Why doesn't my 5-week-old baby sleep through the night?

No it's very rare to see a baby that young to sleep through the night. Although I can understand how much you want to sleep, it's not a realistic goal or expectation. Many babies don't even depelop a normal schedule for an average of 3 months, but that doesn't mean they will sleep through the night. DO not add cereal to her bottle, newborns don't have the ability to properly digest cereal, and it may even harm her. Never add anything to the baby's diet without consulting her pediatrician first. Some children don't sleep through the night for at least a year, but your baby will soon develop their own schedule. Something that might help is not letting her skip feedings during the day, so if she sleeps 4 hours wake her up, and feed her. Let her save that sleep for the night.

I wouldn't add cereal to the bottle... I think it's too soon, and allergies could occur. 5 weeks is quite young to be sleeping through the night already. Give it a little more time... maybe up the ounces before night time.

Do not add cereal. Babies sleep through the night when they are ready, and don't assume that it will be consistent once she does. My son started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks, but there were still nights that he would need to feed at 2 am. Be patient, it will happen, and you will wake up with a shock when it does. :)

I don't think there is a "right" time for any baby to start sleeping through the night. Mine didn't at all until 6 months old. He is 7 months, and he is just now consistently sleeping through the night every night. Hang in there! Lack of sleep isn't fun, but it does go away quickly. I already forgot about those sleepless nights! I definitely wouldn't start cereal yet. Honestly, I started cereal (and other solids) with my son at 4 months by doctor's order, and it didn't change his sleep pattern at all. Your baby will sleep through the night when she is ready.

You may want to go ahead and read a book, such as The Baby Whisperer, to learn about sleep training your baby. Then when she is old enough (maybe in the next 2-3 months) you can begin the process. We did this for our daughter at 4 months (she's 6 months now), and it only took a few days for her to learn how to self-soothe and get through the night. Now she not only sleeps through the night, but it is so easy when it's naptime and bedtime to lay her down and she goes right to sleep on her own. Be patient ~ you will get there. And when you do, enjoy the sleep!!

my dd is 7m and she still doesn't sleep through the night and I have tried everything, I'm hoping she will just start doing it on her own. but at 5 weeks it is not likely that she will sleep through the night.

I believe it's too early at 5 weeks for cereal! Just give it time she will one day sleep thru the night. I have a 13 month now and it's wonderful that she sleeps thru the night. She didn't in the beginning but as they get older they will. All babies are different but remember to get your naps when he/she does.

My 11-week old is still not sleeping through the night. I tried the rice cereal in the bottle and he didn't sleep any longer. At 5 weeks he was waking every 2-3 hours for feeding regardless if I put the rice in his cereal or not. What I found though is when I used the rice cereal he's be bound up for the next couple of days and more fussy so he doesn't get the cereal anymore. Your 5 week old is still too young to be sleeping through the night considering most newborns will only sleep a 5 hour stretch at a time. Maybe try feeding your baby an extra ounce of formula with their night time feeding and maybe you'll get a little extra sleep. Good luck!

Until a baby weighs at least 12 pounds they will need to wake up for night time feedings. You could try limiting her naps by either cutting one out, or by limiting how long she sleeps.

Sleeping through the night is a trained habit. Your child needs to be taking in enough food during the day. My son slept through the night starting at 5w. I read "on becming babywise" & "12w to 12h sleep" Both tell you pretty much the same method of getting your child to go 12hrs overnight.