short sleep stretches

Debra4869 · December 2013

I'm a STM and did not have any sleep 'issues' with my first. My second is a totally different baby. He is currently 6 weeks old and will sleep for 3-4 hours during the day, but only will sleep 2 hour stretches at night. He wakes up and eats a little, but then falls back asleep. Basically he is not waking because he is hungry because he only eats enough to put himself back to sleep. I'm so exhausted. He does go back to sleep pretty easily after he wakes, but I'm really trying to find a way to get longer sleep stretches. Four hours would be amazing, I can't deal with this every two hours - it takes me an hour to fall back asleep after I'm up so I'm basically sleeping in one hour stretches. He is EBF, currently sleeping swaddled in a rock n play or in crib with crib wedge. Thoughts?? TIA

taraleanne · December 2013

At 6 weeks old, waking every 2 hours to eat is still cause he's hungry. But what you could do is wake him during the day every 2 hours to eat (even my 6m old eats every 2-3.5 hours during the day) and then hopefully that will transfer some of those calories to the day time. Also have a "this is nighttime" routine and keep the daylight feeds and wake times bright and lively and nighttime feeds quiet and low stimulation. Over time those night hours will stretch but you need to get his clock straight, sounds like his days and nights are a bit messed up. You'll still be waking a few times a night to nurse him though.

SharonB222 · December 2013

My 1st had long stretches early, but my 2nd was still doing every 2 hrs last week. I didn't change anything and now my 2nd is doing some long stretches overnight. Maybe that was the end of his newborn growth spurt? He's 11 lbs, 4 wks today. I was considering my options (mainly extra DH help) but am glad LO decided to switch gears himself... for now.

. GL.

smhiles · December 2013

I'm at 8w and I'm getting no more than 2-2.5 hrs TOPS.

huntjul · December 2013

Pump milk and have someone else take one feeding so you get that 4 hrs stretch you need.

PrimRoseMama · December 2013

This is normal. He's hungry. It's not an issue. It's what babies do. You must have gotten super lucky with #1.

PrimRoseMama · December 2013

Also, get rid of that crib wedge ASAP. It's a suffocation/SIDS hazard.

PrimRoseMama · December 2013

Lastly, it sucks but it will pass. I hate to say it but suck it up.

shannoncorrin · December 2013

Focus on full feeding each feeding. I don't allow snacking . I don't let him sleep for longer than 2 hours during the day. Try cluster feeding at night. This seems to work well for us.

redhead610 · December 2013

huntjul said:
Pump milk and have someone else take one feeding so you get that 4 hrs stretch you need.

This won't really be that helpful, because you would need to pump to replace the feeding. So if you're waking to pump you may as well breastfeed. If you skip sessions it can affect your supply, especially this early on.

juliane2004 · December 2013

Exactly what PP said.

You want your LO's longest stretch to be at night. If they are going 4hours in the day but only 2hours at night, you need to switch that. Like PP said, wake after LO sleeps for 2 hours (max) in the day time (so feeding are every 2.5-3 hours) from 8am-8pm or so. This will get their food intake increased in the DAYtime, so that at NIGHTtime, they should sleep longer, since they got more of what they need during the day.

Again, like a PP said, I know they say "don't wake a sleeping baby" but I vote that you can wake them after they've slept 2 hours or so. Sleeping for 4 hour naps in the daytime is a lot. I don't let any of my kids go longer than 3 hours ever unless they are sick or something.

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short sleep stretches

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