Author Topic: How to get the nap in when feeding takes so long?  (Read 585 times)

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Offline GLM

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How to get the nap in when feeding takes so long?
« on: November 10, 2009, 08:02:40 am »

So a typical feed for my 7 week old can take up to one hour (plus maybe a diaper change within that time frame or after).  Then the activity time, which he loves for 30- 45  ish minutes.  He does not instinctively start to fall asleep, so we put him on our forearm with his face down, which seems to be the most calming for him...... but even if he does fall asleep on us or in the bassinet, it is almost time to eat again.  Now if he does fall asleep, I let him sleep (I don't feel the need to wake him), but  the challenge is, if he is having a hard time falling asleep, and is really upset... I am now trying to sort out if he is tired or hungry, or tired and hungry, as we are now at the 2.5 hour mark or close to the 3 hour mark.  So he feeds and has no nap.... frequently he won't for 2 cycles in a row.   

How do I help him to get the sleep he needs???    His sleep is also interrupted by cramps? / wind/gas - when he cries out and gets very upset and needs settling.  Sleeping or not these episodes frequently happen 30 -45 minutes post most feeds lasting 2- 10 min, it seems.   

Now at times he will go 4 hours bw feeds because he is sleeping and he will sleep and goes 5-6 hours bw feeds on the first stretch, and then 3 hours on the next.  So logically I know he is not starving all of the time.



Offline *Jo*

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Re: How to get the nap in when feeding takes so long?
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2009, 21:58:25 pm »
Hi there, a four hour feeding routine really is too long for a 7 week old, if he takes about an hour to feed then do a diaper change and put him straight back down, i understand taht he loves activity time but its just not possible yet if he is taking this long to feed and its more important he gets good sleep. are you breastfeeding or bottlefeeding? perhaps check out those boards to see what you can do to help him with his feeding times. also for wind, i dont know where you are but here are some things we used for wind as Caleb was a chronic wind baby: gripe water, infacol or Colic Calm (you can only get this in the US and we had to have it shipped here but it really was one of the best things we brought for him)