Help me help a friend. RE: infant sleeping

[marybright1]

My cousin's girlfriend has a 4 week old baby and she is on facebook asking advice about how to get him to sleep better. From what she said last week when I saw her it sounded like he is sleeping about the normal amount for a baby his age. She is getting all kinds of advice from people like letting him CIO at night to giving him cereal in his bottle before bed. I know that none of it is good advice, but I don't know her that well so I don't want to be pushy. Does anybody have links to resources that I can point her to that would back up my opinion. I'm specifically thinking of info about how much an infant should sleep and how often you can expect them to wake up at night, why CIO is not a good idea, or why feeding a 4 week cereal may not be good for the baby. I know that I've learned all of this through the years but I can't think of any places to easily access this info online.

Thanks. 

[TheDivineMrsM]

And that's why asking for advice on FB is a bad idea. 

A four weeks, they're probably crying because they're hungry, cold, or lonely. A 4 week old is WAY too little for CIO. Solids are an equally bad idea. My DD started sleeping longer the same night we started co-sleeping. Can your friend try that?

[TheDivineMrsM]

Sorry for the double post; I haven't been on in awhile and forgot how to modify a post. 

I know there is a lot of information in "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" to back up all the things you've said. Also check out wholesomebabyfood.com. Tons of info on the best ages to start foods.

[Adaline'sMama]

There are a bunch of anti cio links on the sticky at the beginning of the Life with a Babe forum.

[Ola_]

I'm assuming she is formula feeding?  This is a study that links formula + early solids (i.e. cereal) to an increased risk of obesity:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41432714/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/t/starting-solid-foods-early-linked-obesity-risk/

Here is another link talking about the same study but they mention that the belief of giving cereal in the bottle will help baby sleep longer as a myth:

http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/babiespregnancy/babies/article/934371--formula-fed-babies-given-solids-too-soon-at-risk-for-obesity-study