confused about newborn schedule ... play vs sleep vs eat ...

We spent the entire morning, eating, burping, tummy time, walking around the house and babbling nonsense about giraffes and puppies, and then repeat. He didn't sleep, and didn't look like he wanted to. Other than crying and bonking open mouth on me for food every hour, he seemed really content. This was like 5 hours long event.

He didn't even yawn till I swaddled and rocked him, but then he was out.

Time flew, I didn't even notice. But I'm worried if I took too much time away from what he needs for sleep. And should he be eating like every hour? Hes getting very good about BF, takes about 10-15 min on each side. Will pull on the first breast when milk starts to slow down, to let me know to switch. Then gets really sleepy 10 min into the second one. Occasionally he tugs on the second one as if to tell me its not enough milk, in that case I give one ounce of formula and see if it makes him happy.

Opinions?

Oh and he's 4 weeks old.

Message edited 4/9/2010 12:54:02 PM.

Re: confused about newborn schedule ... play vs sleep vs eat ...

He's almost a month correct? I think at that age just go with the flow. I think maybe you can "TRY" to swaddle and rock after maybe an hour of wakefullness and see if he sleeps.. maybe he just needs to be coaxed into it. but if he doesn't..i wouldnt worry too much. He will do something totally different next week!! ( he seems to be an awesome breastfeeder too)!!

Re: confused about newborn schedule ... play vs sleep vs eat ...

I'm with the go with the flow thing... Don't worry. Babies really don't get a schedule until 8 weeks or even later.

My dd is almost 4 months and we just started getting her into a routine.

Re: confused about newborn schedule ... play vs sleep vs eat ...

I guess I'm in the minority, but I do think the baby might need a little more sleep. 5 hours seems like a really long time to be awake for a newborn.

Usually after 1.5 hours, my LO would be super tired and falling asleep!

At that time he was probably eating every 2 -2.5 - 3 hours.... unless he was cluster feeding at which times it could be every hour.

Re: confused about newborn schedule ... play vs sleep vs eat ...

Wow, a month already? Can you believe our babies are a month old?

Sienna also is a BF baby. I nurse her on demand. I never wake her and we are fine-she does the same thing as your DS.

I think you are doing fine. I wouldn't change a thing from what you described.

Oh and a warning since I just had this-when she hit 5 weeks, she had a growth spurt where she demanded to BF every hour. It passed quickly.