do you wake a baby up for a feed?

[lauramumof2]

You would think she have more bother getting the baby to sleep at night if she isnt letting her learn how to get into a deep sleep.

 

[lauramumof2]

read the books take their advice with a pinch of salt, and then read your baby, just taking time out to watch her or listen to her cries they area ll different.

I agree with that. There are bits out of gina ford and bits out of supernanny and baby whisperer that I have have taken and used but not their actual morning till night routines. They are too rigid.

 

[budge]

i'm reading a book my mum got me.. it's called enjoying the first year with your baby... aparently all the stars followed it... just light reading really - not to take literally... it's written by a nanny who has 3 children of her own. The part on feeding says wake your baby up for feeds.. from day one! to help get them into a routine.. the only feed you don't wake the baby up for is the middle of the nite feed.. (6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm, roughly between 1 and 3am let baby wake up naturally for this feed) She also says to give the baby cool water for this feed (not milk)... i thought it was best to let the baby tell you when it wants feeding... and not to wake them up. (forgot to say - i'm bottle feeding not breast on demand)

what did you find best?

x

i never woke mine unless my breast became so sore and leaky i couldn't cope anymore
I odn't believe in waking sleeping babes.

 

[Jayceesmumma]

I found routine was fantastic! From day one she was on a strict routine!
8, 12, 4, 8..etc. so there was only one early wake up (4am) for us as we usually up til 12 anyway. I always set my alarm and got up, even if i didnt want to!
I waited for her to finish ALL of her milk too. i only allowed 1ounce to be left over. (i didnt force it to her was just patient!) I found this was good because if you feed on demand, you dont know if they are crying coz they are hungry or wet or windy etc.. and if the baby has its full feed at the right hours, they should cry for food inbetween so u know something is wrong, and not hungry (not good to overfeed sometimes-especially if the baby is crying coz of wind!)
We eventually took out the 4am feed at around 3weeks then took out the 12am feed and she was sleeping 8pm til 8am at 4 weeks.
8am-wake for 1st feed
10am-sleep
12pm-wake baby for 2nd feed
2pm-sleep
4pm-wake baby for 3rd feed
Keep awake til 8pm-last feed-will sleep longer through til 8am
Thats what jaycee did by the minute til about 9 months when she slept in til 9:30. still in routine and still having naps. She always had a nap after lunch (12pm feed) and still does at the age of 2. She goes to bed dead on 8pm and doesnt stir til between 9am and 10:15 (any later i will wake her up-lazy moo!) She has only got up in the night (between 8 and 8) THREE times since we took out the 4am and 12am feeds.
Not bad eh?
i found if she left half her bottle, id carry on sitting with her and the bottle til at most 1 ounce was left, even if i had to sit there for half an hour. Id rather know shes not hungry if she cries between feeds than overfeed her.
And you know what.. she never cried between feeds! She was a fantastic baby! NEVER cried! She would dirty her nappy at 8am and be clean all day! She only had 3 rough nights due to being ill, one being 3 weeks ago bless her!
Hope i havent rambled! I was just amazed at how great she was all down to the routine!

 

[Jayceesmumma]

Also Jaycee still naps after her lunch, i dont put her down for a nap anymore, when she wants to sleep she will sleep! Between 1 and 3 she may drop off but i have to wake her at 5 for her dinner or she wont sleep right away at 8. I dont know why but too much sleep after 5 will keep her up before she drops off at 8. like she will sing to herself til 8:30 lol! so cute!