What bright eyed little things our babies are at 6 weeks!

By this time they are looking around the room, watching our faces intently, starting to smile, and some even cooing. Some will be able to focus on a toy or mobile for a short time. Their faces are starting to round out nicely, and they can flap their little arms and legs.

If you are breastfeeding, you will hopefully be feeling much better about it all now. While those first few weeks can be tiring, painful and hard work, by around 6 weeks, most mums feel much more comfortable when they feed, and their milk supply is starting to feel like it's settled into a nice pattern. Some mums may have had difficult birth experiences - perhaps a Caesar, or lots of stitches, and by 6 weeks, you should be feeling close to normal again.

Hopefully your baby, too, is feeling much more settled. If you are planning to feed on a flexible schedule, then it is worth having a look at what can be expected around now. I will then look at the three main areas of the day: feedtime, waketime, and sleeptime.

This routine is based on a 3 hour schedule.

1. ★6.00 - feed (breast/bottle), then waketime
   

2. ★6.45 - sleep
   

3. ★9.00 - feed (breast/bottle), then waketime
   

4. ★9.45 - sleep
   

5. ★12.00 - feed (breast/bottle) then waketime
   

6. ★12.45 - sleep
   

7. ★3.00 - feed(breast/bottle), then waketime
   

8. ★3.45 - sleep
   

9. ★6.00 - feed (breast/bottle), then waketime
   

10. ★6.45 - sleep
    

11. ★9.00 - bath, feed (breast/bottle), then waketime
    

12. ★9.45 - sleep
    

13. ★11.30 - feed (breast/bottle), then straight back to bed - no waketime
    

14. 
    

15. Of course, you can start your day anytime you wish. Just change the times to make it work.
    

16. 
    

Feedtime.

Night feeds shouldn't need to be woken for, although mums who are concerned with their milk supply will often set their alarms to feed their babies in the middle of the night, in case their baby doesn't wake on his own. For most mums, however, any other night feeds will happen whenever baby is hungry!

There are some babies who will be starting to stretch their nights by around this time, so that the stretches between night feeds get further and further apart.

This might look like feeds at 11.30, 3.30, then 6. But a few nights later: 11.30, 4.30, 7. On so on, until they are really skipping a feed.

While mums sometimes worry about whether or not they have given their babies enough feeds in the day, the usual thing is that their babies are feeding efficiently and well throughout the day, and no longer need that middle-of-the-night feed to get them through.

Sometimes a baby will just suddenly skip a middle-of-the-night feed. This is always a surprise for mum, but if baby is happy, then it shouldn't be a problem.

This is a common time for mums to start wondering if their babies should be starting the day at around the same time.

That should hopefully be starting to be more consistent around now. Occasionally it will happen earlier then 6 weeks, but more often babies are happier to start at the same time now. This will mean waking a sleeping baby in order to start at the time you want to get started. For some that might be 6am, others 7, and others later. It doesn't really matter, as long as it works for your family.

Another common question at this time, is what to do if baby wakes for a feed at, say, 4.30 am, but you are aiming to start the day at 6 am. Basically, you have 3 choices

1. Feed at 4.30, and then wake baby for a feed at 6.

2. Feed at 4.30, then feed 3 hours later (7.30), and continue 3 hourly pattern from then on.

3. Feed at 4.30, then wake for a feed at, say, 6.30, and then gradually adjust feeds until you are back on track sometime during the day.

Of course all feed times are able to be a little flexible - if your baby wakes a little early and is hungry and wanting a feed, then go ahead and feed him. There is no need to listen to a hungry baby cry! Similarly, if you have been out, and your baby has had a long waketime, and needs a little more sleep, then you are welcome to let him sleep a little longer.

It is wise, however, to generally have about the same gap between feeds as much as possible. This will mean waking your baby for a feed if he hasn't woken on his own.

Sometimes, a baby will need to woken almost every feed.

If this is the case, and you are sure that your milk supply is plentiful, then you could consider moving to a 3 1/2 hourly routine. This will mean dropping a feed, but if all is going well, then it shouldn't be a problem. As our babies get bigger and stronger, they feed much more efficiently, so you often don't need to feed them quite so frequently.

Anytime baby starts waking early on a regular basis, and showing signs of being hungry, then simply go back to 3 hours again.

