Question about weight gain during sleep training

[mudder17]

Hi, my daughter just turned 19 weeks today and we've been sleeping training her for the last 10 days (a la Marc Weissbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child). It started out really rough and we had one backslide, but then last night was great! Unfortunately, it's not going so well right now--I think it's because she didn't get quite as much in the way of naps today. In any case, I think we're going to make it, but I have a question about weight gain, or lack thereof. DD was 7 pounds when she was born and she is now 14 lbs 5 ounces. With sleep training, she typically goes to bed around 6 p.m. after a good nursing session, gets one feeding usually at 2 or so, and then gets fed in the morning when she gets up. During the day, I'll nurse her as often as she wants (we're concentrating on nights to begin with) and she usually gets a nap in the morning and 1-2 naps in the afternoon. The problem is that she hasn't gained any weight for the last 2 weeks (since a few days before we started sleep training). Is this something we should be concerned about?

Her behaviour during the day is pretty normal--happy, but less fussy than before, and curious about the various toys she likes putting in her mouth. She also learned how to put herself on her stomach on day 5 of training, so she does that quite often at night. Even when she doesn't cry, there were a few times at night (I have a video baby monitor) where she would put herself on her stomach and then practice her baby push-ups.

Would you say her lack of weight gain right now is because she's expending a few more calories than usual (what with the screaming and the mini pushups)? I'll call my pede, but they're on holiday tomorrow so I won't be able to talk to them until Tuesday....

Thanks! (Oh, thank goodness she's stopped crying....)


Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya
born 22 February 2004

http://www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya

[pritchettzoo]

Around that time was a huge growth spurt for DD--4 to 5 months is normal I believe. I think that's why Weissbluth and others recommend waiting until at least 6 months (I read through his book months and months ago and don't use his method other than the general nap schedule; that's just what I remember, so I could be totally wrong). At 19 weeks, DD was waking pretty often to eat. It's very common for their sleep habits to go to hell in a handbasket at that age due to the growth spurt and the beginning of teething. You know your baby better than your doctor--if you're concerned, then there's probably a reason!

Anna