Help!  I am a first time mom and cannot figure out how to best get my daughter who is 11 weeks old to sleep longer than a 4 hour stretch at night.  What I have read says to feed every 3 hours during the day and then she will sleep longer at night. I have tried this for weeks with no success.  We have a bedtime routine - wash face/hands or bath, mobile, lights low, change clothes, book, and bottle 
(breastmilk) and she goes to bed within 10 min of finishing the bottle.  She is then up again within 3-4 hours all night long.  I have gone back to work and need some sleep.   We have tried the dream feed between 10-11 pm but nothing is working.  She typically goes to bed between 7 and 8:00.  She takes great naps (11/2-2 hours 2x day) with short naps in between feedings.

Any suggestions would be fabulous

Thanks

When she wakes up is she crying or is just up and happy?

She cries every time she wakes during the night.  Sometimes, she'll take a pacifier for a few minutes but once it comes out, she begins to cry again.   Sometimes, she'll only take a few ounces and go back to bed - she is taking 5 ounces at each feeding - weighs 12 lbs about.

Well, I am not a professional, but I did have my first, my daughter sleeping through the night at two weeks and she has been for two years now.  She would wake up crying at the same times everynight and as long as I knew she was fed and her diaper was clean I would just let her cry and occassional walk over by her crib so she could hear my voice and see me.  The first couple of nights were horrible because who wants to hear there baby crying like that, but it worked within a few nights she was sleeping through the night.  I also have a 4 month old son who still wakes up in the night and wants to eat and it is because I don't want him to cry because I am afraid he will wake up his sister, so I kind of give him what he wants.   I am a single mother, so therefore when they are both up in the middle of night it is difficult for me.   Like us if they get used to waking up at  the same time every night they will until we break the habit for them.  So you can see the contrast of giving in and not.

Once babies reach 10lbs or one month there bodies know how to store and release food as it is needed throughout the night, so your best bet is to let her cry and if you need to cry with her, I know I did a couple of nights, but it works.  I hope that helps you out.  Good luck

i'm a new mom of 12 days.  are you saying that at one month or 10 pds to let them cry at night and not get them up to feed or change?  i'm totally down for that if that is what you're saying  looking forward to hearing a response. 

I would strongly recommend against letting you baby lay and cry. Especially at such a young age. I have read dozens of studies and artical on this same thing because my 2nd daughter who is now 3 months old has the same problem. She will not sleep through the night like my first daughter who is now 2 1/2 did at a few weeks of age. I have read that babies under 5 months cannot be spoiled by holding, rocking to sleep, etc because they do not really recognize the response of, oh if I cry, she'll come in and hold me. Your baby, especially in the younger months needs to know she can depend on you to feel safe. Young babies cry for a reason, they need something. Even if it just to be held or rocked. If you ignore them, you're not creating that bond of safety and security. You should never let a newborn lay and cry.  I completely understand how hard it is when it is 2am and they are crying their head off, but pick her up and hold her, rock her, whatever it takes to get her back to sleep. Just don't let her scream.