My little sweetie is 2 weeks old. While I don't expect her to start sleeping through the night any time soon, I would still like some advice on how to get her to sleep a little longer...eventually leading to her sleeping through the night. Right now, she's waking up every two hours (like clockwork).
I've asked her doctor, but she said she will just start sleeping for longer periods once she's around a month old. Good answer...but I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do to move the process along a little. Any experienced mommies or daddies have any tips?
2006-09-22 07:46:21 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I should add... she eats breastmilk from a bottle and sleeps 4 hours at a time during the day. Go figure.
2006-09-22 08:06:33 · update #1
You still have some time to go before she'll start sleeping more..hang in there and sleep when ever she does...I know it's hard, but be patient. This is why you wanted to sleep so much before you had her...
I have three girls. My oldest was sleeping on my husbands schedule by the time she was a month old..(11pm to 5am) my middle darling slept Daddy's time by the time she was 8 wks old. My youngest? HAHAHAHA Up every two hours until she was almost 3 months old. UCK! Please don't fall into that "put some cereal in her bottle" trap. If you need to make her bottles bigger go for it. But don't start her on cereal until your doctor tells you too. They have studies that show if you start cereal or veggies and fruit too early children can develop allergies as they get older. I swore by the "What to Expect" series...they have not only pregnancy but the first year, and the toddler years.. GREAT reference books!!
Don't be in a hurry to rush her along...they are little for such a short time. I can't believe my oldest is 14 and taller than I am!! ENJOY this time...
2006-09-22 08:03:15 · answer #1 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They seem to require a certain amount of nourishment each day. Try to get her to eat at more frequent intervals during the day. Don't be worried about waking her. If she starts to stir during the day, get her up and feed her but only if she will eat. Change her diaper after she eats a little...it wakes them up so they can eat more. One mistake I made with my first was that I did get her up everytime she stirred at night. I realized that if I left her alone she would sometimes go back to sleep. Finally, it just takes some time for them to sleep thru the night. My girls are 13 and 16 and I would give anything to go back to those days for just a little while.
Follow up: my babies were 9lbs 1 oz and 10 lbs 4 oz and they didn't sleep thru the night until about 2 months. You can't judge how long they will sleep by their weight.
2006-09-22 15:00:32 · answer #2 · answered by porkchop 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When babies are that young it is just natural for them to wake every couple of hours to eat. Their stomachs aren't large enough to consume enough milk to keep them full for much longer than that. First of all, don't fall into that old trap of feeding her cereal. She is not ready for that - no matter what anybody tells you. That will only serve to severly upset her little tummy. Wait until your pediatrician gives you the go ahead on the cereal. The best you can do is just comfort her, and try to make sure she is fully awake when you go to feed her, so that she get completely full. Like if you are breastfeeding, try feeding her on one side and if she is starting to get drowsy, pick her up and go change her diaper or give her a bath or talk to her and play with her for a few minutes and then finish feeding her on the other side. This might allow for her to get an extra ounce or two down before she falls asleep. The other things is don't forget to take care of yourself. When she goes down for that mid morning or mid afternoon nap, you should too. It will make you feel better, and will help you deal better with the sleepless nights. Goodluck!
Sincerely,
A Mommy with teenagers!
2006-09-22 15:02:00 · answer #3 · answered by Shel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son started sleeping through the night at 2-1/2 weeks...I would give him a warm bath at about 8:30...nurse him really well...both sides...then put him down in his own bed, and he wouldn't wake up until 8 the next morening...he's now 2 and follows the same schedule
2006-09-22 19:15:18 · answer #4 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Breastfed babies don't sleep as long as formula fed babies since breast milk digests faster, they are hungry more often. Don't do anything like giving her cereal in her bottle, that's not good for her at this age. You can develop a soothing routine and try to help her learn to go to sleep on her own. Try the book "Good Night Sleep Tight" by Kim West, it has a chapter on newborns that might work for you.
2006-09-22 14:51:02 · answer #5 · answered by S. O. 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There really isn't anything that you can do except try to make her a little more comfortable so that she doesn't wake up. You may try a bath before bed and try to get her to eat more than she usually would before bed. Maybe try to get her to drink 4 ounces instead of 2 ounces. So that she stays fuller longer.
2006-09-22 16:13:00 · answer #6 · answered by vickie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure she is full, that is about the only thing you can do. Dont put cereal in the bottle! Doctors say not too. Also, this worked for me, we got one of those machines that makes noises like heartbeat, white noise, water flowing...etc.
2006-09-22 14:53:14 · answer #7 · answered by Lacy H 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I found that when I gave my daughter a bath in the late evening she slept more soundly....Johnson's also makes a night time soothing bath additive (in a lavender colored bottle)that helps them sleep as well...I used it and it worked for me. Also make sure that her belly is full when you put her down for the night...hope this helps...good luck.
2006-09-22 14:58:29 · answer #8 · answered by Stacy H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I USED TO FEED BEFORE I WENT TO SLEEP; THAT WAY CHILD AND GUARANTEED 2+ HOURS SLEEP
THE SZIE WEIGHHT OF BABY DETERMINES NEED THE SMALLER THE CHILD THE FREQUENT FEEDINGS BECASUE THEIR TUMMY LITTLE
DON'T OFRCE FEED DONT OVER FEED
MEASURE ONYL A FEW OUNCES IN FEW MONTHS
8 LB BABY CAN SLEEP THRU THE NIGHT
ESP IF FEED AT: 11 OR MIDNIGHT WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP
2006-09-22 14:51:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing that I can suggest is to make sure that your little one is awake the whole time that she is eating to ensure that she eats enough. That was a pivotal point in my little ones sleeping habits.
2006-09-22 14:50:43 · answer #10 · answered by lccscmaarschalk 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