3 Month Old Only Sleeps 3 Hours

I totally understand! My son was 10.6 pounds at birth and breastfed ALL THE TIME. It took him a while to sleep for long stretches, so hang in there. I know how painful the lack of sleep is, but it WILL get better, I promise. Is there any way for you to split up feedings with a partner (maybe you already are)?

I'm going to say it depends on his reflux. My 5mo has reflux as well (from hiatal hernia) and maaaayyyybeee sleeps 3hrs at a time! He can only eat 4oz at a time, sometime 4-1/2. He still needs to be held upright for 30mins after eating, and his bed is inclined. Its tough! Good luck :)

Hang in there Mom! I think what you're describing is perfectly normal. You may find that in another month he starts giving you longer stretches of sleep. But for now, he's just trying to tell you what he needs--and apparently that includes eating frequently. He may be experiencing a growth spurt. Try to remember that it's temporary.

Hiya, My son was a big guy, too, and I hate to tell you, but he nursed every 2-3 hrs for 11mos. But I really thought he genuinely needed the nutrition, so I sucked it up and did it--and slept A LOT during the weekends when my hub could cover for me.

There is a GREAT book called "The No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley that really helped us build a routine.

Good Luck!

Don't over feed him. It's not hunger that wakes him. My 2nd child had projectile vomiting reflux and we finally put her on Reglan because she was loosing weight. The acid hurt. But even on Reglan, she didn't sleep through the night. We had her on this for a few months, until her stomach started emptying on it's own. She started sleeping through the night at age 3.

I had friends who did baby sleeping rituals and workshops that would work on some of their children. But don't feel that feeding him more will make him sleep. Once he's mobile, he might wear himself out playing more (then you'll have your hands full!)

I would say that you should look into giving him probiotics, the helpful bacteria that line the intestines. Probiotics actually help break down food for us, and are not present at birth. There is some available in commercial yogurt, but since you have a greater need to alleviate your son's problems, I would say to go with one from a health food store. "Florajen3" is sold at the store I work at (Murray Ave Apothecary), and is reasonably priced for the benefits you are getting (60 capsules for $34.50) I believe that would help immensely to get your child's digestive system to work properly, and may even allow him to sleep more peacefully. There are also digestive enzymes available, that I use from time to time and that work like a charm, but I am not familiar with the dosage for children. I would definitely start with the probiotics. Good luck!

S. R.

My first son had reflux and never slept well from the beginning. I believe the burning keeps them up. You shouldn't try to overfeed due to the spit up. My son now 4 still doesn't sleep alot. He gets up about 6 every morning, it's just his way. My second son, no reflux, sleeps wonderfully. After the reflux goes away, about 1 years old, you'll be able to sleep better. It's a long wait and does get better.

Your baby will eat and sleep as he sees fit! LOL You're going to have to adjust to his schedule. Sounds pretty normal to me -- sleep wise AND formula wise. Don't force any more on him. I wish we all had the ability to regulate our own food intake like babies do!

Oh, I feel for you. This is still normal-- but it won't be for long! The next month will make such a difference-- maybe even in the next couple weeks. We coped by breastfeeding at 9:00, and me going to bed immediately afterwards in the nursery (we had a bed in there), but you could use a guest room with the monitor. DH gave a bottle at 12-1, then put the baby dowin in the nursery and went to bed himself. I would then get up with the baby at 3-4 (whenever he woke up), having gotten 5-6 hours of sleep. I'd nurse, and if I was lucky enough he'd go back to sleep for a couple more hours so I'd get 8 or so hours. Rob the would get up at 7-8 am, also having had 7-8 hours.

To help yourself along, make sure you are doing everything you can to promote good sleep. Do you have a sound machine, or a fan in the room (new research shows a fan is very good for helping to prevent SIDS)? Is he swaddled? Warm/cool enough? Dark enough? BInky? My son HATED sleeping in the room with us, and when we moved him to his crib it was like (ha ha) night and day. Maybe yours wants to be in your room, or out of it. You've just got to keep trying things until something works.

