All Communities > Babywise Mom's > 6 weeks - am i misunderstanding something?

6 weeks - am i misunderstanding something?

Michelle - posted on 10/25/2010 ( 3 moms have responded )

im not sure if im really doing babywise or if I just think I'm doing babywise. i want to make sure I'm not misunderstanding something that will end up hindering my baby in some way.

we are on a 3-hr schedule, but I always let the baby wake up naturally to eat (should I be waking her up?). When she wakes up, shes usually fussy - I'm not sure if that's normal or a sign I'm doing something wrong. Although she usually wakes up within 10 mins of the 3-hr mark, sometimes she seems really hungry, sometimes she doesnt seem hungry - but will still eat. Somedays when she had more alert awake time, she sleeps to 3.5 hrs, and then yesterday she slept until the 4 hr mark. When this 3.5 and 4 hr thing happen, my husband and I don't know if we should wake her up or let her sleep or what. what would you do?

In the evenings, we feed her at 7:30, do a quick bedtime routine, and then put her down for the night. She wakes up to eat at 12:30 almost every night, and then wakes up again to eat at 3:30. Some nights she wakes up at 12:00, and then again at 3:00.

In the mornings, we normally feed her within 15 minutes of 7:15, although often times she wakes up at 6:15 and lightly fusses off an on until she starts full blown crying -which is when we end up feeding her.

We are about to fall back an hour (daylight savings time) in two weeks, so i'm trying to push her bedtime feeding/routine at 8:30 so that when we fall back shes on her 7:30 again.

Two nights ago, I fed her at 7:00, she was asleep by 7:30 - and went 8 hours before she woke up again at 2am, and then again at 5 am, and then slept until 8:30 because we werent sure if we should wake her up for her 7:30 am feeding or not?

Last night, she fell asleep after a rough, fussy day at 6:30 in my arms, and then at 7:45 I woke her up to feed her and due the bedtime routine..but she never really fully woke up. Then she slept until 12:30, then woke up again at 4:15......

anyway - I just want to know if there is something in all this that I may need to be aware of, I dont feel like i have a good grasp on it, and just want to make sure that there is not something I am doing that is holding her back in some way

also, i'm finding it super challenging to keep with the eat-sleep-nap thing, because she does not nap very well unless she is in our home. when we are home, the schedule goes wonderfully. but when we are at the grandparents or any family event - she gets too stimulated too nap, and only takes like 10 minute naps inbetween shrieks from my nephews, neices, and people wanting to hold and talk to her. what do you all do in these situations (its pretty often for me)...grandpa said "well she needs to get used to the noise", and i agree, but its tough when a 6 week old is screaming because you know shes tired and just won't sleep.

thanks all

Join Circle of Moms

3 Comments

View replies by

Leslie - posted on 01/18/2011

Wake your baby durring the day to stick with the every 3 hr. routine but at night let her sleep as long as she can. I agree with what Heather said about getting enough calories at night and adding in the dream feed around 10:30. That was super hard for me in the begining b/c I was so tired I would fall asleep and not wake up even to my alarm. I had to start sleeping on the couch till then. It paid off though b/c this helped my son be able to sleep thru the night. I also cluster feed in the evenings. Maybe not as much when I was on the 3 hr. schedule but now my son is 10 months old and in the afternoon/eve. we feed at 3:30, 5:30, and 8. This was more for my milk supply than him sleeping.

As for sleeping out places my son has not been very good at that either. You can try practicing at home so maybe one nap put her in her stroller and another nap in the pack n play. Then when you are out places try to put her down when it's nap time even if that's in her stroller laid back. I know it can be hard with family b/c they want to visit. I just always say "he'll be in a better mood and ready to play once he's had his nap."

Sounds like overall you're doing great though :)

Brittany - posted on 11/28/2010

I don't think its a huge deal to let her sleep an extra 10 minutes. Remember: flexibility. This is all about the needs of your baby! I beleive it says 3 to 3-1/2 hour schedule--meaning that if she sleeps until the 3-1/2hour mark, that's fine, but no later than that. You'll ruin her bedtime if you let her sleep to the four hour mark, at least until she's dropped her nighttime feed and goes to a 3-1/2 to 4 hr schedule (or is it 4 to 4-1/2??) My baby is almost 12m and has had 4 feedings since she was 6 or 7 months (every 4to4-1/2hrs for 12 hours). But definitely make sure there is a set wake-time in the morning, and make sure that it is a time that when daylight savings comes and goes, the wake-up time won't hinder your morning schedule. I learned that the hard way!!

Heather - posted on 10/30/2010

I would wake her at her scheduled feeding times. I know it is hard but it pays off when they sleep through the night because they have had enough calories during the day. I also would add a 10-10:30 dream feed and then hopefully in the next couple weeks she will sleep through the night. If you put a diaper on that is one size biger at bed time you should be able to skip the diaper change and just feed her and put her straight back to bed. Keep it quiet and dark so she doesn't think it is time to play. When mine were that age during the day I tried to only have them up for about 45 min and then down for a nap. Except for in the evening when they would usually only take a 45 min cat nap around 5 pm. I also think you need to have a set morning wake time and even if she was up early and back to sleep wake her and start your day. My kids will only sleep in their playpens or cribs. So we try to be home for naps. When they are really young it isn't a big deal to miss one because you have so many to try to catch up. When you are with your family can you try puting her in her car seat and covering her and setting her in a quiet place? If mine were really tired that would work. It is hard once they are over stimulated and need to sleep but can't! Good luck and if I can be of any help let me know. Heather