Weigh In On This, Please

desertmouse39 · June 2014

So DD #2 had her 2 month appt last week (at 9 weeks, actually and as of today she is 10 weeks).

Pedi asked me if she was STTN and I told him no, she still gets up once or twice to eat. Usually she'll do a 5 or 6 hour stretch and then maybe a 3 or 4 hour one. He told me that based on her age and weight (just over 11 lbs), she is totally capable of sleeping a solid 10 - 12 hour stretch w/o eating at night and if she is waking up and crying it is more to be comforted than because she is hungry. I have noticed that she really only eats about 2 oz during MOTN feeds.

He suggested giving her water in her bottle and no diaper changes (unless poopy), rocking, etc... and when she sees it's not "worth it" she'll stop waking up for it.

I did a double take at the water thing, I thought they weren't to have any water until much later. He assured me that for her, and just an ounce or two, was fine.

I like my pedi and feel he is pretty right on with most things - but I don't know how I feel about this?!?! I'd love to get more sleep, but she's still so young! Maybe after the "4th trimester" is over, at 13 weeks or so? We are going to transition her into her nursery starting with naps in the crib, then nights by the end of the month.

Would you/ have you given your LO water for any reason?

DD#1 was a super easy baby during her infant stage, at least with the sleep and schedule thing, so I don't have that experience to fall back on.

SurpriseAt39 · June 2014

Re:water
I've never given any of my kids water until they at least start solid food. (Solid, not purée)
If they need a drink with their food they usually get breast milk unless they are on cows milk.

Re:STTN
While your child may be 'capable' doesn't mean they are ready.
I'm sure mine 'could' sleep 10-12 hours, but I am okay with him waking after 4-6 hours. I will not deny my child milk in the MOTN.
If your LO is okay with rocking back to sleep instead of eating, then go ahead and try.
For me personally, I'd rather BF in the MOTN than rock him to sleep then have to go pump anyway.
...now if he starts to sleep straight through on his own without waking up, I will get up to pump (or wake up in a puddle).

I only change his diaper overnight now if its been at least 7-8 hours since his last change or he's eaten 3 or more times, or he has pooped.

And my doc doesn't think there's anything wrong with LO waking to eat once or twice a night at 2.5 months.

Maybe yours was just letting you know that LO 'could' do it, in case he thought you craved the solid sleep??

Good luck.

dannie2011 · June 2014

Think of things like this as not worth bringing up with the pedi again.

As for would I give water to my LO, the answer is no, I would only give water after he is a year old as I BF if I formula fed it wouldn't be till 6 months and I would need a dam good reason.

Brittlamarche · June 2014

I give my son water sometimes and he is 12 weeks. We live in az and it's ridiculously hot so my pedi said to do it to make sure he is staying nice and hydrated. I only do it if we are going to be in the heat and he has been perfectly fine. As for waking during the night.. My son is still up every 2-4 hours. He just sleeps with me tho so I just pull out the boob and he nurses back to sleep. No, babies aren't always hungry during the night but I believe they do wake up for something whether it's food or just needing mama. If you aren't worried about your LO STTN then just keep doing what you are doing.

dannie2011 · June 2014

BF babies don't need water even in AZ.

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/baby-water/

Aliki · June 2014

Can I ask-- how old is your pediatrician? Can I hazard a guess that your pediatrician is over 50 years old? Sounds like he hasn't kept up with recent studies and findings in a few decades?

Also, I'm so tired of America's obsession with newborns and their sleep. "Is she a good sleeper?" is the third most popular question asked of me, after "What's her name?" and "How old is she?" As a recent American citizen, this is just so tiresome and ridiculous that we keep obsessing about sleep-- she's a baby! Of course she doesn't sleep like an adult! I'm 34 years old and *I* dont sleep through the night- lol!

I agree with other PPs-- don't give water, and don't fret about her sleep. She sounds like she's doing great!

desertmouse39 · June 2014

Well thank you! I think the key here is @FarmBoysWife and @SurpriseAt39 -"Just because she can doesn't mean she should". I'm OK with her waking the 2x on average - DH *usually* will get one of those, and I don't STTN anyways because I wake up to pump (she doesn't nurse at all). I feel like the first 3 months is not the time to be too worried about schedules.

