Whats your feeding schedule?

[L2310]

So up until now I've been feeding on demand and LOs weight gain is perfect but the health visitor has told me I really need to start moving to every few hours as when she's awake it can be every 20 mins for about 5 mins. I started on Thursday and its going well... I've got an app and record feeds on there so I can't forget last feed time and how long she fed for etc. If she's wingey in between I can give her a dummy (which she's never accepted until now!) and rock her and she's fine. How long should she feed for? Sometimes she'll go for 10 mins, other times 20 mins I try everything to stimulate her to take more like changing nappy etc. I think it would be a real struggle getting her to go any longer than 2 hours but how could I do that and how many hours am I aiming for? Also will it be easier as time goes on and she'll become less wingey? Interested to hear how others have done it and what your routine is? Xx

 

[Claire123]

Not much help here.....I bf up until 6 months and never managed to get into a schedule ! I can imagine it would have made thing alot easier tho so good luck! Xx

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[HL28]

I'm really surprised a HV has even suggested that! I've always fed on demand and still do and lo is 6 &1/2 months and has started solids. How old is your lo? HAving quick feeds doesn't necessarily mean she's not getting a good feed. My lo feeds really quickly. They get more efficient when they've got the hang of it. I don't worry about any type of routine until we start solids or lo starts getting into a pattern herself such as needing to go to bed at 7ish but feeding wise I go with what baby wants x

 

[giz]

I never had a schedule with my first but I found she did fall into an approximate routine where she'd feed about the same times each day give or take an hour. And then it'd change when growth spurts happen. I pretty much fed on demand, except if I were going out and expect her to want feeding in the next hour, I'd try feeding her before leaving.

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dd born 6th Feb 2011
ds born 12th Aug 2013

 

[L2310]

Thanks for replies girls... she's nearly 6 weeks - I think the reason is because she's had a few green poos suggesting she's only getting the foremilk so think HV suggested it to encourage longer feeds to make sure she's getting the hindmilk. I'd love her to feed set times - would make planning for things much easier like going out and visitors coming xx

 

[giz]

Thanks for replies girls... she's nearly 6 weeks - I think the reason is because she's had a few green poos suggesting she's only getting the foremilk so think HV suggested it to encourage longer feeds to make sure she's getting the hindmilk. I'd love her to feed set times - would make planning for things much easier like going out and visitors coming xx

That kind of makes sense I suppose, the other thing to do is to make sure you feed from the boob that she last fed from first. Also, if she's feeding for just 5 mins all the time, try giving a 5 min break, change the nappy then put her back on the same boob.

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dd born 6th Feb 2011
ds born 12th Aug 2013

 

[HL28]

I feed when it's convenient also. If I'm going out I feed before I go etc. They rarely refuse so I'd feed her before you go out if you can. X

 

[L2310]

Thanks again girls - seems a lot of people do the feed on demand method. Everywhere I read I here people feeding every few hours so thought I was the only one feeding so often! Xx

 

[stargirl]

My baby fed on demand and only for 5-8 mins at a time. over a week I managed to get him to go every two hours and he then started to feed for 8-10 mins. He now sometimes goes every three hours but still only has around 8-12 mins at a time. He's always gained weight.

I got him to go longer between feeds for the very same reason you said. At first I just tried making him wait ten mins longer between each feed and to be fair it was easy to get him to go longer.

However he may go every three hours now but come the evening he might only go every 1 1/2 to 2 hours and I tend to follow his lead.

I find that at least 2 times a week he has a small greenish poo but I don't worry too much as all the others are bright yellow and like I said he's still putting on weight, he's alert, very noisy and only really cries when really upset. He suffers with wind but a bit of gripe water in the morning and evening helps lots.

Weather you follow your hv's advice or not I'd say go with your instincts. You know your baby better then anyone and you know his needs.


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[L2310]

Thanks hun its good to read someone else that's done the same thing. Its going well so far so fingers crossed it gets even better xx

 

[vinandbella]

I'm just doing this now, she's always gone every 1 1/2 to 2 hr ish but if she started fussing I'd feed her etc. she's been a pain to feed as everything else is more interesting so I'm trying to get her to be really hungry if that makes sense?

Yesterday we went every 2 1/2 hrs with a couple of 3 hr ones thrown in.

She still only fed for between 5-10 minutes


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[giz]

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dd born 6th Feb 2011
ds born 12th Aug 2013

 

[Mrs N]

I'm not sure how you can do anything else than feed on demand as mme would just scream! Lol! The girls easily go 3 hours but their feeds are between 30 mins and an hour. H was one that would feed every hour! I think you need to work out if they are actually hungry or using you as a dummy.
Xxx

 

[L2310]

Its going really well il let her feed as much as she wants in the mornings and evenings but come dinner time she'll easily now go an hour and a half to two hours xx

 

[SaraLouise]

I'm in the process of moving off of feeding on demand. I'm keeping a record of his feeds & naps for a few days to see if there is a pattern. Then I'm going to try & come up with some sort of routine.

Glad its all going well for you though!

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[L2310]

Good luck! I downloaded an app to keep record of the feeding, it really helps! Xx

 

[vinandbella]

I'm not sure how you can do anything else than feed on demand as mme would just scream! Lol! The girls easily go 3 hours but their feeds are between 30 mins and an hour. H was one that would feed every hour! I think you need to work out if they are actually hungry or using you as a dummy.
Xxx

I'm still feeding on demand but I'm waiting for her to demand rather than me deciding that she's hungry and trying to feed her. So I'm now getting a proper feed of her about every 3 hrs rather me having a battle with her when I think she starts showing signs of maybe being hungry.

Not sure if I'm making sense at all there


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