How often should my 6 week old eat at night?

Question

This is my first baby! My son is 6 weeks old and only breastfed and during the day eats every 3 hours....but at night he will eat only once. Should I be worried or should I wake him to eat every 3 hours. If he eats only once a nite...I wake up with extremely full breasts and a wet shirt. Please help! :(

Answer 1

There is nothing wrong with that! Be thankful he wants to let you sleep more during the night. As long as he is getting sufficient feedings in during the day (which it sounds like he is), don't worry about the night. My daughter started sleeping through the night with no feedings at about your son's age. If you don't like the full breasts in the morning do a little pumping at night if you want to. Click here for one of my webpages on guideline for feedings for baby http://ca.geocities.com/__geri/FeedingAndNutritionGuide.xls

It's tough the first few months, I wish you all the best!

Answer 2

There's no standard about babies. Some wake up every two hours, some sleep through the night. I say, you should be glad you are getting some sleep. If your breasts' fullness bothers you, you may want to pump excess milk and store for emergencies (i.e. you going on shopping when somebody else is caring for the baby). Just relax and enjoy the experience.

Answer 3

No I don't think you need to wake him. Your are really blessed if he is only waking once at night. But always check with his doctor. I think as long as he is gaining weight and acts normal (not listless or unable to wake him) he is doing fine. But just to make sure I think if you would want to check up on him at night...waking him ...it would not hurt him and see if he will nurse. That way you get some relief for your breast...or maybe even pump to relief the fullness! What time of the evening is his last feeding? I found the later I nursed the later they slept! Good Luck with your new little one!!!

Answer 4

Personally, I'd expect a 6 week old to be waking more than once a night. If yours isn't and is gaining fine, great! If he is gaining weight and having plenty of wet and dirty diapers, then this may be what is normal for him. You can get up at night and pump a bit if you want so you don't get so engorged. You'll want to slowly wean yourself off that pumping so your body will learn not to make so much milk overnight.

Answer 5

Never wake a sleeping baby. You are one of the lucky ones whose baby sleeps that much at night. Pump your milk during the night to with the discomfort. Try reduce the amount you pump so your body adjusts to the milk production

Answer 6

Don't wake him! If he's sleeping through the night and gaining weight then he's doing great! My son is almost 6 months old and STILL doesn't sleep that well except for the odd night here and there when he decides to sleep through the night, so you should count yourself lucky! Sounds like you're doing a great job, keep it up.

Answer 7

Dont worry if he eats every 3 hours during the day. Its enough for him. My daughter was like that when she was 6 weeks and she is 32 weeks old healthy baby now (Maşallah)

And of corz its better for him to ask his doctor, eating period is not standard for all babies.

I pray for him and I hope he will be an healthy and a good man.

Answer 8

Consider yourself lucky. Don't worry about the baby, he will wake you when he's hungry. As for the wet shirt, try pumping the breast milk and store it in the fridge (you can even freeze it) for later use.

Answer 9

Don't wake the little guy, he'll tell you when he's hungry. My wife & I went through the same thing earlier this year with our 1st, and she went ahead and bought a breast pump for relief. Soon enough, however, your body will adjust by only producing as much as is being required of it... it's the intelligence in our cells that are ancient and amazing that way. Good luck and Congratulations!!!

Answer 10

If he's sleeping - let him sleep! You should maybe wake him after 6 hours. If he doesn't eat enough you can also pump and freeze your extra milk. I breastfed my son for 15 mths. Congrats and good luck!