For a few babies, especially (although not exclusively) bottle fed babies, 4 hourly feeds are working OK. As long as baby is not hungry, and is gaining weight etc, then this is fine. It is definitely too early  to go longer than 4 hourly between day feeds on a regular basis, though.

It is always helpful to check the growth charts (including keeping a record of wet and dirty nappies, as well as number of feeds, and weight/height gains), or have baby weighed every few weeks at the clinic or chemist, as this will encourage you that you are keeping up with the food requirements for your baby. A 6 week check is common at this age anyway, which is an ideal time to make sure baby is growing normally.

Please use this opportunity to discuss any concerns with your baby health nurse.

If you are breastfeeding, then it is important that you feed on both sides at each feed. If you don't do this, you are risking a lack of stimulation for one side for a period of 6 hours or more. This is not good for maintaining milk supply!

If your baby feeds for a long time on the first side, and then won't feed on the second side, then timing him, and pulling him off halfway is helpful. If they feed 20 minutes on that first side, simply pull them off (*gently*) after 10 minutes, give them a burp, and pop them on the other side to finish.

Always swap starting-sides at each feed to balance the strongest sucking.

If your baby has been characterised by spending longer than 30 minutes feeding, then it is also time to restrict the time feeding. Problems that can occur because of very slow feeders include lack of playtime, and falling asleep feeding (leading to wakeful babies when they supposed to sleeping!). Most babies are not feeding for that whole time anyway. Instead they are usually 'sipping, snacking and snoozing'. 20 - 30 minutes of feeding is plenty for most 6 week olds.

Sometimes a baby is particularly efficient, and mum worries that they don't spend enough time feeding. If your baby pulls himself off after a few minutes, and doesn't want any more, then that's fine. You have a strong sucker! You can't force your baby to drink if they really don't want to. As long as they are growing, happy, and sleeping well, then all is fine.

Sometimes mum's let-down is so strong, that baby can't drink fast enough. If your let-down comes in strong and fast, then it is helpful to pull baby off the breast as soon as the let-down begins, and allow the milk to fall onto a cloth nappy or towel, until the flow subsides. Then pop baby back on again to continue the feed. This will help the baby to avoid swallowing too much air, leading to a tummy ache.

Sometimes families need to do things slightly differently with their schedules to take into consideration a shift working father, or a mum who prefers to go to bed early and feed at 2 am. This is all fine - do what suits your family.

Waketime.

After feeding and burping, give them a short time on the floor to kick their arms and legs.

Rocker chairs are great, but they do tend to squash these little one's bodies, which doesn't help if they have some trapped air that needs to come out! A short kick time on the floor is handy to give that trapped air an opportunity to escape. Then they can snuggle up in their cosy rocker chair, or in someone's lap for a little while!

Other waketime activities include playing with their arms and legs, 'talking' with them, and giving them some space to watch the activity around the room. Some babies might focus on a mobile for a short time. 

Over-stimulation is worth watching out for.

I have had mothers tell me they spend this time dancing around the room, in order for their babies to be well stimulated, so they'd be better at school! This is not the time for these vigourous activities! That will come later.

For now, your baby needs a fairly peaceful time awake, or they will really struggle to wind down to sleep.

Waketime, for a 6 week old baby on a 3 hour routine, should be around 45 minutes. This time includes feeding, changing and play time.

While it seems like such a short time, your baby is still so little at this age - they will get a longer play time when they are bigger and can cope better with it. Better to have a shorter play time now, and a settled baby, than  a long play time and a baby who is unsettled through the night because he is too over-tired to sleep.

If your baby is on a 4 hour routine, then 60 minutes should be plenty of time. Anymore, and they will struggle to resettle during naps.

Sleeptime.

Once it is time for bed, then wrap up your baby nice and tight, give him a yummy cuddle and kiss, and pop him into bed, on his side or back.

Some babies are happy to go off with a dummy at this age, and that is fine.

Some babies will have a little cry as they go down, but then resettle themselves, and this is fine.

Some babies will go down happily, remain quiet for a little while, and then have a little cry, and this is fine.

Sometimes babies just have a little cry to get the rest of their excess energy out. They often wiggle and squirm, much like you or I do, as they get comfortable for a sleep.

