets the best sleep on my chest.

carladillon

Our LO is too young to sleep train at this point (6 weeks).  That being said, we go to bed around11pm.  LO sleeps ON me right now.  I nurse him before we settle down.  Sometimes he will fall asleep nursing.  Sometimes he doesn't, but we keep the lights off (only night light), and have started using a sound machine - other than that, I keep stimulation to an absolute minimum.  Just laying the groundwork for him to know the cues for bedtime.  Now, if I could just get him to sleep somewhere other than on my chest....

juliane2004

You could try a dreamfeed. https://babywisemom.blogspot.ca/2009/07/dreamfeed-fa.html

How is he napping in the day?

jfgreer

I start quiet time around 8 pm. Lights dimmed, TV off, soft music on, last feeding of the night. Then I rock her to sleep and she's down by 9, 10 for sure. Lately her first stretch has been 5 hours. (She's 6.5 weeks)

ETA: I cannot put her down drowsy, she has to fall asleep feeding or in my arms rocking. Then I put her in her crib and swaddle her. 

emilybailey76

danieliza1127:

The book I've read and my baby's doctor said not to expect the baby to be able to fall asleep on his own until 3 to 4 months old.  Right now, my baby doesn't fall asleep if I lay him down drowsy.  I have to hold him until he's asleep and then put him down.  I usually put him in his pjs and start his feeding around 9 or 9:30 and then he'll sleep until 3 or 4am, up for a diaper change and a feeding, and then he'll sleep another 2 or 3 hours. 

At 6 weeks, you really just have to follow his routine.  If he stays up later than 8:00, you can probably get it down to one middle of the night feeding rather than two, that's what I like about our baby staying up until 9:30 or 10, that way I'm only getting up once during the night.  He has kind of set that routine on his own and I just follow it.  

Can you please tell me what book you read?  That sounds like something I would like to read.  I disagree with other theories of getting started early etc. etc.