Night Nursing Question

[HeckedyPeg]

Hello mamas!

My DS is 10wks now, and for the last two weeks or so has been "sleeping through the night". This is not something we set out to do, we just put him down around 10pm and he doesn't wake to nurse until about 430-5 most days (occasionally earlier, like 330). I nurse him frequently during the day and even more-so during the evening, and he is nursed to sleep. He sleeps next to me, and though he'll have moments of moving around, he never wakes or makes his little grunting noises that tell me he's hungry.

I'm just wondering, since he's so young, should I wake him up once to feed, or is he okay since he's gotten to this point on his own? He is very healthy and growing well.

Thoughts?

[Llyra]

As long as he continues to grow well and gain weight, I would just follow his cues. My DD1 slept for long stretches from early on, and she was always fine. I don't think I'd let her go more than 6 or 7 hours, though, just because I think that at least one early AM nursing is important to keep up your supply. And I always got plugged ducts if I went longer than about that.

One thing, though-- be prepared for this phase to end, and for the night waking to become more frequent. It's common around four months for kids to suddenly start waking more, especially during periods of rapid growth and development, like you get around four months, six months, and nine months.

[texmati]

ITA with pp, unless he has some medical problem, enjoy it while it lasts!

[TheGirls]

I'd just enjoy it and be thankful for the sleep, lol. My DD slept 5hr stretches starting at 2wks or so, and it was awesome. And pure dumb luck. I never woke her to nurse though. For awhile I did pump first thing in the morning because I was so full by the time I woke up since she nursed so little at night. BTW, my supply has remained great (and I stopped pumping around 5mo) and she is now a healthy 90th percentile 2yo. Who still wakes once or twice most nights. And still nurses like mad in the evenings. :-D

[Italiamom]

If your LO is still growing just fine then count your lucky stars and GO WITH IT! I haven't slept a stretch that long since DS was born 17 months ago.

Lucky

[HeckedyPeg]

Thanks for the reassurances!

[blake201]

I'm so glad you asked, I was wondering the same thing. We cosleep and I NEVER intended baby girl to sleep for such long stretches. She's gaining weight great (at 12 weeks she is 14 lbs) but she sleeps 7-9 hours at night lately (I've already gotten a plugged duct, ouch) and I always wonder if I should wake her or let her rest...