One more small anecdotal piece of "evidence"....My third child (all
breastfed and co-sleepers) slept six hours or so at night for a few weeks
around the age of 3 or 4 weeks.  (There was no "unconsciously pushed
schedule" as Annelies suggests in women she sees whose babies sleep long
periods.  My second child didn't sleep that long until he was four years,
so I certainly wasn't expecting it.) Then he stopped.  It was nice to get
some rest then, but it made my periods return earlier than with my other
two.  He still isn't sleeping through the night at 22 months except for
very occassionally.  So I think it was just a time he was growing less or
needed more sleep or something.  It didn't affect his weight gain or
anything.  Certainly if there are average times there have to be some
babies at either extreme end. If the baby is gaining well and the doctor
has found nothing physically wrong, I'd hate to make the mother think this
is a problem instead of a blessing.

Thanks to Sandy for her post and information on research.



Lucy Towbin, MSW, IBCLC

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