On Demand or Set Feeding Times

[Zodiac]

How old should a baby be before you start bringing set feeding times versus being on demand.

At the moment I'm still doing demand feeding - but sometimes this means LO spends most of his time either feeding or asleep.

Should I be waking him up to play an hour or so before I think he needs feeding?

As I'm on demand - this sometimes messes up the time I put him to bed too as if he's crying for boob, I can't get him bathed beforehand and then the bedtime rouine goes tits-up!

Should I be more assertive???

 

[weenik]

I always fed Dylan on demand but around 10 weeks he got himself into a routine that meant bedtime was about 7pm....during the day feeds started to get into a routine(ish) about 14 weeks xx

 

[trixipaws]

i fed melissa on demand until she was 6 months old when i started solids properly, then the meals were set times but the BF was still demand.
i switched her to formula when she was 8 months, and since then her milk is set times too (altho afternoon bottle can vary between 2 and 4pm)

but some babies get on with set times right from the start. x

 

[Funkylady]

Ive fed Livvy every 3 hours from birth... with the exception of through the night, (shes been sleeping through since about 6 weeks). Recently shes extended to 4 hourly, with solids as well (when she can be tempted).

I found if I let her get too worked up wanting a feed, then it would just stress us all out.

Every family is different and all our babies are suited to different things. If you feel you need a bit of routine for yourself, try feeding every 3 and a half hours or so. See where that takes you.
Its just trial and error alot of the time I think!

Good luck xx

 

[mrs_tommo22]

I personally dont agree with set feeding times. I fed on demand and let both my kids settle into their own feeding routine.

 

[Lola's Mummy]

I BF on demand but give solids at around the same time each day

 

[Misslarue]

I always fed on demand but now have roughly the same time every day for solids (depends if we are out and about or at home)