3 week old - wake time

[jackaloo]

I have a question re; EASY and wake-time.  If my DD wakes at 5:00 a.m. for a feed - do I then let her go back to sleep until she wakes or wake her at 7:00 a.m. and feed to retart the schedule?  Each day seems to cylce with different times and then her 2nd middle of the night feed is a different time resulting in a differtn "start time" each day.

[rebecaq]

Hi hun! and welcome to BW!!!

Your dd is only 3 weeks old. She really won't have a routine right now. And much less A time. At 3 weeks a diaper change is considered A time because it's about as much as they can handle.  So it's not out of the norm that she has different times everyday.  EASY is not about watching the clock. It just a predictable pattern for you to set up for your baby so she knows what to expect. It's also a good routine to help you read her signs. For example, if she woke from a nap and you fed her and after a bit she starts crying you can rule out sleep or hunger. 

Babies don't really get themselves settles into a good routine until 6 weeks, until then just take it slowly and enjoy these days where all she does is sleep!! 

- Beca

[* Paula *]

I totally agree with Beca.

When our DS woke for a feed at 5 we woud treat it as a night feed, keep things dark and low key, and then put him straight back to bed.  We would then start our day at 8  a much better hour.

[Costarican mom]

My little girl is 2 weeks old...and she just seems to fall asleep constantly while she's eating (she's bottle fed)...... so one time she'll drink 1 ounce...then 2 ounces....then 4 ounces.....then 3, etc.....sleep one hour or 2 or 3 or even 4 in a row.....it's just totally un predictable!!   Plus she's dealing with a bit of gas...especially at night.  So what the heck do I do?  Should I just let her ride it out for now to see if she settles into some sort of pattern on her own?  It just seems like she's too young to be dealing with a schedule.  Suggestions please!

[* Paula *]

It is quite common at this age for your lo to fall asleep at a feed.  It is best to try and keep them awake while feeding to ensure that they take a full feed, and don't become snackers.  When you see your lo starts to fall asleep on a feed you can always stop the feed and try and burp them.  If they do fall asleep, you can try massaging their palms to keep them awake or tapping their heels.

At this age you are not trying to establish a routine as such, most lo's only really get started on EASY at around 6 weeks or so as they as theya re still trying to get used to being on the outside world.

HTH's

[rebecaq]

I agree with Paula 100%. 

- Beca

[Costarican mom]

Thanks a bunch for ur replies guys........ although this is my second, my ds drinking all he had to was never an issue.... our problem then was he was always still hungry, even after the full feed!! So I kind of feel like I'm just learning here......  I've tried burping, taking socks off and tickling her feet, to keep her awake, but most of the time nothing works.....I'll try the palm thing...see how it works.  One of my main concerns is that she doesn't get enough to eat.....so I've started keeping a record of when and how much she drinks...funny she is right on the mark about the average 3 ounces every 3 hours.....it's just she'll do it by bits or big gulps, but not that well established.  Oh well...as long as she eats what she needs.....I just hope it gets better as the weeks go by.

[* Paula *]

It will get better as time goes on 

Keep us posted on how you get on.