It's important to understand that full - term babies don't usually begin to
sleep longer stretches until around 10 - 12 weeks at the earliest.
Often this is part of a phenomenon known as «cluster feeding» where an infant will feed more frequently in the night to
sleep longer stretches through the evening.
Every baby is different and while some may
sleep longer stretches of time, there are others that don't sleep through the night for a while.
I knew for sure that I wouldn't let my baby cry, and I knew I wanted him to sleep with me, and nurse when he needed to, but I didn't know for sure that he would
sleep longer stretches eventually, and one day sleep through the night without help.
I would say I was relatively flexible with her, because I was desperate to find what was best for her but still kept it pretty scheduled (for example: experimenting with changing wake times or bedtimes, tweaking the bedtime routine, adding / removing dream feeds and cluster feeds, etc.) She started
sleeping longer stretches pretty early and at 3 months I could count on getting a 6 - 7 hour stretch, but every once in a while she'd go 8 - 10 hours without a feeding.
The «Baby Step» newborn consultation will give you gentle sleep shaping techniques and month by month sleep goals, so your little on will
sleep longer stretches when they are developmentally ready.
There's nothing in these schedules to support that, and some babies
just sleep long stretches (mine does, and I never let her cry it out).
I often marveled at the ability of my breasts to leak at the most inconvenient moments — in a meeting at work,
while sleeping longer stretches at night (creating a puddle and huge stain on my sheets), and at the store when someone else's baby would cry.
At this point, some children
begin sleeping longer stretches, while babies who previously were perfectly sound sleepers may all of a sudden become incredibly restless.
You may experience some degree of engorgement later on if your baby
sleeps a long stretch for the first time, or if you are separated from your infant, but you will never again have the same hormonal response that you will have immediately after his birth.
This could be due to a new hormonal change, a change in your baby's behavior such as
sleeping longer stretches at night, a new emotional stress, or it could be due to lack of stimulation.
My son has reflux and when he spits up a large volume of milk, it affects his ability to
sleep longer stretches at night.
If you think about it, will you do a poll on the effects of reflux on babies» ability to
sleep longer stretches at night?
As your baby learns to
sleep longer stretches at night, it's much easier to make do with fewer diapers.
If your baby
sleeps a long stretch at night, you will need to wake him for night feedings [until your milk supply is established].»
As your baby gets adjusted and does start to
sleep longer stretches, you can try «dream feeds.»
If one parent is working and the other is staying home with the baby, you may choose to arrange things so the working parent gets more sleep on weeknights but picks up the slack on weekends, when the stay - at - home parent can sleep later,
sleep longer stretches, or take naps.
Wait for, and watch for, the signs that your baby is ready:
sleeping longer stretches (even at nap time), self - soothing, and falling asleep without a lot of fuss at bedtime are all encouraging signs.
Some babies may
sleep long stretches at night from birth, while others will have more complex medical needs and may not be able to sleep long stretches at night.
I feel certain that it's connected to the pretty - horrible - for - some - people 4 - month sleep regression — once that regression is over, the leap includes being able to (and needing to)
sleep longer stretches.
Just when you think that getting more shut - eye is a far - off dream, your baby will begin to
sleep longer stretches at night.
My baby was too tiny for most one - size diapers, but as he started wetting more and
sleeping longer stretches, most newborn diapers couldn't make it as long as we needed without leaks.
However, if this is really hard for you, maybe just recognize that weight loss might be too difficult when you aren't sleeping well and wait to start trying to lose weight until your baby is
sleeping longer stretches.
I am finally over the hump with my breast issues and as my son has been
sleeping longer stretches at night.
Optimal nap scheduling leads to
sleeping longer stretches at night and eventually, help baby sleep through the night.