Sleeping Pattern

Hi there! I truely think that newborns shouldn't be expected to have an actual sleep pattern until at least 6 weeks, and sometimes even more. It's really hard to establsh a pattern before then because they just do what they want. Give it time, and soon she will develpe a pattern. Good luck.

My kids didn't really get in to a sleep pattern until they were 6-8 weeks. The best advice I can give you is wake her up a little early from her naps so that they gradually move betime up a little bit. My kids also never went to sleep until 11 anyway that was the bed time they set and it is the only one that worked for them. GOOD LUCK

This will be over before you know it. Babies need to eat frequently during the first couple months up to 4-6 months and the rest of the time they sleep. Both my kids did it and both started sleeping through the night about 6 months. (during times of teething, they'd wake again but after the teeth cut, they'd go back to sleeping through the night)

Another poster advised against the Babywise books and I wholeheartedly agree except she's wrong in that her advice isn't popular. It's shared with most of the medical community, most of the lactation community and even the author's former church has denounced him (he's not a former nurse, he's a pastor and his books are based on his religious teachings)
Before you go out and buy the book, please read this!
http://www.rickross.com/reference/gfi/gfi5.html
Google Babywise and you'll see more!

In my opinion, it's way too soon to expect your baby to have a regular sleep pattern. I think it's completely normal for her to still be totally out of whack. The pattern you're describing sounds EXACTLY like what my babies did.
I started my girls on watery rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk, using a cereal nipple at 6 weeks. My doc said earlier than that would be a mistake. It made a world of difference.
Hope this helps a bit, anyway!
Best Wishes!!

You're doing great, just give it some time. My daughter didn't go to bed before 11:00 for several months. All kids are different though..... In another month I think you'll see things start to change. You are obviously trying to get her on a schedule and that WILL payoff. I love the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." Also, I really paid attention to what my pediatrician recommended as far as how often the baby should eat,etc. He helped tremendously.
Good luck, you'll get there! :-)

Keep working at it. You are doing fine. She is only 4 weeks and it may take a little while for her to get a steady sleep schedule since most babies don't start sleeping regularly during the night until 6 months. Try just keeping her awake for a few extra MINUTES during the day. She may be getting over stimulated. She can get over tired and not sleep. Set a routine that you follow everyday. I know now it may feel like a routine is out of teh question at this point but it does help. One thing that worked for my son, and I worship this product, is the Johnson and Johnson bedtime bath and lotion. He was a collicky baby who never slept. We started using this and giving him a message ofterwards with the lotion and he started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks!! I wish you luck! Remember there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I would say enjoy that time. At that time of the day you usually have the work done around the house that needs to get done. All three of my babies started out the first two months sleeping like your little one and I loved that time because I felt very relaxed and would just enjoy cuddling and bonding with my new baby and not feeling like there was something else I "should" be doing. Especially when it was baby #2 and #3 because the other kids were in bed and was great alone time! The next few weeks will fly by so fast and your baby will get into a "normal" sleep pattern and you will miss it. Enjoy and congratulations on becoming a mommy, it's a busy, sleep deprived world you are now in but nothing in the world compares to how wonderful it is (although it doesn't always feel that way, easier to reflect on when they are sleeping:))

She's just little! Relax and Enjoy! She'll get there on her own! Babies have an amazing capability of regulating themselves. The No Cry Sleep SOlution by Elizabeth Pantly, The Sleep Book by Dr. Sears, or the information found on sleep at www.askdrsears.com are great resources too!

Here's my caution on Babywise (which I know my opinion is not popular, but that's ok ;))
It seems like you are following Babywise. You have to do what works for your family, but let me just say this.. be careful. Babywise was written by a NURSE who never worked with children. He has no clue as to what is medically right for your child. Many counsels are speaking out against this book, because they are discovering babies are getting dehydrated and are not getting enough nourishment. Also, sleeping through the night is only defined as 5-6 hours by the American Academy of Pediatrics and others..... Many moms mis understand and think their baby is capable of sleeping 10-12 hours straight, which is a horrible misunderstanding. Although they can be forced, it is not a good idea!!!! Please use caution if you use this book/method. Also CIO doesn't "teach" them. Research shows the give up and don't call out because they believe no one is there for them. This has long-term effects that aren't pretty! Even babies who sleep through the night still wake up, they just don't call out for you. Crying is their only way of communicating. It's not a manipulation.

Sorry for the rant :). Trust your gut, trust your child, and you'll be fine!!!!

If nursing, are you taking any medications that mind knock her out? I made the mistake of resuming my antihistamines after birth (not during pregnancy). I was also on a high blood pressure medicine for the pre-eclampsi and effectively kept my child asleep, so much so, that she wouldn't wake up to nurse, and was losing weight.