If your baby has been crying for 10 minutes or more, then you should go in, pick them up, give them a soothing cuddle until they are settled again, and then try again to put them down. Try not to unsettle them by changing (unless necessary), or unwrapping them. Give them another 10 minutes or so before trying to resettle them again.

The more often you go in and out, and in and out, and pick them up, and put them down... the more unsettled they might become. That is why I wait for 10 minutes or so, to give them time to settle themselves.

If he wakes into his sleep, give him a few minutes to see if he will resettle himself. If he are still crying after 5 or 10 minutes or so, then go in and pick him up and soothe him.

If he persists in crying, even once you have picked him up, then check the clock: he may be hungry. If so, of course you will feed him!

If he is happy once he is picked up, and doesn't seem hungry, then you can try putting him down again for 10 minutes or so to see if he will resettle again.

It is not uncommon for babies to have regular period of unsettledness each day. This is often called the 'fussy time', and tends to occur during the late afternoon/evening (although sometimes at another part of the day).

If this is becoming normal for your baby, then will hopefully find a technique that works best for your family. Sometimes getting them up and sitting them happily in their rocker chair for 10-15 minutes or so is enough to get them back into sleep mode. Sometimes an extra feed now and again can help (especially if they are hungry because your supply has dipped a little). Usually, though, calm resettling is the most effective.

If it happens at the same time each day, then you can be prepared each day, rather than disappointed.

The Next 6 Weeks...

Where are you going with your baby's routine during the next 6 weeks?

If you are on a  3 hourly routine now, then hopefully you can consider moving to a 3 1/2 hourly routine some time in the next 6 weeks. Some babies will even go to 4 hours.

This is dependent on your milk supply keeping up. Most mums don't have any difficulties with their supply, but some do, so be mindful that you drink lots of water, and eat really well, as well as rest when you can.

If you need to stay at 3 hours for longer, then that's fine.

By the time your baby reaches 3 months, you can extend their waketime to 1 hour. They will be much more alert for longer by then.

Other Bits...

Some other questions that pop up include what to do about a baby with 'colic', or 'reflux'.

Reflux can be a valid problem, although can also be used to describe a fussy baby that has no apparent explanation for their fussiness. If your doctor suspects reflux, then they should be able to suggest medication which will stop that burning sensation that your baby might be having.

Symptoms of reflux include regularly crying throughout feeds, or immediately after, or general fussiness, even during a waketime.

Colic is not so much a disease, as a word to describe the symptoms of prolonged crying. In my experience, most babies on schedule feeds don't suffer from colic at the same rates as other babies.

If your baby is crying for prolonged periods and for no apparent reason, and you are feeding on a flexible schedule, then first check that your milk supply is OK, and then go and see your doctor. Very occasionally, some babies have allergies and such that are best discovered earlier, rather than later.

Most often, though, a baby who cries for prolonged periods has found himself in a cycle of over-tiredness that takes a few days of consistent routine feeds and limited waketimes to start to settle. Another possibility is  a pain in the tummy, caused by wind, or by gulping milk.

Frequently Asked Questions...

My 6 week old is still so sleepy, I can’t keep him awake after a feed. But then he wakes up during his nap and won't settle!

It is so very important to keep them awake during and after feeds. If you have tried a wet washer, undressing and tickling face, then perhaps placing him flat on the floor, partly undressed might help. While being held, some of them like to snuggle, which just keeps sending them back to sleep, but if they are flat on the floor, they are much more likely to wake up. This is why they often wake up for nappy changes.

If they have been in the habit of snoozing after feeds, and waking during naps, it will take a few days of work to get them back on track, but stick with it! Once they are staying awake for their 45-60 minutes of total waketime, and sleeping until the next feed, it will be worth the effort!

My 6 week old is so wide awake! He doesn’t like going to sleep at all, and is quite happy watching all the activity. He is very unsettled through the night, though.

Teaching a baby to sleep during the day is very important if you want him to sleep at night. When babies don’t get enough sleep, they get ‘wired’ and can’t wind down to a sleep pattern. Also, if they don’t learn to move through those sleep phases of deep and active sleep during the day, they will struggle at night.

Persistence with popping him to bed after a short waketime, and resettling until he learns to self-settle, will pay off as he gets bigger. If you don’t work on it now, it will continue to be a problem as he gets older, and you might have even more sleep issues down the track!