Seeking Help on Sleeping and Feeding Schedule for 4 Week Old

Updated on September 24, 2008
S.B. asks from North Hollywood, CA
9 answers

I would like to put my son on a schedule. He currently sleeps for 4-5 hours between feedings during the day and then is up every 2-3 hours at night for feedings. I have low breast milk so he has breast milk during the day and formula at night. Any advice on sleeping and feeding schedules for an infant?

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all your responses. We have been adding more routine to our days and nights and I have been reading "healthy sleep habits, happy child." Thank you so much for all the support.
S.

More Answers

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K.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try Baby Wise book by Gary Ezzo. I used it from 2 weeks old on. Just remember you don't have to follow the book to a tee, it just sets up a good way to schedule your child and yourself to ensure good sleep habits in your child.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi S., my name is K. Smith and I am a Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach. It seems as if your baby has gotten his days and nights confused, which is very common for newborns. He should be getting more of his calories during the day instead of at night. Try to not let him sleep so long between feedings during the day, wake him after 2-3 hours. Also, try spending a alot of time outside suring the day or place his basinet near a bright window. At night make sure the lights are low and the house is quiet. You want to start trying to get his biological clock on track for days and nights. If you need more help I have a website you can check out www.theindependentchild.com Good Luck!
K.

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi S.,
My doula put our son on a schedule when he was about the same age. Around 8pm we would give him a warm bath, put him in his pajamas in the bedroom with the lights low. Give him his bottle and listen to "Bedtime with the Beatles". By the end of the bottle he would be almost asleep and we would put him in his crib and let the music continue. He fell asleep pretty well this way. You can adjust the time as you need to and as your son grows (you'll eventually do fewer naps during the day.) My son is 6 and we still do the same routine except now we read books.

I hope this helps. You'll have to try a few things to get the best routine for your family.

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N.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Get the book healthy sleep habits happy baby. I'm not sure if you son is still too young but mine is 4 months and a friend gave me the book because my son didn't have a schedule. I used it over the weekend and my son took to the schedule immediately. He is so much better rested and happier. It really works!

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S.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I agree with Kristy: "On Becoming Baby Wise" was a really interesting, cool (if slightly militant!) book. Authors suggest feeding once every three hours or so. Most importantly, they stress giving FULL feedings (even if that means waking your little guy up during a feeding), no snacking, and keeping your baby awake after feedings so that you don't create a Food = Sleep connection. (But they do say Don't worry about keeping baby awake after the late night and middle of the night feeding; just put 'em to bed zonked out after those feedings.)

I have no idea if this works, since my bun is still in the proverbial oven. I DO know my doula laughed uproariously when I told her about this schedule and was like, Uh, good luck sucker. But I think it's worth a try!

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I agree that days and nights are mixed up which happened with my daughter at that age. Eventually she adjusted. I bf'd exclusively on demand. I personally don't believe in scheduling. instead I tried to honor my child's natural clock. The night/day confusion adjusted itself within 2 months. I've heard alot about Babywise- one poster here used the word militant. Your child is a human being, not a robot or a pet to be trained. That's only MY opinion. Enjoy every moment of your baby. They are small for such a short time. ps the more often you nurse the more your milk supply will increase.The more breastmilk your child gets the healthier he will be. Keep up the good work! Best, H.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

My suggestion is that you pick up The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems. Its a great book that helps with routine, and looks at the whole baby. I found it to be really helpful with my exclusively breastfed baby, so one who also has BF/formula mix would surely benefit from it too! good luck. :)

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C.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

unfortunately, a baby is not capable of having a set schedule until they are a bit older. my boy was like that as well, he is 11 weeks and he started sleeping through the night (10pm-6:30am) at 9 weeks. something you can do to help him is at night to dim the lights or shut them off, and keep the noise level to a minimum. that will help him distinguish night from day.

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