How Old - How Often?

[Seekrit]

I've been copping a bit of flack lately from a few relies about feeding Cobes and how often I do it.

He's exclusively fed and completely on demand and he's sort of worked himself into a 2.5 - 3 hourly routine. But that can go down to hourly if he wants, and he never ever goes over 3 unless it's night time! (bliss!)

And he's 11 weeks old.

SO.. yeah just wondering, how old is your babe and how often do they feed? :) (I'm not looking to routine him at all. I just don't like people questioning me when I'm doing what is best for my baby so I thought this would make an interesting discussion.. heh)

Also, anyone routinely feeding? How often for them?

[Zada]

i think thats fine cos hes sleeing thru. my ds feeds about every 4 hrs but sometimes he might want top ups. during the night hes been going about 7 hrs.
hes 3 weeks today too.

[mama anne]

we are routine-ish

bubs is 5.5 weeks, is fed 2.5-3 hourly during the day (80% of the time she wakes for a feed within this period, the other 20% i wake her after 3 hours) and then at nighttime whenever she wakes hungry but i don't feed her before 2 hours ... nighttime feeds are anything from 3 hourly-5 hourly.
it works for us, i know alot of people are against routines and waking babies but she is happy and alert and thriving so i'm happy!


I've been copping a bit of flack lately from a few relies about feeding Cobes and how often I do it.

we all cop flak from rellies though! my aunty told me i was feeding bella too much and my mum told me that i was hurting her by making her wait 2.5-3 hours from the start of one feed to the next ..... honestly go with your gut. if YOU know your baby is happy it doesnt matter what someone who doesn't know your baby says

[the_queen]

You're doing exactly what I have been doing since Curtis was born, and he's like Cobes, he's worked himself into a good routine of about 3-hourly feeds, cluster feeding in the evening, then only one or two feeds over night (we've had a few nights where it's been more often, but only a few).

But now he's going longer and longer between feeds, and sometimes he won't feed for 5 hours :( I feel rejected :rolleyes: :laughing: I'm a bit odd I guess, I want my baby to feed all the time!!!

Demand feeding is just that - you feed him when he is hungry. You're doing a fabulous job Niki, FABULOUS. And if someone says "you just fed him! why are you feeding him again?" say something snarky like "why are you having that donut, you only just ate!!" :laughing:

(While I do advocate snarkiness, IRL I tend to just smile and ignore them. If they harp on, I make a funny face, stick my fingers in my ears, and go LALALALALALALALA That usually gets the message across)

[Seekrit]

Oh Zarasmum! I'm nearly envious of the 4 hourly feeds, I remember being astounded that the older Cobes got the MORE he wanted to be fed! :laughing: Back many many weeks ago I spent 45 minutes trying to wake him up for that 4 hourly feed.... (meanwhile this kid could have a brass band beside him and he'll sleep through it)

Anne - Good on you! As you say if your bub is happy then so be it! :D When Cobey gets cranky I look at the clock and try to remember his last feed (generally i'll work it out by what I was watching on telly at the time :laughing:) and, depending on when it is and how he's acting I won't feed him... but he tells me when he's hungry if I think he's not! LOL

Queenie - How are you?????? Thank you for your kind words. I sometimes feel quite inadequate and unsure of what I'm doing... which I'm sure all new mummies do. Things like what you said are just wonderful for me to hear. (would you believe my MIL gave me a hug the other day and said I was doing a beautiful job of raising her grandson!)

[shed]

Uuuuuuuuuuumm, now let me think.

uuuuuuuuuuumm, well we are only a week or so behind you and we are doing the same.

If you asked me what "times" bubby feeds I would say...

"uuuuuuuuuumm...." and wouldn't be able to tell you. LOL

Coz I don't actually know. I know he has one in the middle of the nightish most of the time, then its sort of just all dayish, wheneverish.

I keep meaning to write it down so I know what his rhythm is so I can pick a time to start up puppy school again and have him sleep through. But I haven't done that yet. Maybe tomorrow. :D

[Pixie]

Eliza is 6 months old this sunday :D and she feeds around every 2 hours some days she feeds hourly for 10 minutes when people tell me ohh you feed her to often, I ask them if they are thirsty do they wait as they had a drink 20 minutes ago? They usually say "ohh didn't realise it was coz they can get thirsty I thought it was food all the time"

I even let Eliza have a suck to comfort her coz I can!

