Unusal Sleeping and eating patterns...

Katie - posted on 03/26/2009

Thanks for all your help!!!!

Heather - posted on 03/25/2009

Before I even finished reading your question, I was thinking growth spurt! They put those little tykes thru some wierd things. My daughter did some of the things you mentioned, and other times she would hardly eat anything and sleep a ton! Just keep your routines down, and dont fight what she's doing right now, you dont want try to change her patterns if it is a growth spurt because you might change her good patterns after the growth spurt it over!

Reagan - posted on 03/25/2009

I feel your pain! LOL! My 11 week old started the same thing this week. For the past two months he's been eating 4-5 ounces at night and sleeping 4-5 hours between each feeding. The last two nights he's woken up every 3 hours hungry. Before, I could reswaddle him and give him the binkie and he'd sleep for another hour or two - that hasn't worked lately!  I'm nursing too, so it's NOT a quick feeding, especially at night. I'm hoping this will last a few days then go back to the old routine. I even gave him a couple ounces of formula hoping maybe that would satisfy his hunger. No such luck. 

Sara - posted on 03/25/2009

I remember having to start getting up with both my kids about this time.  Instead of a growth spurt per say, I found it was more that their "lights" turned on.  I mean that they started realizing about that time that if they woke up and wanted mommy, they could start crying and here I came.  I started offering larger bottle, or more breast feeding time, which ever you do, and not comming right away when they would cry.  At first it was really hard because I wondered if I was doing the right thing, but half the time they would calm right down and fall back asleep and half the time I would let them cry for 5 minutes and go check on them, but not pick them up.  Talking and turning on some music until they would calm down.  For two weeks they might wake up a few times and I would let them cry for 5 mins, then 10 mins, etc.  After two weeks they figured out it was time to sleep when it was dark and they would sleep through the night again!

It is hard to do, but it worked really well for me and I used the same technique as they got older and started having trouble sleeping through the night.  i did find that the first time they would cry for longer than 5 mins, you have to check and make sure they are not too hot, or cold, or dirty, etc.  Oh yeah, and after i did this with them for a week, they would start eating more during the day, instead of eating while I needed to sleep!

Hope that helps, good luck and lost of warm wishes,

Sara

Alice - posted on 03/25/2009

it is the 3 months growth spurt. Good luck, it passes.

Brittany - posted on 03/25/2009

yes... i remember thinking the same thing with my son. he was eating great and sleeping great then all of a sudden it changed and i was finally getting used to sleeping again. i ended up calling my doctor wondering what was wrong with him because he was also born 2 1/2 months early. my doctor told me it is normal because they are growing and needing the food but their tummys aren't stretching enough to keep enough food in. it will change and then go back again. but feel blessed that your daughter was sleeping through the night at 2 months i think i was still up 4-5 times a night. it wont last long. and caroline is right soon you will be concerened about her not eating enough. (heads up... when they are teething they don't eat as much on hard days because it can actually make them nauses).

Caroline - posted on 03/25/2009

Yes, it could be! In fact, it most likely is, since they don't make feeding and sleeping choices conciously at that age. It will be over shortly, and you will find yourself worrying about her not eating enough or sleeping too long! They are growing and developing so fast, you can almost bet everything she is doing is short term. Believe it or not, you will remember this with fondness, some day! Blessings.