When is it too early for babies to sleep through the night?

Question

My baby is about 2 weeks old, and I know that if I did not wake her every three hours to eat, she would sleep for much longer. She is breastfed. I know that right now she has to eat every three hours or so at night, but when can I start letting her sleep as long as she wants without fear of malnutrition?

Answer 1

I would keep waking her until she is past the 6 week growth spurt. Maybe one longer (4 hour?) stretch per day.

Answer 2

Every baby is different. My son ate every 5 hours from day 1. He was bottle fed but with breast milk for the first 3 weeks. I would let her sleep, but depending on her size and whether or not she was preemie, I probably wouldn't let her go more than 4 or 5 hours without eating. Babies grow so much which is why they sleep a lot. I was always concerned about my son because he was in the newborn special care after birth. My diabetes didn't give him a great start. Pay attention to the amount of diapers she has too. You will know if she isn't getting enough if she is having too little diaper changes.

Answer 3

My daughter was the same. She would sleep 5-6 hours straight from week one. I always just let her sleep during my sleeping hours. I would wake her as I was going to bed to give her a last feeding for the night and let her go until she woke up. They won't go hungry w/o letting you know and not eating for that long won't hurt them or cause malnutrition. You'll just have an extra long or extra feeding in the morning.

Answer 4

As long as she isn't going more than 6 hours and she's gained some weight, you're fine. Your milk supply shouldn't suffer unless you go more than 6 hours at night or 4 hours during the day. This is unless she has jaundice or some other medical reason that makes her too sleepy to eat. But it's not too common for a 2 week old to still have jaundice. I stopped waking my baby at about 2 weeks, but I still wake up and check on him if it's been awhile, lol.

Answer 5

My son was 4 lbs 14 ounces when he was born (this was 8 years ago). His pediatrician told me from the minute I left the hospital that I should feed him every 4 hours. He slept straight through the night from day one (lucky me right!). So when I noticed that he was sleeping straight through the night, I called the ped. My son would NEVER cry when he was hungry. He never communicated hunger to me. So I woke him up every 4 hours until he was a little older and able to wake up and communicate to me on his own that he was hungry. I say call your pediatrician and make sure as this is a two week old baby. Good luck!

Answer 6

We woke our son up when he was first born to feed him every 3 hours (bottlefed). I would just let her sleep until she wakes up, she'll let you know when she's ready to eat. I wouldn't think she would go more than 4 hours though. My son slept a full night around 1 month old. He would sleep 8 or 9 hours with 1 feeding in the middle.

Answer 7

I always let my kids wake me up at night when they were hungry. I have 3 children ages 7,3,and 11months. and with all 3 of them I let them wake me up when they were hungry. I think the little missy will be just fine if you let her tell you when she's hungry. If you feel that she is sleeping longer than she should without eating, like over 5 hours, for now, then I would wake her up to eat. Good luck with the new baby, have fun, they are the greatest!!

Answer 8

I was always told "Never wake a sleeping baby" I breastfed all my babies (and still do my 8 mo old) and if they are sleeping at night, I would let them sleep. They will wake up when they're hungry. But all babies, and parents are different. You know your baby best and will know what's right for your family.

Answer 9

Infants under 12 pounds usually do not have the capability of going for very long stretches without feeding. A newborn will skip one feeding per 24 hours and hopefully that feeding will be the nightime one if your timing is lucky.

Answer 10

It is okay to space out night feedings if she will sleep. Don't worry as long as she is healthy and gaining weight. My son slept through the night at 2 weeks. Consider your self lucky!