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Should my 6wk old be sleeping throughout the night already?

Leanna - posted on 07/20/2010 ( 9 moms have responded )

HI there! So my little Isaac is 6wks old now & I was reading some blogs on here & read an interesting little side note. It said "39% of 1mon olds are sleeping through the night. Has your little one reached that milestone yet?"

First of all, is this true? Should he really be sleeping through the night yet? My Isaac still wakes up to feed every 4 hours & every 2 when he's going through a growth spurt. And he's eating btwn 4-5oz at each feed. So he's literally eating about 16-18oz throughout the 10-13hr he's sleeping at night. Cuz he usually goes down, officially, to start his bedtime about 10pm then is actively awake by about 11am. But in between there, he wakes about every 4 hrs to feed, doesn't open his eyes, just eats & goes back to solid sleep. When he does actually open his eyes it's b/c I'm changing his diaper & he's sensitive to touch. He doesn't wake to sound but you change his position at all, & his eyes are wide open! But I hold him for 20-30min & he goes back to sleep.

So, all of that to ask, should he be sleeping through the night already or no? How many of yours are? Should I have already started putting cereal in his night bottle so he won't wake up hungry? Won't that predispose him to becoming overweight if you add cereal too soon?

I'm a first time mom- can't you tell!! LOL

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Candy - posted on 09/20/2010

649

Every child is different and NO book has been written about YOUR child. Love him for who he is and try to get some sleep.

Vanissa - posted on 09/17/2010

No your 6 wk old baby should not be sleeping through the night at this point. He definately does not need cereal so he will sleep through the night either because it is not good for their digestive system. No solid foods should be introduced until 4 months of age for a normal term baby. If he was premature or has any paticular health problems the introduction of solids may be later, but your pediatrician will inform you. If you are on any supplemental feeding programs in your state a nutritionist will also advise you on the appropriate feeding guidelines. His sleeping pattern and feeding patter sounds normal for his age. Very few infants actually sleep through the night without waking for feedings until a bit later. Each child is different. Also when cereal is introduced it should be introduce with a spoon and not in a bottle. I will be happy to answer any additional questions. In addition to being a mother of 2 girls, I also have worked in various jobs in health care for many years with newborns, infants, children, and even maternity patients. Hope this helps.

Kristy - posted on 09/16/2010

My baby started sleeping through the night at two months. I stopped changing her diaper in the night and only fed her for a few minutes. I went from six to four to two minutes when she would wake up through the course of maybe a week and a half. Also, if he wakes up crying, give him his paci and he may fall right back to sleep. This is the way I was able to get Kalli to sleep through the night. She goes to bed at nine and gets up around seven. Hope this helps.

MaryEllen - posted on 07/22/2010

298

Neither of mine slept through the night at that age. My daughter was still waking every 4hrs to eat, too.

Just relax and trust your instincts.

Leanna - posted on 07/22/2010

I really do have a very good baby. God has really blessed me so much! Thanks for your imput. I appreciate it greatly.

Carla - posted on 07/22/2010

3,804

Each child is different, honey. My first baby slept the night through the first night home from the hospital. I didn't sleep a wink! I kept checking to see if she was still breathing!

Third baby never slept for a year and a half!

Times have changed from when mine were little. We were feeding them cereal in a bottle at 8 weeks. I fed them the cereal/formula mixture with a little strained pears for flavor (have you ever tasted the cereal?) morning and night. My kids were never adversely affected by this. So, I guess whatever you are comfortable with. Once he starts crawling and scooting, the weight comes off, believe me!

It sounds like you have a good baby there, honey. Congrats and God bless!

Leanna - posted on 07/21/2010

Yeah I watched the video of "The Happiest Baby on the Block" when I was in hospital. The lactation nurse showed it to me. It's the best!! I've used so many of the techniques he teaches. So, yeah right now Isaac sleeps in his bassinette next to my bed but do you recommend I start putting him in his crib by the time he's 8 weeks? Then it kind of gets better from there? How do you deal with the crying himself to sleep bit? Isaac will scream to the point where he stops breathing and literally turns so red it's almost purple. it scares me.

Shelley - posted on 07/21/2010

435

hi Leanna,
Congratulations on your new baby. They are such a blessing.
6 weeks is a little early to be sleeping through the night. i would reccomend the book "on becoming baby wise" found in christian book stores.
you could try feeding him 3 hrly during the day and then he'll need less feeds at night if you are breastfeeding don't go longer than 6 hrs between feeds at this early stage as you need to feed often in order to keep up your milk production. I wouldn't put rice cereal in his bottle just yet as formula should be enough.
Sleeping though the night is not a competition i know its hard when you first start out but after a couple of children and few years you see that all babies are beautiful and all develop at their own pase. Goodluck

Jenn - posted on 07/21/2010

Hi Leann!

First of all, I recommend this book, The happiest Baby on the Block, we used its techniques to get our Son (be 8 months on the 29th) to sleep through the night. Right now we put him down at 9:15 he cries for 10-15 minutes and is out until 6:30 or 7 am. We had him in his basinett in our room until 2 months b/c he was still up every 4 hours for feedings too. At 2 months we transitioned him into his crib and he started sleeping 6 hours then waking for a feeding. It wasn't that bad. Don't stress about his nighttime habits. 6 weeks is the perfect age to start a nighttime routine and try to get him to sleep on his own. I'm a first time mom too, everyone will give you different advice to do what your comforable with and whatever works for you.