Baby Growth Spurts « Back to Group Discussions

[MamanFrancaise]

So in my experience, growth spurts are tiring and frustrating for mom. LOL So I have been waiting for Dexter's 3 week spurt - bracing myself for it.

But since yesterday morning, he has been sleeping MORE. And last night, he slept 6.5 hours, nursed twice within an hour then went back to sleep for 3 more hours. This pattern has continued until now. Waking, nursing twice, sleeping for a few hours.

So I was getting a little worried since I was bracing for a cluster nightmare and it wasn't coming (he's almost 4 weeks now)! I did a little research and discovered than some babies (more often in boys) will sleep more during a growth spurt and it is associated with growing longer and gaining more fat in the belly area. Pretty neat!

And what I've noticed is that he is much more efficient while nursing - he is sucking SUPER hard and it actually hurts! Not the nipple, but my whole breast aches, especially while he's sucking during let down. And while he occasionally nursed on both breast in the past, doing it for every feed now is new.

Having a baby in the past who was extremely hard to this dream baby who is just so easy and perfect is really amazing. But I'm so scared to just enjoy it - as if he's going to turn into a nightmare. I wish I could just enjoy it and stop worrying. 

[BRC_MacKenzie]

That's funny because it seems like what my little guy is up to as well. He'll sleep all day and I spend the whole worried he'll be up all night but nope, he just wants to wake up every couple of hours, fill up his tummy, look around for 10-15 minutes, then crash again. And I agree with the enjoyment part too, DD didn't sleep through the night (5+hrs) a single time until she was 18 months and at 2.5 she has just started to consistently make it through the night so I really really want a good sleeper this time around and am afraid to jinx it. 

[MamanFrancaise]

I know! I really don't want to jinx it. My last baby slept though the night for the first time at 18 months, too! It was really, really hard. 

[Carlin]

I'm in the same boat! So far Ember is just such a dream baby too. This little one is so much more laid back then her big sister. She sleeps better now than DD1 did for the first year. She barely cries. But I'm so afraid to say anything and jinx it. I keep thinking things can change at any moment!

[Carson]

Mabye this is the dream baby thread. . My lil guy is the same, and has been (5 weeks now). I also remember from ds1 that his patterns seemed to change good or bad. So it is hard to just take this for what it is and enjoy the solid nights and content babies!

[MamanFrancaise]

Perhaps we are just the post-dates, short labor, easy baby DDC? Yes? 

[AnyaRose]

Haha, I'm totally down with that label. (: 

[judybean]

I just posted about my dream baby in the Weekly Chat Thread ;) 

[2sweetsparrows]

awwww, I have a dream baby too, my mom told me- "don't get any ideas that it is your parenting because every baby is different" ha ha- she says this in a sweet way.  My boy did exactly what you are saying MamaF.  he slept for many nights for 4 or 5 hour and fed once (also gaining wonderfully)  then the other night he did cluster feed, and one night fed every 3 hours- he hardly cries and is so consolable.  I am also afraid to enjoy it even though I am a first time mama, because I just think I will eat my words before you know it he will be a wild child.  He only fusses a small amount when he has a poo, and just roots when he is hungry, I catch it far before he gets upset.

We really have to appreciate this period- I did have a stranger tell me - "oh yeh that is just the honeymoon period", I hope though I just have a chill babe!!!

So glad to hear you ladies are all doing well...