achieve the ability to sleep through the night by then on their own. Third,
keep track of the exact times your baby is waking. If he is waking every
night at basically the same time, then he is waking out of habit rather
than need. In this case, you may choose to help him eliminate the feeding
period. Normally it takes three nights before the wake habit is broken and
is usually accompanied by some crying. Be assured, your baby will not
remember those nights. What you will recall in days, months, and years
to come is the healthy, happy baby that is well-rested and not the few
nights of testing that got you there. Helping baby learn this behavior has
positive long-term effects on you both.
- I recently was at a family gathering and had just put the most
popular guest (my baby daughter) down for a nap. She began to cry, and
everyone looked to see what I would do. Aunt Martha, visiting from out
of town, volunteered to get the baby back up and I reluctantly agreed to
let her. What should I have done?
This answer depends on the age of your baby. If you are characterized
by following a routine, then allow Aunt Martha to get the baby. A three-
week-old may fall asleep very comfortably in Aunt Martha’s arms, and
that will be fine for this one visit. If the baby is six months old, then let
Aunt Martha know that her favorite niece will be up and ready to give
love in two hours. Remember, unplanned disruptions will come into your
day. Count on it. But also take comfort in knowing that flexibility is a
natural part of a healthy routine.
Weeks Eight and Beyond
- Is it too soon to move a nine-week-old baby up to a four-hour
feeding schedule?
Most likely, yes. Many an eager mom wants to fly through this
schedule. They think the faster, the better. There are potential problems
with this. First, you should relax and just enjoy your baby through the
process. If you move ahead with a four-hour schedule at nine weeks, he
may not get sufficient milk. This is especially true if it is your first time