Suggestions on Sleeping/Eating Pattern for 9 Week Old

You are doing all you can do. He is an individual, just like you are. We all change constantly, have times we need more, times we need less. Love him and do what it takes to make him happy and content, as a new baby. The rest will come. Parenting is not easy, and we humans are not guinea pigs in a lab. The books are guidelines but not written in stone. Relax, he will soon sleep, and so will you.

If I were you, since he is 9 weeks old, try some cereal, you know the rice cereal for babies. I always tried that than give him a bath, then bedtime. To me it seemed to fill their belly up so they would sleep longer at bedtime. I don't have any advice on the morning thing, but maybe getting him started on solids will help.
A.
Oh and and know some doctors say wait for solids and some don't, but since my babies were healthy I did what I thought was best for them.
I hope ya'll get some sleep soon

Working in child care for over 12 years, I have been in the infant room and have learned that even at that young age, it is good to have a gap between feedings. For the baby being only 9 weeks old, it is just fine what you are doing because you are also breast feeding. From my experience breast fed babies are going to require more feedings because they are trying to take in as much milk and they don't always do that so of course there will be times that it seems like you just fed them and they are hungry again. Just make sure that you are burping the baby so that he does not have a tummy ache, which will cause him to cry more often because he didn't burp it all out. He will feel much better and be full for a while. When my first child was born(he is 16 now), I never read books or did not have family close by because my husband was in the military. That first day alone with my son (he was 1 month old)felt like a nightmater for me and I wasn't even bread feeding. I thought every time he cried, he was hungry so I would feed him a bottle. After he finished his bottle (4 oz) he would be content and fall back asleep. However, he did not sleep long...about 45mins to an hour. He would wake up crying and I would check to see if his diaper was wet and it wasn't. I would hold him and he still would cry. I found out later that night that I was not burping him between feedings so he had so much fluid in his tummy which caused him to be irrated and uncomfortable. I felt like a bad mom but from that, I did the burping between feedings and my son was much happier and his sleeping was longer. Your son will eventually grow out of that as the months go by and when he is about 4 months, you can slowly start introducing him to cereal and baby food.

Golly, if he's only 9 weeks old, I'd suggest NOT having such a rigid routine! I breastfed 4 kids (now 20-31) and I just let them eat whenever they were hungry and they all settled into a pretty good routine (and established my milk supply!) on their own fairly early on. When they were a few months old, I did let them 'cry it out' a night or two to get them to sleep all night (it worked with some more easily than others!!)

Anyway, if you're nervous and/or stressed, it'll come through to the baby. Just a thought . . . maybe he's not burping well at that early a.m. feeding (?) Gassy babies want to eat/nurse/suckle as it helps them pass the gas. Our 2 boys had colic, and the only thing that helped was a pacifier (girls didn't use them, altho baby daughter sucked her thumb til she was 4 and there was no way we could've stopped her until she decided to quit. In fact I believe that had we tried to MAKE her quit, she would've been more insecure & would've done it longer).

Good luck, and don't 'sweat it'!
Blessings!

Hey C.!

I have an 11 month old who once was 9 weeks:) I also read Baby Wise while I was pregnant but decided that it was better for me not to follow rules or go by books; it stressed me out too much. Everyone in the world will try to tell you what the right way to do things is but you really just have to do what works best for you guys. I remember when my daughter Cameron would get up almost immediately after I fed her and would not go back to sleep unless I fed her again. Babies go through many growth spurts when they are first born and sometimes need more noursishment than what is normal for the routine you have established. As long as you try holding him or changing his diaper, giving a pacifier(if you do that) before you feed him then you are exhausting all options and will know that he is in fact hungry. My daughter went in and out of this for this first couple of months. Try not to stress out about exactly what times he eats; you'll learn to understand when he is hungry. I breastfed for 5 months and know how challenging it can be during these times; don't feel bad if you need to supplement with a little formula here and there when he gets hungry so close between feedings.
Hope this helps!

C.,

Wow! I'm so impressed and encouraged to hear that you are exclusively nursing your son. What a nurturing gift you are giving to him.

