BF moms of NB (night waking question)

At what point, if any, do you try to stall feedings at night to see if baby can go longer??
Colin is 6.5 wks. He is a good size (yesterday he weighed in at 12lb9oz - having gained 3.5lbs in one month ).

Some nights I only get 2 hr stretches out of him - wondering, if at this point, I should try just the shushing, paci, etc to get him to go back down - or do you still just immediately nurse when your NB wakes in the middle of the night?

It's probably easier for me to just nurse him, but I'm wondering if, in the long run, I should try to soothe him in other ways.

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

my DS is 5 months old already and I just feed him. I try to turn on his mobile and maybe once or twice that worked, mostly he screams on the top of his lungs to feed him.
His last feeding is between 11-12 and then he still wakes up twice in the night

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

I rarely hear DS cry really b/c I'm so quick to grab him and stick him on the boob once he starts stirring. I'm wondering if I'm jumping the gun - but I hate to let him really cry and risk waking Ryan

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

I was of the mindset that it was just easier to nurse when they were that little. Eliza was a beast who ate every 2 hours (day or night) until she was almost 5 months old. She eventually did longer stretches and generally STTN- all with no need for sleep training/CIO later on.

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

My ped suggested waiting 5 minutes before sticking DD back on the boob when she cries in the evening/night. During those 5 mins, I either try a paci or let her cry. Sometimes, she would just whimper and go back to sleep and other times she was legitimately hungry. Eventually, after a week of 5 minute stalls, she began STTN! Only twice did she wake up DS from his sleep. Good luck!

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

I'm not BF but yes I do...and I did with Noah too and he was sleeping 7 hour stretched by 5 weeks and then 10-12 hours by 10-11 weeks or so.

I didn't do anything without asking the Ped"s opinion , this time since the girls were preemies and weighed so little. after they gained a bit he said it was fine.

I give them a pacifier or shush them back to sleep...to me this means they are indeed NOT hungry or they wouldn"t have fallen back asleep as when then are truly hungry there is no getting them back down.

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

BFer here...

If she wakes at night, I always feed her. I did the same with DD#1 until she started STTN on her own.

Right now she's getting her last feeding around 9ish... I try to have her asleep by 10/10:30. She'll wake at 4 for her next feeding. Every now and then she'll wake at 2, then again at 4...then again at 6.

If she wakes...she eats.

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

Re: BF moms of NB (night waking question)

Posted by SweetCaroline


I should share - we finally moved upstairs to our bedroom last night, so i tested putting Colin in the co-sleeper. No great stretch (only 2 hours) but he did sleep in it. First time I've slept by myself for any stretch in 6 wks !