How can I get my baby to sleep longer stretches at night?

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asked Aug 1, 2022 in Baby/Newborn by mpurpile (840 points)
How can I get my baby to sleep longer stretches at night?

2 Answers

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answered Aug 7, 2022 by Minty (132,850 points)
To get your baby to sleep longer stretches at night be sure to feed the baby right before bed and also set a bedtime routine where you feed the baby and put them to sleep at the same time each night.

Make the bedtime boring for the baby

Develop a good bedtime routine.

Start gearing up for the babies nighttime about 30 to 45 minutes before you'd like your baby to fall asleep.
Feed the baby plenty during the day.
Try being a little boring.
Don't skip the babies naps.

A 3 hour nap is not too long for a baby if that is what they need.

If the baby is tired enough and needs to sleep for 3 hours at nap time then that is perfectly fine although if the nap goes longer than 3 hours it could be too long.

Some babies may only need 1 hour naps or 2 hour naps but sometime a baby may need to nap for 3 hours for them to get enough rest.

It is OK for a 2 month old to sleep 10 hours.

Although some 2 month to 3 month old babies sleep for a few hours and then may wake up for a feeding during the night and then go back to sleep it's normal and okay for the baby to sleep straight through 10 hours if that is what they need and do.

If the baby gets hungry through the night then they will wake up and let you know.

Just be sure to feed the baby before bed and they should be okay as every baby is different.

You should put your 2 to 3 month old baby to bed by 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the latest.

It's best to keep your baby on the same sleep schedule and put your baby down to bed at night the same time each night so they get used to the routine of sleep.

It is OK for a 2 to 3 month old to sleep 8 hours or even 10 hours.

Some 2 to 3 month olds may sleep all through the 8 to 10 hours without a feeding in the middle of the night while other 3 month old babies may wake in the middle of the night and want a feeding.

If the 3 month old has been fed before they go to sleep then it's okay to allow them to sleep through the night.

A 3 month old can go up to 4 hours between feedings.

A 3 month old baby should be fed every 3 to 4 hours and at 3 months old the baby should not go longer than 4 hours between feedings.

Although breastfed babies may need to eat more frequently at the beginning of this stage because breast milk is digested more quickly than formula.

In some babies weight gain does slow down at 3 months of age.

Especially for breastfed babies they tend to slow down in weight gain between 3 to 4 months of age which is normal.

Healthy and properly nourished babies should gain between 1 to 2 lbs of weight per month.

As long as your baby is gaining at least 1 lb of weight per month then they are okay but if the baby is gaining less than 1 lb of weight per month then they could have some health issues and should see a doctor.

Healthy breastfed infants typically put on weight more slowly than formula fed infants in the first year of life.

Formula fed infants typically gain weight more quickly after about 3 months of age.

Slow weight gain could be a problem if your newborn doesn't regain their birth weight within 10 to 14 days after their birth or your baby up to 3 months old gains less than an ounce a day, your infant between 3 and 6 months gains less than 0.67 ounces a day.

Failure to thrive in babies and children is defined as decelerated or arrested physical growth (height and weight measurements fall below the third or fifth percentile, or a downward change in growth across two major growth percentiles) and is associated with abnormal growth and development.

There are three reasons why babies do not gain weight which include not taking in enough calories, not absorbing calories or burning too many calories.

Full-term newborn infants should take in about 1.5 to 2 ounces of breast milk or formula about every 3 hours.

Premature infants need more calories than term babies.

Expect your baby to double his or her birth weight by about age 5 months.

From ages 6 to 12 months, a baby might grow 3/8 inch (about 1 centimeter) a month and gain 3 to 5 ounces (about 85 to 140 grams) a week.

Expect your baby to triple his or her birth weight by about age 1 year.

Poor weight gain is defined as gaining weight at a slower rate than other children who are the same age and sex.

"Normal" ranges for weight are based upon the weight of thousands of children.

“Poor feeding in infants” is a term used to describe an infant with little interest in feeding.

It can also refer to an infant who is not feeding enough to receive the necessary nutrition required for adequate growth.

Poor growth associated with lack of feeding can lead to a separate condition called failure to thrive.
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answered Mar 14, 2023 by Emmabern (140 points)
As a new mom, I understand the struggle of getting a baby to sleep longer stretches at night.

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