9 weeks old and eating every 3 hours - including at night

[Dairy Queen]

Hi there

DS is 9 weeks old, weighs 13 pounds and is on EASY.  Last feed of the day is after his bath, somewhere between 6:30 and 7:30pm.  Then, I wake him around 10:30 for his DF.  He then wakes 2 more times (just to feed) around 1am and 4am (plus or minus 1 hour).  Finally he wakes the next morning around 7am and we start our day.

I noticed that he doesn't eat much during the 10:30pm DF, so I tried not waking him up at all, and he slept until 1:30am, then I fed him and he woke again for his feed at 4:30am.  It's like he can 'skip' the DF, but not the other two night feeds.  Any ideas on what I can do?  Or is it too early to try and 'fix' this?  I'd love to get my 6-hour stretch at night :-)

Thanks!

[anna*]

Honestly at 9 weeks old he probably just is hungry. You could try settling him with a paci?

[*Ali*]

I agree with Anna. This is par for the course at this age. I would keep up with the DF, maybe push it a little later if you aren't waiting to go to bed, and he should start sleeping a bit later before waking for his next feed. Either that or skip the DF and go to bed earlier so you can get a decent stretch in before he wakes at 1ish.

[Dairy Queen]

Ok, so I did try the pacifier last night.  DS woke for his first NF at 1:45 am.  I put the paci in his mouth and he sucked really hard on it for 10-15 minutes.  Then, it fell out and he stayed totally awake until 2:45 am (he was quiet though and would just fidget every once in a while).  Then, he started to fuss at 2:45 am and when I would put the pacifier back in his mouth, he would get upset and try and push it out.  Finally, at 3am, I fed him.

He woke again at 5:00am this time.  I tried the paci again and he slept until 6:00am.  I then fed him at 6, put him back to sleep.  He woke up at 8am.

Should I keep going with the pacifier?
 
Also, when the second NF is at 6am, should I be feeding him again at 8am, when he wakes for the day?  He didn't seem very hungry so I waited until 8:40am before feeding him.  The only caveat is that he is a little tired by then and closes his eyes during the feed.  I still played with him a few minutes before I put him down around 9:15 for his first nap of the day so we would have a little Activity time before sleeping.

Thoughts?

[anna*]

Should I keep going with the pacifier?

It's really up to you. It can be helpful with spacing out feeds and settling to sleep, BUT it does end up being a prop for lots of babies. Not a massive deal, you can always wean it, just something to weigh up.
 

Also, when the second NF is at 6am, should I be feeding him again at 8am, when he wakes for the day?  He didn't seem very hungry so I waited until 8:40am before feeding him.  The only caveat is that he is a little tired by then and closes his eyes during the feed.  I still played with him a few minutes before I put him down around 9:15 for his first nap of the day so we would have a little Activity time before sleeping.

Yeh, that sounds find. Closing his eyes during the feed is fine. As long as you're not feeding him right to sleep, that's great.

[Dairy Queen]

I mean, the only tough part is that I'm up for the entire hour as well whereas if I breastfeed for 10 minutes then he (and I) go right back to sleep. 

I'll see how it goes tonight with the paci again.

[anna*]

whereas if I breastfeed for 10 minutes then he (and I) go right back to sleep. 

That's why I vote just feed!

[Dairy Queen]

Understood :-)