How long is it safe for baby to sleep and not eat?

Question

My baby is four weeks old. She nurses pretty often during the day and at night she sometimes goes for a full 5-7 hours without waking to eat...is this ok? She has gained weight steadily and is doing fine..i was just curious if its ok to lether sleep so long without eating..

Answer 1

If she is gaining weight well and having plenty of wet and dirty diapers then she is probably fine. I would suggest not letting her have more than one long stretch without nursing per day at this age.

Know that she will hit a growth spurt around 6 weeks and you may see her wanting to nurse more frequently at that time.....so the nice nighttime stretch may soon be interrupted! Enjoy it while you can!

The site below has lots of good information about what is normal.

Answer 2

I just had my little one in March. I was so concerned with my son sleeping too much and not eating. He usually slept 5-6 hours. From what I read I was supposed to wake him up to feed him, but my mother and relatives said never wake a sleeping baby. That baby knows when she is hungry. Soooooooo...... I asked my Pediatrician and he said the same thing. That my osn would wake when he is hungry. Those people that tell you to wake a baby, have never had a baby and been sleep deprived. I felt reassured when my pediatrician told me it was ok. He did say if its longer than 7 or 8 hours to wake him up, but Im sure that baby will let you know when she is hungry before then. As long as she is gaining weight sufficiently then that is the evidence that she is eating fine. Take it from a new mother, dont wake a sleeping baby!!! Get your sleep while you can girl!!
Good Luck

Answer 3

If baby is doing it on her own, then it's fine, as long as she's gaining weight and developing normally. The only reasons to wake a baby are if she isn't gaining (or if you just don't know yet) or if she's sleeping all day and up all night (wake during the day).

Answer 4

When my daughter was around the same age she waould sleep through the night and i asked her doctor he said as long as she wants to sleep let her but dont let it go for to long. Like around 6-7 hours wake her and try to feed her.
Babies grow when they are sleeping so at this point whatever she is doing eating or sleeping she is growing

Answer 5

Feeding on demand is the best. If she can sleep for that long of a stretch, good for her and you can get some sleep, too.

I learned the hard way that babies don't need to be woken up to nurse. ;) When she's hungry, she'll let you know.

Answer 6

It's normal for her! Every child is different. Let her sleep if thats what she wants. Your lucky! My two year old just barely started sleeping through the night and some nights my 7 week old sleeps for longer periods than she does.

Answer 7

YEs its fine be thankful she sleeps that long my son is 3 months old and just started sleeping thru the night... he sleeps a good 9 hrs

Answer 8

Of course u r told every 3 hours. But I also nurse, and I nurse when shes ready. If she wants to sleep by all means LET HER SLEEP! Its your only opportunity to rest. U can pump the milk if it is hurting you. Store it and save it for a rainy day!

Answer 9

So long as she's steadily gaining weight, just let her sleep. Take it as a blessing.

Answer 10

Double-check with a pediatrician to be sure, but I would say this is ok. My son did this from time to time. If your baby has ever had an episode of sleep apnea I wouldn't recommend it. Otheriwse, just watch her weight and that she is wetting enough diapers.