Follow cobey unless he has problems with it I ended up spacing Eliza's feeds a little as she was a big time chucker-ruper-er and I was OVER IT and it helped heaps and now she is on the 2 hour mark night time she only wakes once for 10 minutes usually.

[*Chels*]

Hi Niki:wave:
Riley is almost 1,and hes been sick for like a month so went off all food,so was on the boob 24/7 (or so it felt) which has actually been good coz it boosted my supply heaps.Anyhoooo...the other day I was away at work for 6 hours and thats the LONGEST he has EVER been without a feed:eek: I was stressing but he was fine.
Im still demand feeding him-sometimes he goes hours without boob,sometimes an hour.
I dont find anyone hassles me now-I had it out with my MIL coz she used to give me **** about it.Like thinking he had colic:rolleyes: and when I tried to feed him she said"The more you feed him,the worse it will get!!!"
and asking me how long I would breastfeed for and I said,we will do a year and take it from there."OH NO,thats too long,I had Mark on a cup at 9 months:ecomcity: "
Now coz of Bubhub,and the fact that Riley is older,I feel much more confident in my parenting and if people hassle me,I tell them where to go!
Well,after that whole novel,I just wanna say that you are doing great-keep doing it and follow your instincts!Stuff everyone else!

[Areca]

DD is 10 months old and is having 5 feeds in a 24 hour period....4 during the day, one in the middle of the night. A couple of months back she was still having 9 (I counted for a couple of days so I could answer the question elsewhere! lol)

So 5 bf's a day and three meals. I am kinda sticking to a bit of a routine here cause we want another baby and bf'ing seems to be prohibitting that but essentially she gets fed when she wants to, we're just now down to 5 feeds. If she's crying and wants to be bf I'm not going to stop her, I just wait until she asks for it now. I'm going to try stopping the middle of the night feed soon....I don't feel like she really needs it but if she doesn't stop easily I'll keep letting her have it.

[FinnsMama]

Finn is 7 months and generally feeds every 1-2 hours day and night :eek: - I'm happy to feed him as often as he likes during the day, but I WISH he'd go a bit longer at night!! The longest he goes between feeds atm is 3 hours, he's a booboholic what can I say?!

My mum did used to hassle me a little bit about feeding him so often, she'd always say "why don't you just stretch him a bit longer, here I'll distract him for a while" but one day I just said "why?" and she didn't really have an answer so never bothered me again ;)

I remember seeing a list of good comebacks (on this or another forum) for when people say "you're not feeding him/her again are you?", but the only one I can remember is "why, do you want to do it?"

Anyways it's great to hear that you have so much confidence in your decisions as a mum, and don't let others get to you :thumbsup:

[kadownie]

Nothing much more to add- except that people who make silly comments about breastfeeding, times, etc- usually don't know much about breastfeeding.

You are doing a fabulous job trusting your mother instincts- after all- you know what your bubby wants and needs- other people don't.

I get comments all the time (I'm still feeding my twins who just turned two) about how I feed- but I don't care anymore- I know my bubs just love their booby- it's so good for them- it's great when they're sick- but they don't really get sick and if they do it's only for a day- booby milk fixes everything!! They are such delightful little creatures (most of the time) and I think feeding has a lot to do with it.

when people comment I ask them what their magic secret is to stop 2 screaming two year old instantly- no one has come up with anything yet!!

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: to you!

[pegasus]

Sorry Seekrit - haven't read any of the posts since page one, just wanted to give you some support.

I had the same issues with my DS - and got sick of everyone's input and suggestions.

In the end the best I did was to keep putting him on the same side until he'd had enough hind milk (about 10 - 15min) and that settled him better. Apparently it's like him getting most of his calories from sugar without complex carbohydrates if he doesn't get enough hindmilk.

I had that many people tell me - I should put him on formula etc. But in all honesty -it was nothing to do with my milk as I've been feeding my daughter the same milk and I've been so lucky that she sleeps so much better and feeds only 5 -6 times a day.

I figure it's an individual thing and bugger anyone else with their opinions. I ended up feeding my son for about 16months. Definitely try putting him on the same side after he pulls himself off though just to make sure he gets enough hind milk - he might need to feel a bit fuller. (anything's worth a try - right?)

[Rainbowbrite]

Sorry to chime in late, but MJ has always, since birth fed every 3 hours or more. Now I can maybe stretch it out but if she's thirsty she wants a drink, thats all there is to it :yes:

Your doing a great job responding to bubs cues :hugs: