Every 2 hours

**TripleTime** · 12-07-2009 20:26

DD1 has decided she wants to feed every 2 hours, which is fine. we aren't going to let her starve but its doing our heads in & we need sleep

They came home from hospital on 3 hourly feeds but we were having to wake them & force feed which we dont want to do cause we end up wearing it, not a pretty look

Ive changed their formula to Lactose Free due to the 3 of them showing all the signs of being lactose intolerant which as stopped the windy bellies, tummy pains & screaming the house down.

We offer the 3 of them 100mLs every 4 hours but DD1 has decided she'll only have 20-50mL's with her brother & sister. Than have the rest of her bottle in the next 2 hours, all fine & dandy but id like to sleep. I could force feed her but id rather not.

Anyone have any suggestions on how we can get the majority of her feed into her in one hit?
DF is going back to work at the end of next week so ill be on my own for the 6pm & 10pm feeds when he does.

Side note - They were born at 28 weeks & are now 8 weeks actual/36 weeks corrected.

**MissMetal** · 12-07-2009 20:41

no idea sorry, my DS is 5 months & only drinks 80-100mls per feed if that helps, but he is teeny tiny for his age (born at 37 weeks weighing 2.1kg, he is now 5kg at 5 months)
hope it all works out for you

ETA
he STILL feeds every 2.5-3 hourly, always has done.. maybe your DD is just like this too??

**TripleTime** · 12-07-2009 20:50

She weighed 2.1kgs on discharge just over a week ago. Which is the reason i have to get food into her.

**OneCheekyMonkey** · 12-07-2009 21:06

D is still feeding every 2.5-3 hours, he seems to be a snacker.

It sucks, I hear you on the sleep deficit.

**TripleTime** · 12-07-2009 21:16

I cant let her snack though, she uses way to many calories snacking & ends up burning more than she takes in.

**MissMetal** · 12-07-2009 21:18

Originally Posted by TripleTime

She weighed 2.1kgs on discharge just over a week ago. Which is the reason i have to get food into her.

sounds like they are about the same weight for gestational age.. actually your DD would be a tiny bit heavier than my DS at that age

**TripleTime** · 12-07-2009 21:30

They were discharged at 35 weeks, so your DS is older by gestation.

**Sheer Bliss** · 12-07-2009 21:36

Its' a hard place to be hey...let them cry and wait for the next feed so they are hungry, but they waste sooo many calories crying!

Is there anything that settles her easily? Dummy in and dancing with mummy to music? Maybe try indulging her (as much as you can while DP is home) to get her back to sleep after the 2hrs so that she goes back to sleep until the 4hr mark, or maybe just the 3 to start with?

Eli has been snacking lately (although he is 3.8kg now, so I don't need to worry) but i think it's more related to the pain of his hernia than the desire for food, so I have been letting him. It is exhausting, esp at night. You probably still have another kg or so for her to gain before she is 'allowed' to snack??

Will she sleep in the car even if she is hungry? Maybe (while he is home) one of you take her for a drive, or a walk in the pram just before that 2hr mark to try and keep her asleep? I used to pick DD1 up at the slightest cry to try and encourage her to get back to sleep so i could stretch her feeds out longer.

That's all i've got for now...sorry i'm not much help.

**our little treasures** · 12-07-2009 21:37

Originally Posted by TripleTime

I cant let her snack though, she uses way to many calories snacking & ends up burning more than she takes in.

Who has told you this? As they now recommend demand feeding even for bottle fed babies as some are just snackers.

The only thing I would suggest as I do think demand feeding is best. I would suggest stretching it out slightly over the next week. Start by 20 then 40 and so on. Good luck 2 of mine were 24/7 2hrly feeders.