I am so sad that you were given the advice to read Baby Wise. It is unfortunate that other mothers would want you to be given such a rigid, structured manual for something that is really very easy and nurturing and intuitive.

It could be that my mommy style and yours is so different that you will not understand my guidance. I encourage you to put the book down and to listen to your baby. Feed your baby when he's hungry, rock him and go to him when he cries. These first six months are so critical in establishing trust. When moms put babies on schedules it is really more stressful for everyone. A baby who is exclusively breastfed cannot be overfed. They are the healthiest of babies.

I highly recommend seeking out a La Leche League chapter if the idea of unstructured nursing appeals to you.

I nursed both of my children for 2 years each and we never had a schedule. My relationship with both of them is very positive and close. I night weaned the first one at 9 months and the second one was completely weaned all together just before his 2nd birthday.

For more information about on-demand nursing visit
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/229123/the_impor...

Hey there. I am a mother of two who only breast fed. You are new at this, so you are going to worry. The best advice anyone ever gave me was to throw away the books and feed them when they are hungry. Sounds silly, but you can't spoil an infant. You are showing them they are loved and are secure. So pump so your good hubby can help with some of the feedings and you can get some sleep. Otherwise feed him when he needs it and sleep when he sleeps. People before things. My oldest is 10 and I still haven't caught up with my laundry. But she is happy and so am I ;0) You are going to do great!!!

I can't tell you how you can change this, but I will say that our son had a similar pattern at that age, and he outgrew it. He always seemed to want an extra feeding in the early morning, and I always gave it to him if it was clear that that was what he wanted. Then he'd go back to sleep soundly for another few hours. So how can that be bad? When we reached 9-10 months he started cutting back on nursing very naturally; he did not become dependent on nursing to get to sleep (although I did nurse him to get to sleep). It WILL change eventually no matter what, but your schedule sounds a lot better than some people's! You don't need to feel like you're doing anything "wrong." You're doing fine, in my opinion!

Not everyone enjoys or believes in the Baby Wise. I used Baby Wise with both of the children and they are on great schedules. Now I did not follow strickly to Baby Wise, but I did use it as a guide to where I needed to go. I have recommended it to many mothers and they love it. I guess it is just how you go about things. I found that their sleeping patterns did not rectify themselves until the baby had enough weight to slow their metabalism down and this would allow them to last longer between feedings. This happened for both my daughters around 12 weeks or 10-12 lbs. Just try to hang in there you and your baby will get the hang of it. It took me and my girls about 3 months to get on a good schedule. My girls sleep like a dream. They are so used to a schedule they tell their babysitters when it is time to go to bed. I just used Baby Wise as a guideline not the rule book. You do what your instinct tells you to do. Never doubt your motherly instict. Good Luck

The baby is young and yes it will work itself out. And I know you're tired! I did baby wise too, not to strictly ( i just couldn't do the crying to sleep at all, I rocked and put to bed and my 15 month old sleeps fine). ANyway, I used the eat play sleep pattern and found that as she aged that morning feeding went away. You are doing the right thing and it really sounds like you've got it. Just feed him, he might be to tired to get enough at that 430 AM feeding and is waking up hungry. I know its hard now, this will all pass, you are doing the right thing, keep up with the flexible but predictable schedule. Here's a thought, gradually give him less at that 4 AM feeding and he'll naturally wake up at 630 to eat and eventually give up the 4 AM one. Also I would read the No Cry Sleep Solution, even if you don't like the method, the book gives some great insight into baby's sleep cycle. I really feel the eat play sleep pattern is effective in establishing good sleeping. You're doing a great job!!

