My 6 week old daughter sleeps alot and im not sure if shes still supposed to sleep 18 hrs a day like people say. and how do i set a scheduel, how many naps should she get a day?
2007-01-14 09:07:48 · 6 answers · asked by Rubber Duckie 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
at 6 weeks, just follow her cues-eventually she'll set her own schedule. Her stomach is small, so she'll get hungry more often. She's probably going to hit a huge growth spurt, so things will get out of whack.
2007-01-14 09:11:44 · answer #1 · answered by me 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Be happy if she's sleeping! I had one child that never slept (my first - 2 1/2 years old), and one child that slept all the time (my second - 8 months old). At first I was worried when she was 4 weeks old and sleeping 10 hours at night and napping well during the day. My only basis of comparison was my son who never slept.
My pediatrician told me to be happy and count my blessings.
Besides, her sleep patterns will change drastically once she starts teething. Get all the rest you can now.
Now, if you think she's not eating enough because she's sleeping too much, then that's something to talk to her doctor about. Otherwise, just be happy that you have a well-rested baby. That usually makes for a well-rested mommy. :)
2007-01-14 09:16:57 · answer #2 · answered by MightyMoose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just follow what she needs as regarding naps during the day. Try to get into a good night time routine now. For example, feed her at about 6.30pm, then give her a bath, massage, read a short story by dim light and put her to bed, then just keep lights low, and feed and change her until morning without much talking, or other stimulants.Obviously dont leave her in bed to cry, but just keep on doing it every night, she'll soon get the hang of it. Good luck.
2007-01-14 09:20:38 · answer #3 · answered by sins 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are a thoughful mother so this is what I would do. I have had 4 babies and fostered 12 newborns awaiting adoption, (all my sisters and cousins also follow this routine) so we know it works so well. The body has rhythms so it doesn't take long to get into one. Also, remember that no baby can know what she needs or whats best, thats why the Creater gave babies to parents.
Yes, babies doo sleep quite a bit. I would begin my babies day at 7am when you get the other children up for school or daddy out to work. Feed him or her and lay them back down for a morning nap. Wake him back up at 11 and feed again. You can bathe the baby or wait till the evening, but after the feeding, keep the baby near you on a blanket, in the playpen away from drafts. Talk and interact with your baby. She may fall asleep or dose. Feed her again at 3, then do the same about keeping her near you. I enjoyed putting my baby in a reclining seat for just a bit (the spine is soft but beginning to firm up so you don't want to much weight on the spine, as of yet.) Talk to her and play with her while you do dinner. Sing and have good time with her. Then at 7pm feed and give her a bath and lay her down for the nite in her bed, a nice dark, quiet room where she won't startle from sounds. Now you can have time with your husband, finish cleaning the house and getting the rest of the children to bed. Young children need 12 hours sleep. At 11 sneak back in to feed one last time, change her diaper in the dark and lay her back down. She should sleep thru the nite. You will find by doing this that you can plan time when you must go out to town to shop, b/c you'll know when she needs nap time and to be fed. Her body will begin to work like its own clock on the 4th day. This has always worked so well for our family and we've had happy babies, and esp. happy parents! :) diannatriplett@yahoo.com
2007-01-14 12:17:28 · answer #4 · answered by DT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think at 6 weeks is the best time to start getting her into a routine. I did it with my son and never had a problem getting him to bed. I now have a 3 week old and I plan on start the same routine with her. I start it with feeding, then a bath and then quite time and I play the same CD lullabies for night night. When she wakes up don't turn on the lights (night lights work best) change her then give her a bottle and put her back to bed. Try not to talk or play.
2007-01-14 10:39:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let her sleep when she's tired. If she gets cranky, put her down for a nap. Simple as that.
If she is waking up at night while you want to sleep, keep her awake longer in the evenings.
2007-01-14 09:16:09 · answer #6 · answered by Meg M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