Help! Eating and sleeping routine

manausmom · January 2014

My LO is almost 6 weeks old and has been eating a lot during the day and waking up every 2 hrs at night( I know he can be going through his growth spurt right now, but he has been the same way since his first weeks)
But I decided to go back to my baby books and see what they say. I read the baby whisperer and now I feel like a really bad mom. It says a baby his age should already have a routine, eat only every 2,5 to 3 hours and be sleeping a long stretch during the night, and only have three 90 minutes naps during the day. He has never done that!
I have been nursing him whenever he shows that he is hungry and letting him sleep when he gets sleepy. Each nursing sessions can be between 6 to 30 minutes and he usually has 2 long naps and a few catnaps during the day.
Should he already be in a more scheduled routine?
Should i try to only feed him when is time?
I did establish a bed time and night time routine, so I don't think he is confusing day and night. Since in the night he eats and goes right back to sleep.
I'm a FTM and I just want to do what's best for my baby!
Sorry this is so long and thanks in advanced!

FutureMrsCaesar · January 2014

Well this is my 3rd baby and we're just about right where you are. Some babies seem to fall into a routine more easily than others. In my experience it's not that easy to keep my baby awake when he wants to sleep and vice versa. So for now we are just going with it. Ido wish he had a longer stretch of sleep at night but even on days where he's been awake almost all day he doesnt sleep longer at night so I'm not sure that's the problem.
I don't think you are doing anything wrong, try tp guide him in the direction of what your book says but know that it won't be perfect. Feeding your breastfed newborn on demand is never a bad thing, trying to get him to eat on a schedule that he didn't come up with would be much worse.

BoothBaby · January 2014

One of the books I am reading says that 6 wks is when you START to develop a pattern/schedule, so I think you are doing just fine!

74dragonfly · January 2014

At six weeks all you can really do is have a routine, not a schedule. Routine meaning you do things in an order so they get used to it. At this age you still feed on demand and let them sleep when they want.

zou bisou · January 2014

I read Secrets of Baby Whisperer last pregnancy. Wasn't too impressed with it. The author seemed to play on emotions a lot.

If your baby is thriving and you're fine with the routine, I think you're doing great.

grannyweatherwax · January 2014

I think you should ignore the book & keep doing what you're doing. Feed when he's hungry, let him sleep when he's tired. Develop a routine. Babies love routines.

Danicali · January 2014

I've been just feeding when he's hungry. I find he sleeps longer in the morning after feeds (about 2 hours) and at night he sleeps about 1 hour after a feed. My baby is fairly fresh- only 5 days old. But I don't think when they are young they need a schedule. Feeding on demand is best for baby! The only thing in trying to do is be quieter at night when I feed and during the day we have tv and music and loud talking going on. So just trying to make him aware of night and day that way.

manausmom · January 2014

Thank you girls! I think I will do what's right for me and my LO, I just wish the he would sleep for longer periods at night. Let's see of with time it will happen

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