Hey C.!
I don't have any advice - just wanted to encourage you that this is just a phase. It will pass, you will be on to the next problem, and it will become a distant memory. It just doesn't seem like it when it is happening! Don't stress over it! One day soon, a full night of sleep will be coming ... (:

Your baby sets his own schedule and breast milk is supply and demand. So your body will adjust to his schedule. Don't worry he is only 9 weeks old. And soon he will sleep through the night and by morning you think your breast will explode but your body will adjust. Good luck

Just hang in there girl. It is definitely not an easy job. It seems like their is no end in site but someday it will come. Keep up the nursing, that was the only thing that would soothe my daughter also in the begining. She would eat for like 40 minutes at a time and I still had to take her off! :) It seemed like we had no schedule or routine at that stage and I thought I would have (I went back to work around 9 weeks). From everything I read and saw it is like feed them when they want it. Hope that helps! :)

Also, Tracy Hogg has a good book The Baby Whisperer... She goes by an EASY schedule... Baby should Eat, then be Active, then get tired like yawn rub eyes and Sleep; thus leaving time for You! :) Sounds great right? Well, mine has just now gotten into that schedule (10 months...and I am staying home now). Before (at the 9 week stage and next month) the babysitters kept giving her a bottle before naps also. It was easier I realize, but I really like the EASY pattern b/c now it is teaching her better sleep habits instead of when I am full I go to bed, it is when I am tired and fussy then I go to bed. Also, she has some chapters on how to not get into bad habits of sleep patterns. It seems so tough b/c they are crying but it is easier to do it then than have to break bad habits later.

Blessings,
Amanda

P.S. Remember to check out books free at the libraries instead of having to buy a new book at say Barnes and Noble spending at extra 15 bucks. :)

C.-
My husband and I also follow Baby Wise (and The Baby Whisperer) but not strictly. We learned that a small clustering of feedings at night helps our son (8 weeks old) sleep longer at night. At night we will do a couple of feedings that are 2 or 2 1/2 hours apart rather than 3. Usually 6pm, 8pm, and 10pm, or something close to that, and now he is sleeping from after the 10pm feeding until 4:30-5am. Also, we were able to get rid of the middle of the night feeding by doing what one of the books said (I can't remember which one), where you get up at that feeding and rather than feeding the baby you give them a pacifier and hold them for the same amount of time you would normally feed them for and lay them back down. My husband did this one night and I thought he was crazy, but after that one night we have not had a 2am feeding any more! Good luck, I hope this helps.

Hey C.,
I am kind of in the same boat as you, I am trying to figure out my own sons schedule which he does not seem to really have. A friend of mine swears by the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. I have just started reading it again (I forgot all I read when I was pregnant) and some of the tips in the book might be helpful to you. By all accounts I am no expert but it seems if you can manage him by the what the book details it might work better for you. I have noticed that gas really has a tendency to wake my son up constantly and then he soothes himself back to sleep if I give him a few minutes to do so. You might have to do the dreadful let him cry it out?? I am not so good at that. But the book might help.? Good luck.

you can try all the tricks and read all the books, but if he's hungry feed him. babies do their growing when they are sleeping so they burn off a lot of calories. if he's waking up before you're milk supply has revamped, just suppliment with an ounce or so of formula. there is nothing wrong that. i have to do that and i have a great milk supply, my 2 week old is a little piggy. and babies go through a period at some point during the day or night when they are just fussy or just want to be active and interact with the world around them. seems to me like you are pretty lucky that he's on such a regular schedule, even if there there is an hour difference in your morning plan.

I breastfed both of my children. My midwife at the hospital told me (with my first) if the baby is wake they are probably hungry. I fed my kids when they wanted it and did not look at the clock. Children go through growth spurts that cause them to eat more. My daughter ( at 1 week) would bf nonstop for 2 hours and then sleep for 5 hours. My son at all the time. As they get older the time between feedings will get longer. I tried to pump but could not get that much out. However, my kids gained weight just fine. They must have gotten more out of me that that wonderful pump did! good luck and remember kids are only that age for a very short period of time!

.

Ok wow i totally misread this i could've sworn it said 9month old... Sorry

I am so impressed with your ability to get your baby on a schedule!! I demand-fed my son when I was breastfeeding and he is now three so I don't really remember what his schedule was, especially at nine weeks. What I do know is that every time he had a growth spurt, it seemed like he was nursing ALL THE TIME. Your doctor can tell you when to expect them, but I had a book at the time that told me and I don't remember what book it was. Anyway, as a nervous first-time mother, I was sure that my milk was not enough for him and that I was starving him, despite the fact that he has been in the 90th-98th precentile for weight and height since birth. I had a wonderful support system in my mom and pediatrician who assured me that he was getting enough and that I was doing fine.

