When do I "push" them to try to sleep 4+ hours at night?

OK, so I am not reading any more books since you guys are much more knowledgeable. My twins are 1 month yesterday (Thur, Sept 13th) and I kept reading that I need to "push" them to sleep 4 hours at night. They are only 1 month old! I try to keep them on a sked during the day of feeding every three hours, and try to keep them up between feedings of 1 1/2 hours (including their feeding), but they aren't sleeping well (3+ hours) at night.
1) Is it too early to try to push the 4 hours?
2) When is a good time to expect them to sleep more? Is it a certain weight or # of weeks?
3) Do I just not worry about any of this u ntil they are around 3 months old?

FYI...unofficially they weigh approx. 8 1/2 and 8 lbs each.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD IS MAKING ME BONKERS!

-Ingrid

 

Hi Ingrid!

IMO, yes, 1 month is too early to start trying to stretch them to 4 hours. Their little tummies are so small and they need that frequent nutrition. I have always let my babies lead the way as far as stretching it out at night, until about 6 months, and then I started stretching it out for them!

 

I think you're doing great. I wouldn't push them on 4 hours though. You might not want to try to keep them up during the day at all. I think sleep begets sleep - the better mine sleep during the day the better they are at night. Mine now sleep 7-7 w/ no feedings at about 14 weeks. Lyla can only stay up for 1 hour at a time before she gets sleepy and goes down for a nap during the day. Soph can stay up a bit longer but not much.

good luck!

 

Honestly, I didn't "push" my babies at all. I just fed them when they woke at night at that age. One of my babies was really colicky and I thought the last thing I should do was push him to handle more than he really could. When one woke, I unswaddled his brother so he could get the hint to wake too and then I would feed them both in the dark and put them right back to bed. Sometimes they went 4 hours but usually it was just three (or less). If they woke really early, say after an hour, I would snuggle them (or give them a paci once I stopped breastfeeding) because I figured they were probably uncomfortable or wanting love more than food.

Eventually they started going longer and longer. I remember at 8 weeks they were eating at 7 p.m. (and then going to bed), 11 p.m. 2 or a.m. and then 5:30 a.m. (ish). By 12 weeks Evan wasn't eating at all at night and James was down to one feeding. By four months nobody was hungry at night and now they go up to 13 hours.

Don't worry yet. If they're still eating every three hours at 4 months then you might start to worry (or not, depending on your style) but now just feed them when they need it. Just my 2 cents. It feels endless at the moment, but it does get easier.

 

I agree ... feed them when they need it ... don't try and push them, follow their lead. Mine switched to 4 hours between feedings (both day and night) pretty early ... but they dictated that, not me. I just had hearty eaters so i think they were able to go longer stretches. I know how badly you want sleep in the beginning, and how much those night feedings stink, but i still think i would let them lead the way. Maybe talk to your pedi at their 2 month appt, and depending on their weights and whatnot, she may tell you start stretching it out then ... it does get better! hugs!

 

Agree with pps - it's waaaay too early to try to manipulate their sleep at night. Feed 'em when they wake up, then put them back down. Get DH to do some feedings if possible so you can get some sleep. It should get better before too long (though maybe in baby steps).

QUOTE
I try to keep them on a sked during the day of feeding every three hours, and try to keep them up between feedings of 1 1/2 hours (including their feeding)


Do they seem happy to be awake 1.5 hrs at a time during the day? It's possible they might do better going to sleep a little earlier than that. Though of course when they're that young, their sleep can be pretty chaotic anyway.

Totally know what you mean about information overload! All the books tell you to do different things. Just try to trust your instinct. You are the expert on your babies!

 

I swear I never read another book after finding TS. I never "pushed" my babies to sleep longer, I just followed their leads. It really worked out well for us and they were happy which made me happy. A win-win situation for everyone!

I never did care for books that say "You/they should be doing this by xyz age!" unless they are talking about milestones like babbling etc. Saying all 1 month olds should be sleeping 4 hours straight by 1 month is like saying all dogs should have brown fur. Brown fur is not right for every dog, just ask the white ones!

 

I would feed them when they need it...

My babies started sleeping more around 3 (DS) and 4 (DD) months. They have been good sleepers since then with an occasional episode here and there of waking of needing more formula or an extra burp.

 

They're still little things and you sound like you're doing wonderfully. They'll naturally stretch themselves to 4 hours between night feedings so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Mine came home from the hospital on a 4 hour schedule, so we always used that. My ped told me never to let them sleep more than 4 hour stretches during the day, so basically, we would wake them to eat during the day, but let them wake us at night. At 8 weeks, mine stopped waking for the 2-3 am bottle, and at 3 months, they slept for 12-13 hours at night. BUT the only think I did was to feed them every 4 hours during the day--the sleep took care of itself. We did increase the amount in the bottles to 6 oz when they stopped getting up at 2-3 am and then to 8 oz. at 3 months when they slept all night.