Moms of newborns who slept through the night

Did your baby not sleep at all during the day?

DS is almost 5 weeks. Weighed 9lbs 8oz at his 4 week weight check in visit.

He takes about 2 "naps" during the day. And doesn't seem to be remotely close to sleeping through the night.

I wonder if I should try to keep him up more during the day.

BTW - DS is EBF

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

At 5 weeks, you really need to just let him do his own thing. That might mean being up more at night. What I did with Ava from day one at home was that during the day, she napped in the livingroom in the pack n play while I watched tv, had visitors, talked on the phone and basically let life go on. Then, to get her used to the difference between day and night, I never talked to her, made eye contact, turned on a light, etc. when she woke at night to eat. By 6 weeks she was sleeping 7-8 hours a night straight.
I really think what I did helped her, but then again, it could just be how she was.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

Most babies don't sleep through the night at 5 weeks. My bf ebf her ds and he still doesn't sleep through the night at 6 months.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

DS didnt sleep through the night until about 7 weeks.

Before then he would go 5-6 hours at night. then one day poof...I woke up like 10 times, him 0!

During the day at 4 weeks DS decided he wanted to be up ALLL the time, which led to mommy begging and pleading with him to please sleep. Then at 6 weeks he learned the meaning of nap. For DS day time sleep or lack there of, never effected his nighttime sleep.

During hte day if you are not already, try to get him up at least every 3 hours, to eat / play, anything.

Honestly I wouldnt expect him to sleep through the night this early. If he does its a blessing, but its just not always the case.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

Todd Jr only use to get up once at 5 weeks, now at almost 3 months he sleeps through the night and gets up at 6am for a quick feeding then sleeps till 9am, my kids love to sleep--lol

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

I can't remember exactly when DS slept through the night but we let it happen without trying to make it happen. He was not EBF. At 5 weeks, I refused to give it much thought and I just tried to rest when I could. I still do not find that the amount he sleeps during the day has any effect on how he does at night. Some days he naps more than others but his night time sleep seems to remain similar from one night to the next.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

Natalie will be 3 mths next week and I guess she technically sleeps through the night. I've read that if they sleep 6 hr stretches, that's considered through the night for an infant. Last night for example, she did 8-3:30, then back down til 7. You should NOT keep DS awake during the day. They have to take good naps in order to sleep well at night. If they don't get their rest during the day they'll be overtired and it'll be even harder for them to get themselves to sleep. I agree with PP about not turning on many lights, talking to them too much etc at night so that they start to learn that's it's time to sleep , not play. Honestly, it's a lot of trial and error when it comes to sleeping!! Good luck!

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

If you keep your baby up more during the day you are just going to have an angry baby to deal with.

The sooner you accept that he is in charge, the sooner you'll feel sane!

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

DD is 8 weeks and takes alot of naps during the day..some are 20 minutes and some are 2 -3 hours. During the day, the tv is on, the lights are on and we are all talking. At 6:30 I start her bedtime routine and at 7:00 she is sleeping in her crib..She sleeps through to 7AM (some night she may wake up at 4:00-4:30 for a quick feeding).

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

DD has always been a pretty good sleeper, and started sleeping through the night (6+ hours) by 3.5 weeks. At that age she slept most of the day, but when she was awake we tried to keep her entertained and as "awake" as possible. I also followed a routine that my SIL used which was Eat, Activity, Sleep. But we always just went with her flow and she got herself on routine, eventually.
I remember reading on here that "sleeps begets sleep" and that is so true for these little guys. If you try to keep him up and it will probably back fire on you.

I also EBF and one thing that DD did was cluster feed at night.
Good Luck!

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

5 weeks is definitely too young to worry about sleeping through the night. DS slept through the night at 9 or 10 weeks but he was always a great sleeper. At that age, I let him make his own schedule, sleep and nap when he needed it. Actually he didn't really get on a schedule until he started Daycare at 10 weeks.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

At 5-6 weeks I have instilled regular feedings including nursing which helped him to get on schedule and eventually sleep through the night. Sleeping at 5 hour stretches is considered sleeping through the night for babies that age. My son would also frequently nap throughout the day at that time and sleep at longer stretches throughout the night.

He began sleeping from 7:30-5 or 6 am at around 3.5-4 months.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

I didn't keep her up during the day, but I would wake her about 15 minutes before she was due to eat and play with her, and then tryied to play with her for a little while after she was finished eating...to show her that she could be awake during the day. I also fed her every 3-4 hours. I read that keeping them fed during the day cuts down on their hunger at night.

I also kept everything the same during her day naps, and kept everything quiet at night.

And I used a sound machine in her room at night.

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

my dd slept all the time for the first 4 weeks or so, then she began sleeping a BIT less during the day, I do not do anything, it just kind of happened...she was sleeping through the night 10pm-5am or so at 5 weeks

Re: Moms of newborns who slept through the night

DS is only 4 weeks old, but I started a nighttime ritual once the Ped ok'd baths.

I let him sleep whenever he wants during the day, and in the swing or chair, not in the crib.

We give him a bottle around 5/6, then bathe him around 7:30, put him in his PJs and read to him. Give him another bottle around 8:15. He now goes down in the crib around 8:30ish and last night he slept until 12:30 (which was huge for us). He ate then went right back down until 4:30.

On non-bath nights we do the same thing, just no bath.

I think starting a night ritual is important. Even if they still get up a couple of times, they'll get in to the groove of what bed time means. Also, the distinction between day and night rituals are huge.

Message edited 7/31/2008 10:20:53 AM.