my coworkers 3 week old baby likes to "snack and nap" as I say. He will eat 1 or 2 ounces and then fall asleep but only for a short time because then he "remembers" that he is still hungry and will wake up screaming but again only eat another ounce. This cycle repeats and creates sleepless nights. I know that new borns are not going to sleep for very long but I'm sure if he would eat closer to 3-4 ounces he would sleep longer.
PS - he is breastfed and takes his breast milk in the bottle
2007-05-07 10:14:53 · 13 answers · asked by re_love1 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Oh I remember those days!! Well, my little one used to fall asleep while feeding. I was told if this happened while feeding, do whatever you can to keep the baby up so it will eat til its done. And doing that is not always an easy thing to do - my little one always started dozing off hard (probably because of our body warmth). I breast fed for 6 weeks but I just could NOT wake her up . . . so then I started pumping and gave it to her in the bottle - like your coworker is probably doing - and I was successful keeping her awake then because I had more mobility. AND SO - that was the key for her to take longer sleep times . . . full feedings. The snacking thing won't help to get the baby to sleep through the night for a long time . . . I know a few parents who didn't take care of the snacking issue . . . they didn't get their zzzzz's for a looooong time!
2007-05-07 10:27:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to say that he is being a typical 3 week old. Snacking and napping is just how they do it. My grandson was born April 15 and is breast fed, but my daughter usually nurses him and only occassionally gives him expressed breast milk in a bottle. When she does, he only drinks 1-2 ounces at a time. Breast milk is more easily digestible than formula so breastfed babies tend to eat more frequently. My grandson does the same thing, he nurses for awhile, falls asleep, then wakes up 1-2 hours later to be fed again. My daughter helps him stay awake longer to eat more by undressing him. She begins by unwrapping his blanket and if he still falls asleep she will undo his sleeper and even take it off completely if he won't stay awake long enough to eat 15-20 minutes at each breast. Babies will eat as much as they want and you can't make them drink more than they want to. If you do somehow manage to try to "top them off", it'll end up causing a tummy upset or spitting up. I have cared for several newborns who drank expressed breast milk from a bottle. 1-3 ounces is pretty typical until around 6 weeks old when some will begin drinking 3-4. Sleepless nights will likely last for several more months, most babies need at least 1 night-time feeding until at least 6 months.
2007-05-07 17:40:58 · answer #2 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
-wake him up and change his diaper then start back feeding once he's awake good
- tickle his feet
-take a cool wash cloth and rub on his feet
-take a burp break
-wiggle the nipple around in his mouth until he grabs hold again or take it away.
Mine were the same way. They'd fall asleep nursing before they were finished, wake up still hungry and start all over again. You just have to figure out what works.
I wouldn't pinch him. That might cause him to not want to eat at all cause it hurts.
2007-05-07 17:28:25 · answer #3 · answered by Psalm91 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Newborns are pretty sleepy sometimes and I found that in order to keep mine feeding, I could sort of move the nipple around in his mouth or act like i'm taking it away and he'd usually start sucking at it pretty hard again. In a few weeks, the baby should start eating better and staying awake for meals more.
2007-05-07 17:20:49 · answer #4 · answered by bluegrass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's not much to be done. The parents just have to hang in there. This is a common thing for a newborn to do. It will get better as the baby is able to stay awake for longer periods of time.
2007-05-07 17:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by Jessica T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when my girls were newborn the nicu nurses told me some tricks to help then continue. rub right bihnd there ear there is a little bone you can feel. you just rub it GENTLY and the baby will start sucking again. or you gently rub the bottem of there feet and they will start sucking again. or since the breastmilk is in the bottle twist the bottle in there mouth not to remove it just give a small turn and that should do it too
2007-05-07 17:34:17 · answer #6 · answered by mother of twin girls 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my baby is the same way hes 2 weeks old, just let them fall asleep and when they wake up entertain them for about 20 - 30 minutes, dance with them, have tummy time, read them a story, burp them, place in swing, go outside and show baby the trees. this will help settle the milk he just drank and make room for more milk. This is what I'm doing with my child and it seems to be working.
2007-05-07 17:21:07 · answer #7 · answered by ♥ღαмαиdα♥ღ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The baby is a newborn. This will continue for a few more weeks. Just tell your coworker to hang in there!
2007-05-07 17:18:50 · answer #8 · answered by purplebinky 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh I remember those days. Hang in there. It'll stop soon. It's normal for them to sleep constantly those first few weeks. I'd try tickeling him, blowing in his face or hair, moving him around once he fell asleep, and I even tried taking his clothes off or changing his diaper.
2007-05-07 19:54:49 · answer #9 · answered by April 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the mom to nurse directly- sometimes, you have to kind of (very gently, of course) wiggle them awake... get that baby on the breast.
2007-05-07 17:21:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