Oh, and he's not going to take more a feeding- they are still eating 8 times a day at that age. If they are nursing , it's more like 10-12 (goodness, I remember those days!). But you can make it easier on yourself at night by measuring out the formula into bottles and just not adding the water, which you can do upstairs at the sink. Saves some stumbling through the house!

You never know what you're going to get! There is a range of what's normal & only sleeping 3 hours at a time at age 3 months is pretty much within that range! It's hard when you talk to some other people & their babies are sleeping for much longer stretches, but don't worry, there are plenty of people out there just like you. I thought it would be different too, but my son is almost 12 months & he still only sleeps about 3 hours at a time.

Its normal. My son woke up every 2 hours til he was 3 months old (which is when we started rice). Then he started sleeping 4 hours. At 6 months he started sleeping 6 hours. And now at 1 year he sleeps 11 hours. My son did not have reflux, so I don't know if that is affecting your child's sleep, you may want to check with your doctor. My son was a big boy 9lbs 2 oz at birth & he was always hungry. Now at a year he eats 3 meals with us (what ever we are eating) and he usually eats as much as I do. Plus he has 2 snacks. I think your boy is just hungry & his stomach is not big enough yet to hold him over.
Oh & all my friends who had great sleepers from birth...now at a year they are having a rough time getting the kids to sleep & sleeping through the night for them now is only 6-8 hours. So everyone suffers at some point. Be glad you are getting yours over early.

What kind of formula are you using? What about going to the next size nipple and adding an extra ounce?

That is actually about normal (every baby is different). My son was getting up every 3 hours for a long time, and sometimes he still does! He is 6mos. I would not try to "force" anything, as this will most likely make the reflux act up even more, making him more uncomfortable and less likely to sleep.
They actually say to feed reflux babies more often and in smaller amounts so as not to aggravate it. Maybe try asking his doc for some Zantac? That can be used as needed, and you can stop it as soon as he improves (I had my son on it for about 2 weeks). It tastes super yucky, but did seem to help.
Try elevating his crib mattress (or bassinette) with a wedge under it, that will help with his digestion while laying down. Also, how about the formula with rice in it rather than mixing it in yourself, like Similac RS? And unfortuately for you, 3 hours is absolutely average at this age! :) Sleeping thru the night is defined as 5-6hours at a stretch, so he almost there! Hope this helps! :)

I just wanted to say that I think it's completely normal. My daughter (now 3) had reflux as well, and ate smaller amounts in her bottles, more often. I can vividly remember being so sleep-deprived at 3 months, and just begging God for anything MORE than 3 hours of sleep at a time! My sister had a baby the same exact age who was sleeping through the night, and I was SO jealous. I can tell you that it may not be next month, but your son WILL sleep better when his reflux starts to taper off - usu. sometime around 6-8months. I know that seems like eons right now, but hang in there! Once my daughter was able to eat more at each feeding without spitting up, she started sleeping longer stretches, and by 9 months (her reflux was gone), she lept 12 hours per night (7pm-7am) most nights. She is still a great sleeper, so your sons current sleep issues mean nothing for the future. In the meantime, definitely elevate his crib if you haven't already. That is supposed to help with reflux discomfort. By the way, my sister's baby started NOT sleeping through the night around the same time mine did, and her son has NEVER been a good sleeper since. So...you are paying your dues now, but IT WILL GET BETTER!!
Best wishes!

Hello K.,
My name is D. and I have a son who just turned 4 months old on the 5th. Since he was born, he has had acid reflux. Me and my husband have not been sleeping well throughout the nights. My son only sleeps for about 2-3 hours at a time, and I thought that by now he'd be sleeping all night. Is your child on any medication for the acid reflux? My son is taking prevacid, so that he isn't feeling too much of the burning. Per my sons pediatrician, we have been feeding him cereal in his bottle when he was about 4 weeks old. This has helped keep his food down. The pediatrician said that usually this will go away when he turns six months old or when he can sit on his own to eat...so I believe that as the babies get closer to the 6 months age mark, they will sleep for longer periods at a time. I hope this helps. Good Luck!