What Do You Do?

[BelindaL]

I'm a new mum & am really enjoying breastfeeding.

Annaleise is now 3mths old and has just gone from 2 & half hour feeds to 3 hourly feeds (bliss).

I was just wondering how long everyone else went between feeds at this age and when do they start stretching them out more (generally - I know they are all different). Also, should bub be waking at the same time every morning? Up to about 10wks it was 7:30am on the dot; now she is kind of all over the place again (8am, 8:30, 9:30??)

I'm not too concerned as she is sleeping 10hrs at night - Just wanted some input.

Me - 28
DH - 24
Annaleise Kate - 23 April 06
(12wks)

[kymmy]

I have a 8 mth old who likes to feed at least every four hours if not more often.
He has just started eating more solids so that helps.
Routines do change. Maybe due to a growth spurt or teething.
You're right all babies are different.
Enjoy that 10 hours! (boy do I envy you!)

[Funkychicken]

Babies really do vary a lot with their feeding habits. My DS#1 fed 2 hrly for 4 months then began stretching to 3. By 6 months he was feeding 4 hourly. My DD was about 4 hourly from the start and our newest bubba (6 months) still likes to feed about every 3 hours. I tend to offer it to him quite often (last baby, no hurry to wean!).
You will find her sleep patterns will still be a bit erratic for a while. Especially when she has growth spurts. Ususally by 6 months you can predict when they will wake and go to sleep.
It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job with her!:)

[bec79]

A 10 HOUR STRETCH!!!:eek: Boy, do I envy you!!!

DD feed 3 hourly, up until about 3 months, and it just got longer between feeds from there on in. IYKWIM?

[Rainbowbrite]

I've always & still do demand feed & MJ is 14months. She has fed every 3 hours for most of her life & some days still does.

Sorry i'm not much help

[Elijahsmama]

DS was having 6 BF at 3mths and sleeping 11hrs. We cut it down to 4 soon after he started solids at 6mths

[plantain]

I was always annoyed in the beginning... trying to understand what the 'normal' amount of BF'ing is by reading books or internet research... then I came to the realization that they're all different (duh!:)
My DS, was never really a demand feeder.. I think he would have happily gone for quite long stretches without feeding... I was feeding about 7 times in a day until 4 months...I was basing this on his demand/what I'd read/ and the fact that he had been sleeping for about 10-11 hours thru the night from about 2 months... so I thought I should try and fit in enough during the day....he had reflux also... and I think I was feeding him too often which obviously didn't help the reflux at about 3-4 months I was so frustrated with the throwing up I started cutting down on the amount of feeds because sometimes he was fighting me on them as well and I never knew if it was the reflux/ he just didn't want to eat/ teething??? so eventually it was every 2 and half hours then 3 and ...now that he's 8 months and on solids I'm only BFing upon waking, before morning nap, before afternoon nap and before bed... I sometimes offer a little nip around 4ish especially if it's really hot or we've been for a walk just so he has the fluids ... but because as I said he's not too vocal about eating between the usual times... he's only 4 times a day at this point.
It's really hard when you're a first time mum to come to your own conclusions about things and to get the hang of that "you'll just know" feeling that everyone says will happen... I kept looking to outside sources to try and figure stuff out...but eventually, as I said, you realize that your own bub is the best resource guide:)

PLANTAIN
http://plantain.blogspot.com

[Notchalk]

Hi there.

With a baby sleeping through 10 hours without feeding, subsequently feeding every 3 hours is great. I wouldn't expect much longer between feeds for a baby that age, as there still should be at least 6 feeds in 24 hours. If they're not at night, they have to be during the day. The length of each feed will get shorter though as she gets more efficient at feeding, and as there is more to look at ;)

Enjoy the sleep-ins!

Jo