Do you HAVE to wake a sleeping baby?

[thatgirliknew]

My daughter is two months old. She sleeps in a cosleeper and I usually nurse her right when I'm ready to go to bed and lay down with her. Until about a week ago she would wake up in the night, but now she seems perfectly content to sleep from the time we go to bed (usually about 10 or 11) until about 5 or 6. I don't mind getting up with her but if she doesn't wake up, should I wake her up? How long is too long to go without eating? I breastfeed her on-demand and it usually ends up being about every two hours when she's awake that she wants to eat.

[Madalyn]

I never wake my son up to eat. I did it maybe the first week or so after he was born (setting alarms, recording what time, which boob he was on, etc). After a while though I stopped worrying about it and trusted him to let me know when he needed to eat.

[Mom2M]

I've wondered the same thing. My daughter is 10 weeks old now and has been sleeping for 7-8 hours if I don't wake up to get her up to feed her.
I was worried about my supply decreasing if it is more than 5 hours between feedings so I've been waking her up.

I have a feeling this has something to do with her not having direct contact with me overnight. My older DD sleeps next to me in bed and we hooked up a crib to my side of the bed so younger DD can sleep there without fear of being rolled on.

When DD1 was born, I slept with her on top of me for 8 months and she always woke up ever 4 hours or so.

[Youngfrankenstein]

With a baby that old, I'd get some rest.

[Llyra]

With a baby that age, as long as baby nurses often during the day (8 times a day would be a good target, I think), and is gaining weight, filling diapers, and generally healthy, I'd let the baby sleep.

I would wake a baby that was younger than six weeks old after four hours. I would wake a baby to eat also if baby wasn't gaining well, or wasn't filling diapers, or I had some other reason to suspect baby wasn't getting enough. I'd wake a jaundiced baby, or one that was sick and in danger of dehydration. I'd wake a baby if I was engorged and uncomfortable, or had a plugged duct that needed clearing. But a healthy, chubby two month old can be depended on to wake on her own when she's hungry, I think.

[LianneM]

Totally agree with Llyra

Waking a sleeping baby is generally just for the first few weeks when you are wanting to make sure to establish your supply.

[Bokonon]

The rule of thumb is after baby has regained birth weight and is nursing at least 8x during the day, let it sleep! Your body will adjust to the new "schedule", and then when they start waking up in the night again, your body will adjust to that too.

[PatioGardener]

If she's peeing well and gaining well then I say let a sleeping baby sleep!

[thatgirliknew]

Well, she's eating plenty during the day. Probably about 8 times since she usually wants to eat about every two hours. She's gaining weight and she's giving me a diaper after every feeding. So I'm going to take all your advice and just let her sleep then. It is nice having a baby sleep for more than just two hours at a time.

Is it likely that she's going to start waking in the night again? Just wondering. This is the first child I bf'ed.

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by thatgirliknew

Well, she's eating plenty during the day. Probably about 8 times since she usually wants to eat about every two hours. She's gaining weight and she's giving me a diaper after every feeding. So I'm going to take all your advice and just let her sleep then. It is nice having a baby sleep for more than just two hours at a time.

Is it likely that she's going to start waking in the night again? Just wondering. This is the first child I bf'ed.

My DD1 slept a long time at that age, and kept right up sleeping a long time. It got longer and longer until it was 12 hours by the time she was 2. But my DD2 also slept well at a few months old, and it didn't last. Around 7 or 8 months, she started waking much more often. And my DS never slept more than two hours, ever.

I would enjoy it while it lasts, but I wouldn't be too surprised if it didn't last.

[annekevdbroek]

My pediatrician told me at the 4 week or so check-up "Never wake a sleeping baby." Once nursing and weight-gain are well established take full advantage of any stretch of sleep you can get.

[moondiapers]

I only do it for the first 6 weeks....I want to make sure my supply is fimrly established and we get through the jaundice danger period before I let them sleep all night. After that I only nurse them if they wake up, or if I wake up really uncomfortable from engorgement.

[CookAMH]

Let her sleep and ENJOY it while it lasts

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by thatgirliknew

My daughter is two months old. She sleeps in a cosleeper and I usually nurse her right when I'm ready to go to bed and lay down with her. Until about a week ago she would wake up in the night, but now she seems perfectly content to sleep from the time we go to bed (usually about 10 or 11) until about 5 or 6. I don't mind getting up with her but if she doesn't wake up, should I wake her up? How long is too long to go without eating? I breastfeed her on-demand and it usually ends up being about every two hours when she's awake that she wants to eat.

DD did this. She also went several hours inbetween feeds during the day too. I was so worried b/c everyone makes a big fuss about it. But that was the way she was....she got plenty of milkies and wanted to sleep. My supply was fine, her growth was fine...only thing to keep in mind is early return to cycles. I got mine at 3 months.

[thatgirliknew]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

Let her sleep and ENJOY it while it lasts

I am.