Is your baby being weighed frequently by the doctor? I didn't know anything was wrong, until they told me that she was losing weight, and my milk supply was fine.

I know exactly what you're talking about. I'll give you the same advice that I was given. Which wasn't much. When you're done feeding, put to bed as usual every time. At this young of an age they're just trying to figure things out themselves. It takes patience, but with consistency, it should pay off.

S., Babies are on their own schedule. At 4 weeks, i do not think it is necessary to adjust their schedule. they will do that on their own, as your routine sets in they adjust to that. i nkow its not very convenient, and some days really frustrating to have them awake that late. But we all have our times of day that we are brightest, and babies are the same. I adise not to stress on that so much. There is so much to enjoy and cherish at this age, that you might miss something by focusing too much on a schedule! Take a deep breath! it's all good.

We used "On Becoming Babywise" by Gary Ezzo with our kids. It worked well for us since it's flexible planning. It's been a long time since I read the book, but some of their ideas might help. From what I remember, you might try waking her at 3 1/2 hours or 3 hours during the day to eat and then try keep her awake. They would have more help. The book is easy reading and short. GL and enjoy that sweet little one. Congratulations!

I read the book On Becoming Babywise about eating and sleeping schedules and it's a big proponent of schedules. It is a little rigid for my liking (so I follow its ideas, but loosely), but it really gave me some great ideas for routines and how to get my baby to sleep which made such a difference for us once we started implementing them. I didn't like completely letting my kids cry and cry it out like the book recommends. I would recommend reading it (take what you like and discard the rest) because of the great ideas it offers, and I've also heard the "No Cry Sleep Solution" is terrific. Babywise gives you an idea of when they'll eat/wake/sleep for the different stages of the first year, and I really like that part of the book.

Bedtime routines are great. We change diaper, read a book, and sing a song before laying our baby down as our routine. As my son got older I added cleaning up toys at the very beginning of the routine. Kids thrive off of consistency, and knowing what to expect next gives them security. I personally like a schedule because I plan outings around it and have a pretty good idea when my kids will be well-rested and fed, so they won't be grumpy.

Getting my baby to fall asleep was a little bit of a struggle, but it became much easier as we followed the same routine every time and just pat her and talk/sing to her when she's fussy instead of picking her up. She learned to soothe herself and fall asleep on her own, so it's worth all the effort and energy.

my second one is 8 weeks now and from the beginning, i wake her up during the day every 3 hours to feed. it is important to try to keep them up AFTER they eat for a little but and then she can take a nap right up until her next feeding. you can follow this cycle all day long....at night she will eventually learn to sleep longer since you are not letting her sleep longer than a few hour stretch at a time during the day.

This sounds about right - time will take care of it. Remember, she is only 4 weeks old! Don't expect her to get a night time routine / sleep pattern down for at least a few more months if not longer and then once you get it down, it will change again. In the first year you will notice that her sleep pattern will change alot, so this too shall pass. Just go with it...I know you are tired, but it is all part of the process. I advise that you be consistent and start a bedtime routine with her and eventually she will start going to bed a bit earlier and maybe start sleeping longer. Sleep is the hardest part to figure out (at least it was for us), but I assure you that after some time it will naturally work itself out, but don't expect it for a while. Good luck!

This is exactly how my 3rd baby was (now 3 months old) and At 730 every night whether or not she was asleep she got a bath, then got lotioned and then breastfed and put to bed...We're still doing this, and started it when she was 3 weeks old (her umbilical cord didn't fall off till then). It's helped us, and if we're busy with the other two at 730 and she's not getting undressed for her bath she's upset. That's our bedtime routene and I think it helps tremendously! Good luck.

S.,

It is normal. Annoying but normal. Just keep the night time waking as boring as possible. Low lights, not much action, feed her, hold her but don't talk, don't turn on the TV, etc... It will straighten itself out soon. With my first son, I engaged him way too much at night and it took him until 3 months or so before he was sleeping more at night than during the day. With my second son, I was careful to keep night very unstimulating from the beginning and I think he was sleeping more at night than during the day by the time he was around 6 weeks old. Those first few weeks are tough. Hang in there!

T.

It took me a little while to get my 4 month old in a pattern. I finally starting keeping bed time separate from nap time. During the day she would be downstairs with me and would take naps in her swing, in the daylight with all the noise of the day, but when I put her down at night, it was upstairs in the dark and quiet.
I think for the most part though she will adapt. She is still brand new and is still getting used to a new place and your schedule.
Good Luck!
And enjoy your little one! Mine is 4 months already! They grow so fast!