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Mackfam
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 5:23pm | IP Logged
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Ok - before you scream "NO!" let me explain...
I've never had a baby that sleeps so much and so well. For this I'm very grateful, but...she takes really, really, really long naps - 3-4 hours at a time. She started this about 2 to 3 weeks ago when she found her thumb.
When she gets sleepy, I lay her in bed, she sticks her thumb in and sleeps peacefully for a really long time. It makes me nervous. I check on her constantly! She's a chunky little thing, and the diapers are always nice and wet. But, she's only 3 months old, and I worry. I've never had one that sleeps this long.
Do any of you have sleepers like this? Should I be waking her? I get so nervous when she sleeps so long.
Thoughts?
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Jen Mackintosh
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 5:41pm | IP Logged
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My 7th would sleep like that, even longer. She was my first sleeper so it was disconcerting. I would also check constantly. She's two now and not such a great napper but still sleeps about twelve hours straight at night.
I didn't realize what a blessing all that sleeping was until this little guy came along. He has napped four times in his co-sleeper, for about a total of 30 minutes. He is five months! All the rest of that time (not including some hours here and there in the swing when he was colicky) he has been in someone's arms! What I would give for a 3 hr nap!
I am sure you'll keep checking, but I wouldn't wake her. Her little body probably needs that rest.
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mellyrose
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 5:48pm | IP Logged
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I'm guessing she needs the sleep. If all other indications are fine (and it sounds like they are!), I would let her sleep!
My oldest was a great napper - - my next 2 not so much. I wish I could get an hour out of Lydia, but I'm grateful for her 20 minute morning naps these days!
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Jeanna
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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All of mine have slept 3-4 hours at a time by about 6 weeks. It was nerve racking at first, especially that first time they slept through the night but I guess I'm used to it now. When I had twins one of the pediatric Dr.'s we saw wanted me to wake them up to feed them because she didn't think they should go more than 2 or 3 hours without nursing. I didn't take her advice though. 
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folklaur
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
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my ds was my good sleeper. My girls....not so much. If all else is fine, and it doesn't mean she will be awake all night long...I would let her sleep.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 6:30pm | IP Logged
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I would probably want to be sure she was gaining weight.. not just wet diapers.. but also look at how she's nursing around that.. is she nursing more often.. marathon nursing before and after.. etc.. but yeah as long as everything else is fine I'd let her be.
I LOVE when we get to the point of sleeping 3-4 hrs in a stretch at night.. I'm so much more rested with that one "long" stretch
And it could change.. I've had little ones that are very obvious about preparing for growth spurts.. where they eat like it's going out of style and then drop off in their eating and sleep all the time and then slowly balance out again.. usually in a larger size of clothing 
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mama251ders
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 7:10pm | IP Logged
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Count your blessings, twice maybe! I had 2 good sleepers out of 5 and I consider myself very lucky. As long as she is gaining weight appropriately and is not dehydrated, I think your good. My biggest baby was also my best sleeper and was incredibly efficient at nursing.
I got spoiled with my first because he slept through the night at 6 weeks and never was a night waker. That first morning after he slept through the night, I totally freaked out! I can still picture myself running like a maniac from my bedroom to his screaming, "Please dear God let him be alive!" I'm sure God got a really good laugh that morning 
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Betsie
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missionfamily
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| Posted: May 27 2008 at 9:15pm | IP Logged
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My two thumb suckers were good sleepers like that. My fourth and fifth babies...and I did the same thing, checked constantly. They both gained weight well and nursed well although they did wean earlier than my others who nursed longer for comfort...these guys have their thumbs for that. I wouldn't wake her as long as she continues to nurse well and gain weight.
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Sarah M
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 11:52am | IP Logged
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My second baby was like that. A chunky little thing that slept without waking for long periods. But she has now turned into a preschooler who *still* needs more sleep than anyone else in our family- sometimes up to 13 or 14 hours at night. I think her body probably just needs more sleep.
As long as she's gaining weight and eating well, I wouldn't worry too much. Just enjoy it- soon you'll be wishing she would sleep longer, I bet!!
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 1:55pm | IP Logged
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It depends. One of mine would sleep for long stretches and then wake up SOOO hungry that she would gulp, gulp, gulp and then spit up huge volumes. That one I woke every 3 hours to nurse and things went much better. Another slept 20 out of 24 hours until she was 6 months old. She was also an extremely efficient nurser. From the first nursing after she was born, she would empty me out in under 10 minutes, and then unlatch, burp, and go back to sleep. She generally woke herself after 3-4 hours to eat again, and weight gain, wet diapers, etc. were just fine.
I would think that if your little one wakes to eat regularly and is gaining weight well, then she probably has just established her own rhythm. In that case I would just go with her flow.
Peace,
Nancy
ETA: My sleepy one, interestingly also named Katherine, was also an accomplished thumb sucker.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 2:12pm | IP Logged
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hylabrook1 wrote:
| My sleepy one, interestingly also named Katherine, was also an accomplished thumb sucker. |
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How funny!!
Thank you all so much! I suspected that sucking her thumb was providing for much of the comfort sucking she needed allowing her to sleep longer and quite peacefully. Thank you, Colleen for confirming my suspicions. She is also a very efficient nurser - emptying in about 10 minutes. She sits up, plays for about an hour and then takes a 3 hour nap. Not always...but alot. She's been gaining just fine and weighs in at 14 pounds at 3 months old. She's not petite.
I'm so grateful to hear all of you echo my impulse which was to leave her to take her naps. She must just need the extra sleep....still gonna check on her all the time though.
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 4:06pm | IP Logged
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My now 13 year old son STILL sleeps a lot. Even now, he needs 12 hours a night to be a "peaceful" child. He was a tiny preemie (came home weighing 3 lbs, 9 oz) and everyone told me that I couldn't let him sleep so much, that he needed to eat more often. But when I woke him, he was too tired to eat efficiently and so needed to eat more often. Once I decided to list to my instints instead of "everybody" he began to gain weight and be happier.
Healthy babies won't starve themselves. She will wake when she needs to eat. Personally, I would enjoy the naps while they last!
LeeAnn
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 4:25pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer, just my own personal experience. My baby is fat and happy and loves to sleep at night. He eats more often during the day and sleeps all night...almost 12 hours. He's been adding more hours like this since he was little. I was so panicked at first, checking him constantly. I still check on him every time I'm awake to make sure he's still breathing. I follow his cues...usually he tanks up at night before bed.
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LisaR
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 6:33pm | IP Logged
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wow, reading all of these posts makes me realize that I have not had ONE good sleeper. Mine are all like your son, Molly, well,until they hit puberty!
now, has anyone woken up in alarm at 7 am or so and gone to check on a 14 or 12 year old who were sleeping soundly?? yep, my kids used to all go to sleep late/wake up often/not nap long/wake with the sun/earlier until around 12. years. old.... 
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juststartn
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
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Ah, I love it when they start sleeping well...Mine have done it anywhere from 2 wks (yes, weeks!) to 4 mos. I so needed the sleep after 4 mos (with the twins) that I was just glad to let them sleep...
Actually, I would sleep thru whenever they would have normally woken up...I was that tired...with dd#1, I woke up in a panic the first time she did it. After that, I just learned to "chill" about it.
Rachel
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saminier
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 9:10pm | IP Logged
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My first baby was a super sleeper right from the start, 4+ hour naps during the day. I had a harder time building up a milk supply with him than with my little girl who never slept and nursed constantly. So, for me if I had it to do over again, I'd make more of an effort to wake up my son every 2-4 hours to eat during the day just to keep up my milk.
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Do you wake a sleeping baby?
