BFing schedule ?

Ami · December 21st, 2003, 11:32 PM

When is it OK to let the baby sleep through a feeding?

My daughter is 7 weeks old and she will sleep 5-6 hours at a time if I let her. Is he old enough to let her wake up on her own when she gets hungry?

Tamara · December 21st, 2003, 11:52 PM

Ive never woke Rebecca up to eat. she is 3 weeks old, sleep 5 hours straight at night, I feed her when she says she is hungry.

My thoughts are dont wake a sleeping baby.

AllyRae · December 22nd, 2003, 08:01 AM

I don't wake Brandon either. I had to wake him up only for the first 2 weeks because he was losing weight, but after that, I let him sleep--he's 4 weeks now and sleeps 4 1/2 hours at night...but he cluster feeds for a few hours before that so he's not hungry. If she's not waking to eat and she's a nice weight, I wouldn't wake her.

ArtsyMom · December 22nd, 2003, 09:30 AM

I've heard for the first few weeks that you shouldn't let your baby sleep more than 3 hours without feeding them.

However, 7 weeks seems long enough that she'll know when to wake up herself.

Mom2Alex · December 22nd, 2003, 10:45 AM

I would say it really depends... If you are regularly feeding on demand, you are probably fine at 7 weeks. However, if your baby is not gaining weight, then you might want to be waking from a nap. If your baby is healthy and gaining weight, and you are otherwise feeding on demand, your baby will be just fine.

If you have nice long nursing sessions, nursing on both sides and not limiting the duration of the nursing, then you will be fine.

Ami · December 22nd, 2003, 10:46 AM

Thanks girls! I have been letting her sleep up to 5 hours at a time, I wake her if she sleeps longer than that because I am about to explode

I just wanted to make sure that was OK.

Mom2Alex · December 22nd, 2003, 10:49 AM

I was just going to come back and type that YOU may be ready to feed before she is, and in that case, you might want to wake her up to feed her!

Nothing like engorgement to screw up your milk supply and possibly cause a plugged duct/mastitis... and cause overactive letdown which also doesn't help the nursing relationship.

Mandi · December 24th, 2003, 09:13 AM

Ami, I always fed Melayna on demand. I'd let her sleep. The only time that I woke her up was when I was engorged and couldn't stand the pain any longer.

Cortney · December 24th, 2003, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandi

Ami, I always fed Melayna on demand. I'd let her sleep. The only time that I woke her up was when I was engorged and couldn't stand the pain any longer.

Same here! But insert Morgan instead of Melayna.

JenM · January 5th, 2004, 10:17 PM

Since I used to want a bottle for DH every day... if DD would sleep too long I would go pump to relieve engorgement and let the baby sleep.

Martian Lullaby · January 7th, 2004, 02:08 PM

Maya would sleep for 4-5 hours at a time right from the beginning. I never woke her up to feed her. I figured when she was hungry. She's now ten weeks old and sleeping 8-9 hours at night (

) so obviously we're not waking her up to feed her now either. If I'm engorged I pump rather than wake her. A sleeping baby is a precious gift. Let them sleep.

December 21st, 2003, 11:32 PM	#1
Ami Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: AA Meetings Posts: 5,296	BFing schedule ? When is it OK to let the baby sleep through a feeding? My daughter is 7 weeks old and she will sleep 5-6 hours at a time if I let her. Is he old enough to let her wake up on her own when she gets hungry?

December 24th, 2003, 09:13 AM	#8
Mandi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 14,413	Ami, I always fed Melayna on demand. I'd let her sleep. The only time that I woke her up was when I was engorged and couldn't stand the pain any longer. __________________

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December 21st, 2003, 11:52 PM	#2
Tamara Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Mojave Desert Cal. Posts: 291	Ive never woke Rebecca up to eat. she is 3 weeks old, sleep 5 hours straight at night, I feed her when she says she is hungry. My thoughts are dont wake a sleeping baby.

December 22nd, 2003, 08:01 AM	#3
AllyRae Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newark, Ohio Posts: 999	I don't wake Brandon either. I had to wake him up only for the first 2 weeks because he was losing weight, but after that, I let him sleep--he's 4 weeks now and sleeps 4 1/2 hours at night...but he cluster feeds for a few hours before that so he's not hungry. If she's not waking to eat and she's a nice weight, I wouldn't wake her.

December 22nd, 2003, 09:30 AM	#4
ArtsyMom Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Leaving here soon...will miss y'all Posts: 1,356	I've heard for the first few weeks that you shouldn't let your baby sleep more than 3 hours without feeding them. However, 7 weeks seems long enough that she'll know when to wake up herself.

December 22nd, 2003, 10:45 AM	#5
Mom2Alex Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 110	I would say it really depends... If you are regularly feeding on demand, you are probably fine at 7 weeks. However, if your baby is not gaining weight, then you might want to be waking from a nap. If your baby is healthy and gaining weight, and you are otherwise feeding on demand, your baby will be just fine. If you have nice long nursing sessions, nursing on both sides and not limiting the duration of the nursing, then you will be fine.

December 22nd, 2003, 10:46 AM	#6
Ami Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: AA Meetings Posts: 5,296	Thanks girls! I have been letting her sleep up to 5 hours at a time, I wake her if she sleeps longer than that because I am about to explode I just wanted to make sure that was OK.

December 22nd, 2003, 10:49 AM	#7
Mom2Alex Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 110	I was just going to come back and type that YOU may be ready to feed before she is, and in that case, you might want to wake her up to feed her! Nothing like engorgement to screw up your milk supply and possibly cause a plugged duct/mastitis... and cause overactive letdown which also doesn't help the nursing relationship.

January 5th, 2004, 10:17 PM	#10
JenM Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: already 3 months old!!! Posts: 1,048	Since I used to want a bottle for DH every day... if DD would sleep too long I would go pump to relieve engorgement and let the baby sleep.

January 7th, 2004, 02:08 PM	#11
Martian Lullaby Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: State of Perpetual Boredom Posts: 2,483	Maya would sleep for 4-5 hours at a time right from the beginning. I never woke her up to feed her. I figured when she was hungry. She's now ten weeks old and sleeping 8-9 hours at night ( ) so obviously we're not waking her up to feed her now either. If I'm engorged I pump rather than wake her. A sleeping baby is a precious gift. Let them sleep.