@dannie2011 - you're right, I didn't ask about this issue, he brought it up in the course of asking about the other things she is doing/not doing. I don't usually ask about stuff like this because I know I differ with him about some subjects (like starting solids at 4 months).

I gather that the water can be an issue if baby is not gaining or is underweight and she is drinking water instead of BM/Formula but I also thought there was some sort of toxicity issue. Maybe not. Anyways, I'm going to keep following baby's lead for now and I'll think about dropping the MOTN food if she still isn't STTN when I return to work at the end of the summer. I already don't change the diaper and usually don't even un-swaddle unless she has busted out of it.

ETA: @Aliki - yup, he's probably mid-50s. And I agree, the sleep obsession is a little weird, especially when they are so little! I would feel guilty when I told people my first baby was such a good sleeper and I feel hesitant to say that DD#2 is still waking because everyone has a crazy suggestion on how to get her to do so.

Aliki · June 2014

lincbeesmom right? It's like they are judging new moms and somehow it's their fault or their babies are abnormal. Plus STTN is defined as 5 hours. NOT TEN HOURS!

A study found:

"By 5 months of age, 73% were sleeping from midnight to 5 a.m., 62% were sleeping for an eight-hour period, and 53% of infants were sleeping from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.," she says.

"Further, by the end of the first year, 87%, 86%, and 73% of infants had met the criterion, respectively."

Source: WebMD

dannie2011 · June 2014

I just respond to the sleeping through the night type of questions as "she/he is doing real good no complaints" for for the peds too.

Since you are BF and not formula don't do water it really is not needed. We say kellymom.com all time but that site is truly a great resource.

We would never find a doctor that completely agrees with all the different types of parenting. I like how my pedi is for her medical knowledge not parenting that is why I stay with her. You like yours so just learn to nod and then do what you want.

SmittyPants · June 2014

Your pedi is right in that she can probably do a 10-12 hour stretch, but in my experience it is very difficult to reason with a baby. If you're getting a 5-6 hour stretch followed by a 3-4 four hour stretch, pop the champagne, Momma because that is wonderful at this age.

lwebley · June 2014

At 9 weeks my LO was sleeping 7 hours waking up to eat quickly and sleeping another 3-4. My ped thought that was great. There was no suggestion of water or dropping the one middle of the night feeding. Which he just dropped this week (15 weeks). My friends daughter is 2 weeks younger and still wakes up twice to eat. I think each LO is different. I wouldn't worry

teachermommy9967 · June 2014

I personally think it sounds like your daughter is a good sleeper for her age. My son is 10 weeks and sleeps 5-7 hrs a night wakes up eats and sleeps another 2-3 hrs and I personally consider that sleeping through the night. My twins woke every 3 hours until nearly 6 months. So just think it could be worse.

And no I wouldn't do water at this age.

Khope87 · June 2014

I went to a weaning talk the other day in the uk and this was suggested if they weren't sleeping through.... FOR 6 MONTH+ OLDS!! Not for babies

also this was only really mentioned as one mum had a seven month old that was waking every 2-3hours (ouch!) so they said to replace very other with water and see if that cut it down to longer stretches.

I would not be dropping our middtle of the night feed for quite some time if it was suggested. We go 5hours then 4 in general. Sometimes a lot less and very rarely more. But I think it's brilliant and she's doing great!

KTdid81 · June 2014

I think your baby is doing just fine. I would be second guessing your pedi too.

My pedi said that sleeping a 6 hr stretch and a 3 he stretch, like he is, is really good. And that sleeping 6 hrs IS sleeping-through-the-night for babies.

No water till 6 months. And then it was recommended to be in a straw sippy cup, not a bottle.

Pankers · June 2014

Plus I also heard when they hit 4 months old the STTN if they were doing goes out the window.

You're doing fine. As other PPs have said those hours are great.

vacsx2 · June 2014

Just smile and nod. Just saw a sleep expert and she said 4 months is when they are "able" to STTN, not necessarily that they will but can.

Although my dad really pushed the other day on why lo couldn't have water and I didn't really know. He wasn't being a jerk, just really curious. I went with unnatural expansion of stomach?? Why can't they really?

ntdane · June 2014

@bunnyfungo‌ I agree. DS1 didn't STTN until after age 2 and at 3 it's not uncommon for him to wake up. Thankfully his pediatrician was always really supportive and agreed that some kids just aren't sleepers.

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