Hi, I have 1month old twin boys and recently read a book on sleep routines for babies. I have been putting my boys down for a nap after they bottle feed from my breastmilk. They then nap for only 2hours it seems. They are not napping the normal 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The book I read said you should "Diaper change and Feed, then waketime about 1hr ,then nap time" and I was wondering if other people follow this or if what I have been doing is fine in the long run too? My boys are eating enough and dry when I put them down so I don't think thats why they wake up so soon. It just sounds crazy to keep a baby awake after a feeding if they're trying to fall asleep and isn't that what we want. (for baby to sleep immediatly after a feeding)
I have boy/girl twins and the book I read was Healthy sleep habits happy child.It tells you that the baby should be up no more than 2 hours at a time at that age . At 1 month old all they do is sleep and eat.They don't have the attention span yet to keep them awake to play yet. So don't worry ,they are doing great just need their sleep right now. When they get to about 3 or 4 months you will notice they will want some interaction.Good LucK!
At one month 2 hours is great! 2 1/2 to 3 has never been normal to me. Sometimes at that age they'll do one longer stretch of maybe 4 hours , but even that's not "normal". Don't worry about diapers or hungry waking them up, sleep is a brain function. As their nervous systems mature, their sleep schedules will consolidate and lengthen. 5 hours is considered "through the night" and isn't really expected until 4 months or so. I would be ecstatic if one of mine would sleep out of my arms at that age! If you have questions on the circadian rhythms of babies, I highly recommend Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. The Happiest Baby on the Block focuses more on children less that 4 months old. Good luck and it sounds fine to me!
The nice thing about waking, feed, 'play' time, then sleep is that then the child doesn't become dependent on that feeding TO get to sleep. I did this w/my second, and it was a dream. She'd awake, and I'd immediately feed her (then change, b/c she'd always poop during a feeding), then she'd be totally happy for about 45 minutes--an hour. The minute I'd see some crankiness, I'd swoop her up and swaddle her in the Miracle Blanket, and lay her down and she'd fall asleep on her own! Which is HUGE.
Good luck!
T.
1 month is not old enough to really have a sleep routine. At this point they just sleep when they are tired and feed on demand. It is certainly not unusual for them to eat every two hours...my 6 week old does. In which case, they would not sleep more than 2 hours during the day. Babies don't read those books ;-) they just do what they are comfortable with.
I have twins and it sounds like what you are doing is just fine!!! Books are guidelines... you do what you feel is best and what works for you and the kids. They are only 1 month old so sleeping 2-3 hours sounds great!
