STTN breastfed baby when to let them?

[dakotablue]

I remember with DS he was about 5 or 6 weeks old when he would go 6-8 hours without eating. DS2 didn't eat last night for 6 hours (I woke him up and tried to get him to every two hours) but DS2 is only just a week old. He is a great nurser, was born at 8lbs and was 8lbs 2-3oz at 1 week check up (exactly 1 week)

Should I just let him sleep? I'm generally all for letting kids sleep, but he seems so young.

When did you let yours?

[new2this]

I let DD sleep if she was sleeping. In the beginning she would sleep for 4-5 hours at night. 

[mra]

Julia has almost always slept for at least 4 hours straight at night. In the beginning she would sleep 5-6 hours straight more often than she does now at 9 weeks old. I let her sleep. She has gained weight just fine.

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

Unless baby is not gaining, I would never wake a sleeping babe to eat. They will wake when they need to eat. The only exception other than a babe that isn't gaining is if you are taking painkillers from the birth.  In that case, the drugs can come through your breastmilk and make baby extra sleepy, so for that situation I would wake the baby.  Otherwise, never. 

[PatioGardener]

I'd let baby go one 4 hour stretch at night, but otherwise wake for nursing every 3 hours until 14 days old and back to birth weight. You're already there with one (wow! great weight gain!) - me, I'd wake for another week. It is so easy for them to become dehydrated at this point, they are just so new. After 14 days I'd only wake for my comfort!

[HappyMommy2]

Once baby is back over their birthweight again, I let them sleep.  (barring any issues)

[octobermom]

As long as they are nursing well during the day I let sleeping babies lie..

Deanna

[katelove]

I wouldn't wake a healthy baby.

[Nicole730]

I don't wake up my newborns to eat either.  I enjoy those long stretches because soon enough they will be up much more often overnight! (At least mine always change their sleep habits later on)