3mo. old - no long stretch!

[jenmom]

My babe is now 3 months old.  She was previously sleeping a good long stretch 7-8 hours until about 4 wks ago, when we had a major growth spurt (both breasts were empty at 2am!).  Since then she now wakes every 4 hours in the night.  I usually feed her - sometimes she takes a good feed, sometimes not.  I am just not sure what to expect from her.  Should I expect she can go 7-8 hours and just help her back to sleep?  I'm concerned she is accustomed to having the breast in the night.  She has never been nursed to sleep for naps or nighttime.  We are on a great 3 hour EASY - she is taking great feeds and my supply is good.  Also, I have not been consistent with the dreamfeed, as sometimes it seems impossible to wake her and/or keep her feeding.  Should I keep trying? 

Thanks in advance!

[emily3434]

hi!  I feel your pain -- I had a very similar issue with my little boy.  I needed to adjust his schedule.  I didn't think he was ready for a 4 hour schedule because he was only 3 months...but he needed a change -- we did a 3.5 hour schedule which changed things to 3 naps during the day (in place of 3 plus the cat nap on a 3 hour schedule).  His last feed was at 5:30 - bed at 7-7:30, and a dream feed at 10:00 or 10:30.  what was happening with us, was he was not taking a full meal at the dreamfeed, and was waking up several times a night.

the 3.5 was a bit of a stretch for him to stay awake...but he gradually was able to, then move to a 4 hour schedule.

Good luck!

[Tweakster]

Hi there, welcome to BW!  With a BF baby at 3 mths - no - she would not normally go that long without a feed.  They do sometimes, as a fluke or a pre-growth spurt extra tired period but generally, those feeds are there for quite some time for BF babes.  Sleep progression isn't linear, it's often two steps forward and sometimes three back with these kids. 

If you want to post your day we can take a look.

[jenmom]

emily3434 - thanks so much for sharing your similar experience! perhaps it's time to adjust to a 3.5 EASY...
*Wendy* - great insight, good to lower my expectations, may need to just ride it out a bit longer...