6 wk old sleeping question

My 6 week old is eating and sleeping well. He can go for 5-6 hour stretches at night between feedings. He usually sleeps for about 4 or 5 of those hours. The problem is he begins these nice long stretches too early, so he is still waking up in the middle of the night. For example, the other night he ate at 8pm and went to sleep by 9, woke up at 1am and then again 4 am.
Is there a way to shift these long stretches?

Am I asking too much of a 6 week old?

Thanks!

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

that sounds normal unless u start putting him down a little later than norm...

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

Posted by Kelly9904

Posted by july0105

Am I asking too much of a 6 week old?

Thanks!

I think you might be!

Thank your lucky stars that your DC is giving you these stretches at such a young age!

As DS gets older he will go for longer and cut out one of the feedings. I would wait another 2 weeks or so and then maybe try lowering his 1am feeding by an oz or so...See how that goes.

But honestly DS was the same way and then he stopped with the 1am on his own, then stopped the 4 am and now sleeps from 9-7ish. I never had to do anything to encourage these changes he just did it when he was ready.

I love him going to bed at 9 gives me plenty of time with him after work and some adult/relaxing time with DH before we go to bed.

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

During the day (before his 9pm bedtime) wake him, dont let him go more than 4 hours between bottles. This will help him learn to be awake more! I can remember complaining that DS slept too much and then one day he was up all the time! Now I pray for a decent nap!

I think before 8 weeks is too young, they are still figuring things out day, night, feedings etc.

See how your DS reacts as I said I followed DSs cues and then all of the sudden one night I was hte one awake and he was sleeping soundly!

Your DS is sleeping so well for a 6 week old I would predict that in a few weeks he will cut one of those feedings out on his own! It might be the 4am one but its a start.

Good Luck!

ETA: My DS was sleeping 9-6ish by 9 weeks old! So hopefully your little one will be as well! one other thing, for me putting DS down at 9:30 does nothing, he still wakes up at the same time, its like he has an internal alarm

Message edited 5/4/2008 9:44:30 PM.

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

We used to keep DD up until 10PM so that she would sleep until 7AM. As she is getting older, the 10PM is now 7-8PM. Try to keep the baby up longer.

Message edited 5/4/2008 10:16:03 PM.

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

I set my DD on a schedule by waking her up, so that her last feeling was at 11 pm.

So, every 3 hrs, (8pm, 11pm) - and than let her sleep for the night.

I did that, and she got into the schedule of waking up herself at the time. Until, we she slept more and moved to 10pm

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

Be happy that you get that much sleep...my DS wakes up every 2 hours

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

Sofia is 4.5 mts and not sleeping at night yet

Re: 6 wk old sleeping question

Unfortunately...it's very normal and in my experience...only time and his maturity over that time will change it.