When does a breastfed newborn start sleeping more than 3 hours at a time?

Question

I supplement twice a day - noon with 2 oz and 7pm with 2 oz of formula. She does not have collic.

Answer 1

It takes a while - newborns have very tiny tummies & breastmilk empties out quite quickly. Even tho you are supplementing, the breastmilk doesn't stay with her as long. You may want to up the 7pm supplement to 3 oz - I had a hard time gauging how much to feed my infant daughter & was givin her 3 oz when she was much happier with 5! But the breastmilk breaks down quickly & is absorbed faster, which means she gets hungry quicker. Stick with it - keep it up - besides, breastmilk production is a supply & demand thing; the more she suckles, the more you'll make, the more she drinks, the longer between feedings! Make sure you're getting TONS to drink so you will produce a lot of milk. Best of luck to you & congratulations! What you are doing IS hard work, but it's so worth it!!!!!

Answer 2

Our kids did not sleep through the night till they were on 4 to 6 oz of formula at night. It's just a part of having a baby. You can pump the breast milk, and take turns with your hubby getting up. That is what I did with my wife. i actually too over the night feeding, cause i was a light sleeper, and had no problem falling back asleep.

Answer 3

it all depends on the baby. i have an almost 4 month old breastfed baby, (being weaned now though) who does a 6 hour stretch of sleeping after getting formula before going to bed, although I don't think the formula helps him sleep any longer, because I have given breastmilk before the 6 hr stretch too. I know you're tired but it too will pass. Good luck!!

Answer 4

My baby woke every 2 hours to be breastfed until he was about 4 mths old. Every baby is different. It takes patience and perseverance - try not to give up if you can, as the time will pass by before you know it. Then something else will come up i.e. teething, too hot, colds, weaning - these all lead to sleepless nights. Having a baby = sleep deprivation. Try to rest whenever you can and don't worry about doing housework!

Answer 5

Your baby is not breastfed if you are giving formula, so I can't help you there. I don't know how old she is but if she's less than 6 mos and you're supplementing you're really messing her up and that's why she's not sleeping through the night. She might sleep through if you stick with breastmilk because it's more soothing and less harsh than formula..please don't mess with her belly

Answer 6

My daughter starting sleeping a 5 hour stretch at 2 weeks old, and she was only nursed. Maybe she's sleeping too much during the day. If she has a long nap during the day waker her up after 2 hours and feed her, so that she sleeps the long stretch at night.

Answer 7

Mine did right away -- maybe like 3.5 - 4 hrs a night. I would wake mine every 2.5 - 3 hrs during the day to feed, so they got enough during the day, then they would just let them sleep at night until they woke naturally and the stretches at night just kept getting longer. I had very sleepy babies during the day, so I really had to work to wake them, but it was surely beneficial in the long run.

Good luck, you are in an exciting time!

Answer 8

My son started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks old breastfed. But every child is different...


And to respond to Cassandras answer....DO NOT sleep with your daugther...I know people who have accidentally rolled over on their babies doing that and it sufficated them. Thats the #1 thing anyone will tell you not to do. And supplimenting with formula is perfectly fine!

Answer 9

supplementing with formula is a big mistake. formula increases the risk of diabetes like crazy. it increases the risk of allergies. why mix it in?

nurse on demand and she will regulate her milk. it will take weeks before she sleeps more than a few hours at a time - and then in a few years, she will start sleeping less and less!

At night, let her sleep with you and you won't have to get up to nurse her. It's the best....

Answer 10

Both of my daughters didnt start sleeping threw the night untill they were 4-5 months old,both were breastfeed.Some people will tell you formula fed babies sleep threw the night longer,but it really just depends on your child.