Your milk will nourish your baby, and no matter how much you get out when you pump, your baby is much more efficient at getting the milk out of your breasts. When I would pump, I only got 4oz no matter how long it had been since I fed him or how old my son was and yet I am sure that he was getting more when he nursed. (By the way, I was using a medela pump, which is considered to be one of the best) Your breasts are stimulated by him to make milk so they will make what he needs. I know you are nervous because I distinctly remember being there but please know that you are doing great and he will be fine. I look back on those first 5 months and laugh now. I was so nervous and I worried about everything and as he grew older, gained weight, and was a happy baby, I finally decided that maybe I did know what I was doing. You'll get there!! Good luck to you!

It sounds pretty normal, a lot of new babies wake up around the 6am time and then go back to sleep once they get filled or even if the nursing or bottle is just to soothe them back to sleep. The 4 am feeding may be just that he wakes up but may not need to eat. Most new babies do need to eat every 3-5 hours especially when being nursed b/c they don't get enough, or they fall asleep b/c it is soothing. Give it until about 3 months old and he can eat some cereal to fill his belly more and his sleeping habits. other than that, if he cries more than you think he should, or cries even when full or changed, he may have colic. That usually subsides around 3 mos old as well. You can ask the doc to let you know if he has colic.

He could also have gas pains, try gas meds, they are drops you can just put on his tongue or in a bottle.

Good luck, W.

Hi C.. Sounds like what I went through. I am not a fan of 'babywise', though. Your little one is probably going through a growth spurt and needs more food. I'm sure that your body is producing exactly what he needs. Babies also need lots of comfort from time to time and this is a crucial stage trust wise. Don't deny him either for sleep... if you can. Love, food and sleep are true necessities. And, they always will be (as I'm sure you know, I just really hated 'babywise' suggesting that you should resist feeding your child when it interferred with a schedule). I missed a-lot of sleep and was fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my boy for the 1st 3 months. I napped a ton and still have to when I can. My boy is almost 8 months old now. He still breastfeeds 2 times at night even though he eats food regularly now. And, C., there is no way a baby under the age of 7 months can 'manipulate' you or become spoiled. They just aren't that intelligent, yet, no matter what people try to tell you. They do occasionally vary from there routines when their needs start changing. So go with it if it feels right to you. Discipline will fall into place soon enough. In short, do what you feel best for your baby... and you, of course. No child has ever been harmed from too much love and care!!!

Hi C.,

Congratulations on the birth of your son. I've never been a big fan of baby wise and feel strongly that babies will guide us with what they need, if we just listen. I've breastfed all three of my children on demand not only because it felt right to me but because it helped get our breatfeeding relationship off to a great start and boosted my supply.

As a first time mom, it was very hard for me to go against what society and the peds dictated about raising babies, breastfeeding, starting solids, sleep patterns, etc. It didn't take me long to find my path and believe me when I say, my babies didn't take advantage of me.

I have breastfed mine on demand, held them when they cried, rocked them to sleep if needed, and never let them CIO. Young babies need the adults take care of their needs and sometimes schedules change...my children were on schedules it's just that I allowed their natural time clocks determine the schedule...they would sleep 5-6 hours at night, sometimes waking sooner or later depending on a growth spurt, and they napped daily.

I wouldn't stress that his schedule is changing, with babies you need to be flexible and you'll enjoy these years so much more if you do.

Also, one of my favorite pediatricians is Dr. William Sears. I highly recommend reading The Baby Book written by Dr. & Martha Sears. They have 9 children(if I remember correctly) and have based their books on their professional education and personal experience. I'm not trying to push my views on you just pointing out there are other ways. Maybe you've already read this book and felt that Baby Wise was more suited for you and your family. If you haven't read it, I do believe it will give you a nice balance and help to guide you as you work on establishing your little ones schedule.

Once again, Congratulations on your healthy baby.

Peace,
J.