Feeding on Demand?

[jackson]

I have heard lots of stuff about feeding on demand Vs feeding to schedule. I am a little unsure as to the positives and negatives of both? has anyone got any advice as to which is the best method of feeding and what they are the benifits.
thanks in advance.

[Pixie]

My baby is 5 weeks and I demand feed..it's easy, works for me I don't work so I just with the flow so to speak lol...
Positives are no clock watching..negatives none for me :D

[drewid]

For me, it was a simple as feeding Andrew when he was hungry. I think demand feeding is the go in the early days, when they have so much growing to do and such little tummies. There is more scope for "routine" after 6-9 months IMO, when solids come into the picture.

[veve]

I fed on demand for the first few weeks and then kind waited for Jack to find his own routine...

Jack had a big appetitte earlier than lots of bubs... so by 5 weeks we had a 4 hourly(ish) routine happening :smiliedance: - but not all babies are that lovely to mum :laughing:

I'd definately start out demand feeding (it is easier... babies will only eat when hungry.. and if the crying continues .. at least you know its not hunger).. and let bubs take the lead - oldies will tell you not to do it .. as the demand feeding is not what they did 'back then' .. - if you aren't happy with demand feeding (it can be exhausting at times) - just try to gradually stretch out the gap between feed (10 minutes longer each time... gradually) and bubs will probably adjust..

good luck!!!
:hugs:

[Sarie]

Even as a bottle feeder I did demand feeding, even though with both boys they got into a routine fairly quickly, it wasn't a strickly timed thing, just when they were ready.

[xkwzit]

I believe that demand feeding in the early weeks is quite important for assuring a good supply. My paed described my baby as "programmed" to ensure my supply, whenever she cried, he suggested that I feed her (even if I'd just finished feeding her and I was wanting to eat my own dinner :D ).

Cheers

[misskittyfantastico]

I just feed my DD when she's hungry. She's a pretty hungry bubby and when she went through growth spurts, I was feeding her sometimes hourly...I guess it was natures way of building up a really big supply for my chubby bubby!

[aardvark]

Demand feeding, all the way.

Feeding to a schedule is a way to have a cranky baby, and mess with your supply.

I demand feed my little man, and he is a very contented boy, hardly cries or grumps at all. If I was feeding him to a schedule, there would be times when he is looking for boob when he would not be "due for a feed", and then he would be upset.

Be aware that babies will usually demand more frequent feeds in the late afternoon and evening, and plan for it - prepare dinner earlier in the day if possible, so you are free to feed as necessary.

[sueb31]

Hi, I thought I'd add my bit...I fully agree with feeding a baby when they are hungry. But in my case, I don't think my baby would have fed half as much if I hadn't fed him on a schedule. He was so sleepy all the time!!

What I did was feed him at the latest every 3 hours. If he woke hungry before then I would feed him. He used to feed for about 45 minutes (although I would have to wake him during the feed to achieve this). Sometimes he woke hungry at 2.5 hours, or occasionally at 2 hours. (I should add I didn't know if he was hungry, he would just cry and I'd work through the list of possibililtes, including hunger!). The advantage of the routine was that if it was getting to 2-3 hours and he was crying, I would know the most likely cause was huinger and it helped me learn to read my baby's cues earlier I think. After the first week I let him go as long as he wanted in the night, usually 1 stretch of 4-5 hours at most.

I should also add the paediatrician advised me to do the 3 hourly feeds and to wake if necessary, as I had gestational diabetes so baby's sugars were low at first, it wouldn't have been safe to let him go too long without a feed.

Since those early days he has been on a routine (albeit a flexible one) and is a happy contented little boy (now 4.5 months). He is breastfed, went from 50th centile at birth to 90th centile at 6 weeks. Dropped the 3-4am feed at 2 months and slept through 7-6 at 3 months. He has 2 naps in the day of 1-2 hours and a 30minute nap in the afternoon.

I think the most important thing is that a baby doesn't go hungry. I don't think there is anything wrong with routines, but they can be harmful if people are too rigid with them. Used the right way they can make for a happy Mum and happy baby.

Just thought I'd add my two cents' worth!

Sue

[FourAngelKisses]

I'd go with demand feeding. It so much less stressful.........nothing worse than listeing to a baby screaming for 2.5hrs if you are feeding 4hrly and they are hungry after 1.5hrs.

[MamaSage]

Demand is what babies need, I hate it when people have a screaming baby and then they say "He can wait, four hours is noy up yet" :thumbsdown: Babies do not have clocks.

[FourAngelKisses]

Another thing I hate is people telling you how much for feed them.....DS1 was having 300mls of formula by the time he was 3wks old and we got told off for it. But he was the size of a 3mth old when he was born so it's not like he was eating for a 7lb baby. And I would rather feed him what he wants than listen to him scream for hours on end.

[MamaSage]

For sure. All babies do not come from the same mould!

[Briannabear]

I parent by instinct. I do have a routine in place for my daughter, but Im not super strict. If she's hungry she gets fed! However, there is structure to her day. She responds very well to this (and always has) which is why we stick to what works.
When she was little she used to be fed every 3 1/2 hours or so (from start of the feed to start of the next feed), but if she was hungry inbetween feeds for some reason Id feed her. It obviously meant that she didnt feed properly the first time or whatever. No big deal!
We ran with the whole feed-play-sleep routine. However, we didnt dictate the times to her. I just followed my instinct and matched our day to suit her needs.
When she cried Id asses her needs and take the appropriate action to suit. (whether that be a nappy change, comfort, play time, bed time or feeding).

She is now a very well adjusted happy healthy 16 month old who is a wonderful sleeper and has very active play times!:D

I honestly believe every baby is different. It would be silly to say every baby needs a routine or every baby needs to be demand fed because no two babies are the same!! :banghead:
As a parent you just need to listen to your childs needs and trust your instincts. (As well as finding a plan that works for you too.). A happy baby usually equals a happy mummy and visa versa!

[SilverStarfish]

I demand fed in the beginning too, and live Veve, I waited for DD to settle into her own routine. Now at 10 weeks she is happiest feeding every 3 hours or so, sometimes sooner sometimes later. I don't mind... it's a small price to pay for the lovely 5-8 hour sleeps she has at night :smiliedance:

[Supermum]

Newborn babies especially, require little amounts of food and often as their bodies become accustomed to 'life on the outside'.

From memory my son fed 10-12 times per day for the first six - eight weeks and my daughter 8-10. This gradually tapered off.

I remember taking DS to the doctor in the early days as he screamed constantly and the doctor told me that babies should not be fed between the hours of 9pm and 6am and that the very reason he was screaming was that I overfed him. Impossible!:mad:

[SilverStarfish]

Screaming from being over fed??? :laughing:

That's a new one. Sheesh!

[kymmy]

I have always fed on demand x3
For me, it works
though it was very demanding on me
with my first
they are not always hungry or thirsty
so it is not easy..

[WeloveHarriet]

Harriet too was demand fed. Since she was our first and I really didn't have too much of a clue, it was easier to listen to her. I have only just stopped breastfeeding her now that she is 9mths old and up until this time whenever she wanted a drink she got one.:kiss: Plus lots of kisses. I am a big believer in going with the flow - stress is really bad for milk supply. Just enjoy all the cuddles that you can sneak in whilst feeding your little one.