How can I get my newborn to sleep longer through the night?

Question

She's 12 days old. I breastfeed on demand. Just wondering if there are any tricks ot get her to sleep a longer stretch of time during the night instead of waking several times. Thanks!

Answer 1

At 12 days old there is no way to really make her sleep longer.  Try setting her up on a schedule as best you can.  Maybe feeding her every three hours.  That way as she gets a little older, you can start to stretch out the night feedings a bit, and stick to every 3 hours during the day.  

Answer 2

If she sleeps a long stretch during the day (more than 4 hours) wake her gently and try to feed as often as possible during daylight hours.  Keep rooms bright for waking, dim for sleeping.  Swaddle her snugly and try a white noise machine or fan in her room for a constant steady hum.  BAbies are used to our noisy womb.

Don't expect this to work immdiately and it takes a good long while for sleep to develop but these things can eventually help establish those good patterns.  

Answer 3

You are just going to have to wait until she's older.  Twelve day old babies don't sleep for very long stretches.  

Answer 4

You really can't and for right now you'll probably just have to go with it.  If she's cluster feeding that's to stimulate more milk, usually, and she's most likely eating for need not want.  

Tricks to help lessen the exhaustion- sleep when she sleeps whenever possible.  Can you do side lying position that will allow you to rest while she nurses?  Sometimes that's helpful- but you want to be sure you won't fall so soundly asleep that you'll roll on her or smother her.  (My friend did this with both her babies and never had a problem but the nurse in me tells you to be careful).

Starting to establish a nighttime routine might help a little- especially further down the road. For night feedings keep things quiet and dimly lit. Have a bed-time ritual, like a bath and then a feeding.

Take care, rest as much as you can, and know that this stage shouldn't last too long.  Most are sleeping at least 4-6 hours by 3 months of age and others tend to start sleeping better after solids are introduce (4-6 mos). Depends on your baby and her needs.

Just as a (possible) glimmer of hope- both mine slept soundly through the night by 2 months. My first slept 6 hours at 1 month. Both had very hearty appetites so I bet that helped.

Answer 5

You can't.  12 days old...they won't sleep through the night on a regular basis until about a year or so, and then they start teething and they'll be up until they are 2!!!!/

Answer 6

My wife found feeding our daugther frequently during the day (not waiting until she's hungry) and swaddling at night helped. However it's now 6 weeks so it can take time. Some people get lucky and have babies who sleep through the night right away, but that's rarely the case.

Answer 7

give her a sponge bath before you go to sleep and make her tummy full. It helps them to sleep better. Mine slept for 4-5 hours after the sponge bath and now she is 3 months. She gets a bath before I go to sleep and I sleep right after. Hope this helps.  

Answer 8

You can't, and seriously, you shouldn't.

When babies are that young, they need to eat every couple of hours.  

Answer 9

I breastfed my child nealy every hour, the trick as they say is to try and keep them awake and keep feeding, When they are breastfeeding and it looks like they are falling asleep, tickle their feet to keep them awake to breastfeed more, so they sleep for longer the more their belly is full the more they sleep

Answer 10

The only 'trick' is to wait for her to grow.

Newborns need to eat often.  She had a very tiny tummy and can only hold a little milk at a time.  While some babies naturally go one or two longer stretches (3-5 hours) at night, some newborns eat every two hours around the clock for several weeks/months.  

She may start sleeping a bit longer after her 3 week growth spurt -- but no promises.  In the meantime, just focus on making the night feeds as easy as possible for you (co-sleep or keep baby in a side-car or bassinet by your bed), and sleep during the day as much as possible.  

This WILL pass.  

Answer 11

Try to get her to cluster feed in the evening.  Also try swaddling her when you lay her down at night.  I probably get a thumbs down, but where is she sleeping?  Emma slept the best in her crib in her own room.  She prefered her own space.

Answer 12

Not at 12 days. Hang in there. I always said "I never thought I would pray for sleep until I became a mother" LOL It will get better in time your body will adjust. She needs to be fed on demand at this age even if its every 2 hours. Mine were every 2 to 3 at this age.