what does it mean sleeping throught the night?

Elfrieda - posted on 05/05/2012

Well, this is just one of the many things where you and your husband are going to have to compromise when raising your daughter. I think you should each talk about why you feel the way you do, and if he still feels very concerned about letting her sleep, then if you're taking turns at night (I think that's what I read) then on his nights let him do it his way, and on your nights do it your way. It's not going to hurt her to have mom and dad do things a little differently.

Sometimes I do things with my son just because my husband feels strongly about it, and he does the same for me. It's the downside to having two involved parents, but personally I'd way rather compromise than do it all by myself!

Amanda - posted on 04/27/2012

Every baby is different, and not every baby will follow the rules set out by nurses and pediatritions.

My son was born a month early. He was jaundiced and in hospital they were waking him up every 2-3 hrs to feed and check his obs.
My husband was the same, my son was our first so he wanted to do everything by the book. Luckily he is a shift worker so some nights he's not home so I was able to let him sleep and get into his own sleeping routine. I'm so glad I let him and my daughter sleep because even now they sleep from 7pm to 6.30am.
I know people that have woken babies up to feed because the book told them bubs had to feed every 4 hrs and could only sleep for a maximum of this amount of time and at 2 yrs old their child was still waking up every few hours over night expecting a drink.

Monica - posted on 04/27/2012

I think my husband is worried because at first our baby had jaundice and the doctor said to keep feeding her so she had bowel movements. During the first two weeks of life we had to wake her up. Once that was overcome, she was waking up twice at night. At 5-6 weeks she started waking up only once, and since week 9 she sleeps more and more. I am glad to hear the 11 hrs example of Amanda, because I am sure Annabel would have gone all the way to 11hrs if we have let her. The issue now is that my husband and I switch care at night. Last night, I let my baby sleep and she slept 6hrs, but my husband is thinking about setting the alarm up to 5 hrs! My guts tell me I'm in the right track, but the best for a baby is consistency. So, I would like to find sources where doctors or specialist discuss this topic. Unfortunately, with the nurse and few web pages he checked the consensus is the average 5-6 hrs. Have you found anything in a book or online about this!?

I know we are lucky (actually I'm a good sleeper ;-) and I always hoped for my baby to be as good as me in that matter) .... but I feel this disagreetment will cost us in the future!

Amanda - posted on 04/27/2012

As other mums have said I wouldn't wake her either. Both mine were sleeping through at a very early age. From day one they were sleeping 5 or 6 hours overnight and by 5 weeks they were sleeping 11 hrs a night.

Brittney - posted on 04/27/2012

Our doctor counted 5 hours as sleeping through the night. Ruby was sleeping through the night (8 hours) at about 8-9 weeks old and never once did I wake her. A friend of mine's baby was sleeping through the night a few days after he was born.

Firebird - posted on 04/27/2012

Do not wake her up. 11 weeks and sleeping through the night is awesome! My daughter was sleeping 8 hour stretches at 5 weeks. As Elfrieda said, as long as she's still gaining weight, count your blessings. Every baby is different, what the nurse says applies to some babies, not all of them. All these recommendations you hear are only guidelines, not actual rules.

Elfrieda - posted on 04/27/2012

No, don't wake her up! What I heard is that 7 hours is considered sleeping through the night for a young baby. I think you're lucky parents! If she's not gaining enough weight, I think that's the only time something so drastic as waking up a sleeping baby would be necessary.