Bedtime for babies?

Question

I have a 2 month old baby and she currently goes to bed at about 7:30pm and sleeps right through till about 5am. Firstly, is 7:30 a suitable time for a 2 month old to go to bed? Secondly, is it ok for a 2 month old to sleep for that long at night? She seems to be doing well and the nurses are happy with her health and everything but I'm just abit anxious - I'm a first time mum!

Answer 1

You are so lucky I have twins and they are 8 months and bearly sleeping through the night. They were getting up every three hours till about 5 or 6 months. I wish I could have the sleep you do. They go to sleep about 10 and wake up at 9. Just check on your baby randomly. Congratulations by the way.

Enjoy your sleep.

Answer 2

I think it is fine that your baby sleeps through the night PROVIDED that there is no weight loss associated with her during this time. It is a delicate balance as an underfed baby will generally be more sleepy, which can create a vicious circle.

A less than 2 month old baby generally does not have a very large stomach for the food reserves they need for 10 hours of sleeping, such that some doctors do recommend a feeding every 3 to 4 hours up until a certain point, even if it means waking the baby in the middle of the night. This point is sometimes 6 weeks, sometimes 10, sometimes more.

I'd raise this issue with your doctor. They'll be watching the weight gain issue closely as it should still be on a curve upwards.

If the weight gain has been steady, then take a bow and enjoy your night's sleep (for now--btw, have I mentioned teething? :-)

Answer 3

Sounds like you're doing great so far. My son was still waking up a few times a night to eat when he was that age. Be glad she's already wanting to sleep all the way through the night. Don't worry. Babies know what they need. She'll wake up when she wants to eat. And most babies will eat more during the day once they start sleeping through the night.

Oh, and 7:30 is a decent bedtime. A little early, but it's not bad. My son's bedtime was no earlier than 11 pm for a long time. I just recently switched his bedtime to 9:30, and he's 11 months old.

Answer 4

Sleeping that long is not a bad thing for her. My son would sleep right through the night when he was that age. Although at around 5 months it was like a light went off in his head and he realized he missed a stage and started getting up 2 to 3 times a night. Let me tell you that was a nightmare. :) As long as she's happy and active then don't be worried. Also enjoy this time because it goes by so quick!! My son will be 6 next month and it seems like yesterday that he was a baby that I could hold all the time. Good luck!!!

Answer 5

As long as she is getting enough sleep the it shouldn't be a problem. I honestly think that you need to have her on a schedule that works for you as best as you can - I mean are you OK with waking up at 5am?

I know when my son was little his bed time wasn't until 11 pm. I didn't work and I am not a morning person - He would wake up around 9:30 every morning and I got to sleep in a little.

I also homeschool him now though - so this lax schedule works, and this late shift wouldn't work for you - but it is about each individual family and the needs.

At 2 months old I would worry LESS about what time she is going down, but rather - HOW MUCH sleep is she getting.

One interesting thing I was told by my pediatrician though was it is fine to let them go to bed when they want - if 1) It works for you and 2) It works for them. He told me that is baby is having a hard time sleeping though - many babies have a natural internal sleeping clock - and babies that are put to bed earlier - get better sleep. We never had this problem though - :)

The important thing is that your baby seems happy with this schedule - and you should be thrilled that she is such a great sleeper! Many parents aren't so lucky! Rest, relax, and enjoy your evenings mama!

Answer 6

My son slept all the way threw the night right from birth and the doctors were not worried infact they told me I was lucky. If your child is sleeping like that then that is probley what they need and I wouldn't worry if they are doing well and the doctors are happy with her weight gain and her growing then you are doing fine and don't stress your child will let you know what she needs. Also be happy she is going to bed at 7:30pm because mine never went to bed that early and still at 1 1/2 years old does not he goes to bed around 11pm but he sleeps till 9am sometimes 10am (which is NOT a good schedual for him) But he is happy and healthy and I am a stay at home mom so I don't care when he goes to bed and gets up at this time. Congrats on the new one though and just enjoy this time because take it from a mom they grow fast and soon you will be looking back missing when they were that small.

Answer 7

Sounds like you are doing a great job Mum! And it sounds like you have an excellent baby. It's great that she sleeps so well. It is an excellent time for her to go to bed. Great habits now can last. As long as she is thriving I'm sure it's fine that she is sleeping through that long. If she was hungry or needed more she would wake up. I would not be suprised if during growth spurts and such she may wake up to feed again. Other than that it sounds like she is doing just fine.

My firstl Andrew, did not sleep like that at all. Neither did our second child, Tyler. But Kyle our third slept fell asleep in early evening and didn't wake until morning I used to check on him a gazillion times because after 2 who were nothing like that it scared me! When our 4th child Gavin did the same I learned to relax and enjoy it. I wish they had all done that. Even now the younger two are always easier to get to bed. Where as Tyler our 2nd often wakes up in the middle of the night for a drink or whatever (he is 13) he gets it himself obviously, but he still doesn't sleep through the night!

The fact that your concerned shows your a great mom! Congratulations!

Answer 8

I think whatever bedtime works for the family is fine. If you are checking up on her regulary and she's healthy, don't worry about it

at 4 weeks (yes 1 month), my baby slept at 9pm and woke at 8 or 9 am. We know how you feel, we freaked out the first time she slept through the night, we thought she passed away because we also slept that long due to sleep deprivation. Her crying was our wake up call. After that, we both took turns checking up on her until we felt comfortable that it was normal for our baby. She still sleep 12 hours straight, she's 7 months old now.

Answer 9

My4-yr old and 2-yr old go to bed then and sleep until 8:30ish. That's great, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. I always freak out the first month my babies sleep through the night. I check on them frequently, I freak out the first night especially. Enjoy it and don't tell too many moms with little babies or they may turn on you. Most new moms can't get 4hrs of sleep in a row until the baby is closer to 4 months old.

Answer 10

Consider yourself lucky!!!

I had the same questions when my first was 2 months old. She went from sleeping through until 5:30 to sleeping through until 7:30 and I absolutely panicked and called her doctor. He said as long as she's fed, clean, and comfortable--and gaining weight besides--there's no reason to worry. Some babies just sleep through the night earlier than others. According to babycenter.com, a baby can start sleeping through anywhere between 6 weeks and six months. (I've read that it happens earlier with formula-fed babies--if she's breast-fed, I might worry.)

Incidentally, our 3-month-old son has been sleeping through the night since he was six weeks old.