Feeding

[mum2A&L]

nice easy one :

On demand, or

6, 10, 2 (what even is the 'correct/normal' order?!).


I was orignaly thinking on demand, but OH's mum advised against it, saying LO will expect you to be there every time it crys. What does everyone think?

 

[mummykay]

I feed Jamie when hes hungry, i dont think its nice to be kept waitin for another few hrs so it all stays on 'schedule'

he feeds for about half hour then has a nap and when he wakes up he has a play and cuddles then tells me when he wants feeding next!

but all babies are different hun!

 

[lauramumof2]

i was advised to only feed at 3.5 hour intervals as his tumy wasnt emptying and was giving him s sore tummy.

 

[Urchin]

Personally I would never feed at set times. A baby doesn't know what time it is, they just know when they are hungry, and it can only do them good to know that mommy comes when she is needed.
I don't believe there is anything wrong with a baby who expects mom there every time it cries...it's what being a mom is all about if you ask me.

i was advised to only feed at 3.5 hour intervals as his tumy wasnt emptying and was giving him s sore tummy.

Medical advice is different of course, if your advised to leave a bigger gap then obviously thats what you should do.

 

[ToriElla]

I always feed on demand with Eva - even with her meals now. But i think with time they start falling into their own routine. eg now she wakes up at 6.30 on the dot everyday for her morning milk and then has her breakfast at about 8am. When she was little it was just whenever she felt hungry or if i thought she was going to long i would just feed her.

You'll find your own pattern of doing things - eva wouldn't drink her milk if she wasn't hungry so i couldn't have set times even if i wanted to

 

[Princess_Puddles]

Doesn't it depend on if you breast or bottle feed?
Harrison is bottle fed & we feed him at regular intervals of 4hrs but if he is really hungry then we drop it down to 3/3.5

 

[mum2A&L]

Im planning to breast feed. which would be easier if i did?

 

[budge]

i don't think anyone breast feeds by set times anymore -

 

[Nicky_Jones]

Haven't answered as a bit of both. I am to BF at the following times:

7:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 180, 19:30 and 23:30.

However today ended up:

7:30, 10:25, 135, 15:30, 180, 19:30 ...

Which is quite typical. So set times unless she demands it sooner. I have NO idea what to call that?

 

[Urchin]

So set times unless she demands it sooner. I have NO idea what to call that?

I'd just call that demand feeding, because you are flexible.

 

[sarah113]

ive always fed all mine on demand

 

[lauramumof2]

i was advised to only feed at 3.5 hour intervals as his tumy wasnt emptying and was giving him s sore tummy.

Medical advice is different of course, if your advised to leave a bigger gap then obviously thats what you should do.

It was mainly because he was wanting his tummy topped up all the time. She said he need to let it empty so it could be filled again with a substantial feed and also it would stop him having pains. 2 feeds it took to kick in and he started waiting a bit and finishing whole bottles but the longest he went was 3.5 hours. It all gone a bit wonkey again though. He will go a while without a bottle then want fed every 2 hours. I give up

 

[hev&madi]

i feed madi on demand other wise she wont take her food and it makes her sick or she ends up very hungry

 

[Sassyminx]

fed on demand with both of mine, cant see the relevance of feeding a baby that aint hungry, or needs waking up for a feed, you cant possibly determine a babies hunger by hours between feeds, i know 1 day ill eat breakfast and be hungry 4 hours later, other days half an hour later im ravenous again

 

[budge]

fed on demand with both of mine, cant see the relevance of feeding a baby that aint hungry, or needs waking up for a feed, you cant possibly determine a babies hunger by hours between feeds, i know 1 day ill eat breakfast and be hungry 4 hours later, other days half an hour later im ravenous again

not only that but inbetween feeds rachael often just has a quick feed which i presume quenches a thirst. Imagine having to go 3 hours without a drink

 

[Sassyminx]

fed on demand with both of mine, cant see the relevance of feeding a baby that aint hungry, or needs waking up for a feed, you cant possibly determine a babies hunger by hours between feeds, i know 1 day ill eat breakfast and be hungry 4 hours later, other days half an hour later im ravenous again

not only that but inbetween feeds rachael often just has a quick feed which i presume quenches a thirst. Imagine having to go 3 hours without a drink

seems a lot of breastfed babies do that, though tbh my midwife discouraged giving baby water when breastfeeding but i still gave some with a bottle and it didnt bugger up feeding at all, and baby went another couple of hours without a feed, i defo agree that babies should be fed on demand though, my mate used to wake her daughter up every 4 hours for a feed, and wondered why she didnt sleep through the night til she was 6mths

 

[budge]

no i never give my babies water via a bottle. The first few drops of breastmilk is the thirst quencher. no need to give extra water.

 

[skatty]

I agree with Budge that babies may want a drink in between. I read the other day that breastfed babies are self feeders and decided themselves when they are hungry and when they are thirsty so just take what they want. Leorah generally goes about 3 -3½ hours between feeds in the day but sometimes its longer and often more frequent in the evenings but then she only tends to go 4 - 5 hours in the night. I am sure if I put her on a schedule she's wake up much more.

Also like Urchin said if a baby cries it should know Mum is there for them, this way they will grow up more independant knowing Mum is there if they need her

 

[mum2A&L]

Thanks ladies!

 

[Nicky_Jones]

So set times unless she demands it sooner. I have NO idea what to call that?

I'd just call that demand feeding, because you are flexible.

But the point is I will feed her at those times if she hasn't demanded it before during the day. And the7:30,19:30 and 23:30 are always fixed and are very rarely demanded.