Is this what a growth spurt is like??

[Lilasmom]

I'm not sure if I should be asking this in this forum or the breastfeeding one.  DS is 6 weeks old and is going through the 6 week growth spurt.  Since yesterday DS has been eating every 2 hours during the day (usually every 2.5-3 hours), and every 3-4hours at night (has been going one 6 hour stretch followed by a 4 hour stretch.)  The problem has been that since this growth spurt started his sleeping has been HORRIBLE!!  Usually he is awake for a total of 50-60minutes before he starts to seem tired.  For the most part we just usally bring him up to his room, darken it, swaddle him, lay him down and schh him.  Sometimes he'll go to sleep with his soother, but doesn't always need it.  Usually he'll fall asleep on his own within 15 minutes or so.  Well yesterday morning after being awake for about an hour I tried to put him to bed and he'd sleep for 10 or 15 minutes and wake, he'd cry and whine.  After 2 hours since his last feeding I fed him again and tried to put him back to bed, again no success.  Finally after he was awake for 3 hours he finally slept for a good 3 hour stretch.  I fed him at 3pm, and for 7 HOURS he didn't sleep for more than 10-15 minutes at a time!!!  During this time I tried everything I could think of to get him to sleep.  I fed him about every 2 hours during this time, but he was so overtired I couldn't settle him at all.  Now today it's been about the same.  He'll eat every 2 hours, have a very small amount of A time (diaper change)after eating and try to get him to sleep.  But again when he does finally go to sleep he wakes every 10-15 minutes until it's time to eat yet again!!!  Please tell me this disturbed sleep pattern is part of the growth spurt??     I have a DD who is almost 2 (whom I also nursed), and this never happened.  Actually I can honestly say that I hardly ever noticed a difference in her eating or sleeping during a growth spurt.  DD was a textbook baby, and DS is textbook/touchy acorrding to the quiz in the baby whisperer book.  Any suggestions will be appreciated.  Please tell me this is normal and will pass?    

[Samuel's mum]

I would honestly say it is normal for a growth spurt and the 6 week one is often described as a big one. It seems to make them edgy and flustered and changes their temperament as well as their feeding habits. I'm afraid I can't offer you any magical solutions. I would give it a couple of days and see if the growth spurt rides out and then see where you are.

But yes, sleep patterns can be disturbed. It's going to be easy to confuse sleepiness/ overtiredness with hunger cues at this point.  But just keep following your instincts and try and encourage sleep when you can. It may be easier to go in when he wakes and just feed and keep the same 'atmosphere' so try and get him to go straight back to sleep (but I wouldn't personally darken completely in the day to avoid a day/night confusion).

[Lilasmom]

Thanks for the reply!!  I'll keep trucking away and hope this soon passes.  I wish I could go into his room and feed him there, but I have to look after DD too, so I can't be in his room with him for extended periods of time.  It probably doesn't help that he's getting lots of stimulation when I'm feeding him (DD running around playing and being loud).  Anyhow thanks again!!

[mimicoto]

Hi - just a note of encouragement...the 6 week growth spurt was a tough one for me / us too....apparently (according to the Dr.) they also take a big neurological developmental leap at 6 weeks, which can make them very fussy and restless.  My DS (a textbook baby with a good touch of angel baby) had a 3 hour crying jag at 6 weeks that nothing would stop.  At the same time he was nursing 'constantly'....both of our nerves were frazzled and it was a trying time for all.  I also have an older DD (3.5 years) so can empathize.....just hang in there.  Growth spurts apparently last 2-3 days, and then calm down again.  You're almost there!