baby just sleeps for dad, not for mum

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July 15th, 2009, 05:44 PM
tenar

baby just sleeps for dad, not for mum

OK, this is weird:

DD has been feeding every 2-2.5 hours for weeks now, during the day. Today more like every 2.5-3 hours.

Anyway, I fed her about 1.30pm. Took her home, handed her over to DH, with a bottle of EBM, at about 3.00, and I lay down for a sleep (very short of sleep). I fully expected her to wake up hungry at 3.30 or 4pm.

I woke at 5.30 and she's still asleep. DH has put the dummy back in a couple of times when she stirred, but apparently she hasn't really been awake on any of those occasions.

What's going on?

Am I managing to wake her early by mistake? All the time?

Is he missing that she's hungry and resettling her when he should have been feeding her (seems hard to imagine that she would not let everyone know clearly that she was hungry, if so, and while I can imagine him not realising she was hungry at first, by the time she was crying I'm sure he'd click to it)?

Or is today just a weird day?

It's actually not the first time this kind of thing has happened, though the last time was weeks ago. I can hardly ever re-settle her back to sleep during the day, but DH has managed it, when I haven't been there.

I just don't know what to think. Has anyone else experienced this?
July 15th, 2009, 07:36 PM
Arcadia

Babies are very clever and they know when there are a pair of boobs around!

It sounds like your baby is a very lucky baby, and you are a very attentive mummy!

Don't worry. DD is obviously just okay to be resettled without a boob when you're not around. That's great! It means you can escape for a bit when needed!
July 15th, 2009, 07:42 PM
briggsy's girl

tenar - my DD is the same - she seems to sleep longer for everyone else than she does me! i can feed her, she'll fall asleep and by the time i put her down for a sleep (during the day) she will open her eyes, stretch, smile and start yabbering away. today, my SIL was here, DD did the same thing and SIL bounced her in the bouncer - and she went back to sleep for three hours! no idea what happened but i think it's something to do with smelling the milk on me when i try to resettle her - she just wants more kwim?
July 15th, 2009, 07:45 PM
krysalyss

Its pretty common actually. For example babies often settle better for their day care carers than for their parents. Bubs smells you as soon as you enter the room and as mummy you are very high value IYKWIM.
July 15th, 2009, 07:57 PM
Butterfly Child

i hear u hun its frustrating hay but at least shes sleeping for him. its amazing how they know wen theres a pair of boobs around xx
July 15th, 2009, 08:32 PM
MantaRay

Like the others said hun, it is most likely the smell of milk and is very common. It's a handy trick when you are exhausted, although it can feel a bit unfair at times. Try not to feel bad - it's not anything you are doing wrong, it's just one of those things. And it probably won't last long either - (so make the most of it while you can LOL ;) ).
July 15th, 2009, 10:13 PM
tenar

Thanks everyone, I had no idea that just my being in a room with her would make so much difference. It makes me think I should try to do this more often during the daytime, so that both DD and I can get more sleep altogether. It's not like she was any trouble for DH during that time, either, so we all won out.

All the same, it's pretty weird that she could go so long without being bothered by hunger, I think. Babies are confusing creatures!
July 15th, 2009, 10:16 PM
MantaRay

:

Babies are confusing creatures

How true!! You will find though that she won't sleep that long between feeds every time. But if she does it once in a while and gives you a good rest then that's something!!