Advice on extending feeding times please

[wemustntpanic]

Hi All
Was just wondering if anyone has tried to extend the time baby has between feeds? My baby is 6.5 weeks old and he has approx 5 oz every 3 hrs like clock work, through the night as well. I worry that sometimes he's not really hungry but just in a routine. Would you try to extend it to every 4hrs and if so how? Increase the amount or just try to spread them out slowly? He's gaining weight well despite reflux and has been taking gaviscon which is really helping.

Night times would be so much easier if he could go just a little longer!

Any advise greatly appreciated

 

[Beccaboop]

At that age my lo was fed every 3 hours 24/7 and by 8 weeks he could go 5 hours at night then by 9 weeks he sttn and didnt need feeding at night at all but has more in the day and is still fed every 3 hours. I think as they get older they decide for themselves that they want to sleep longer between bottles!

 

[kat2504]

I wouldn't try to extend it in the day, I think it's reasonable for baby to want to feed after 3 hours. I don't often go 4 hours with no food or drink so I don't expect a new baby to either.
Nights will get better in time, honest! At 6 weeks unfortunately babies don't really know day from night yet so it is all the same to them. From about 8 weeks they have more of a body clock going on although will almost certainly need some night feeding for a while.

 

[MindUtopia]

Every 3 hours is normal and I wouldn't mess around with it, especially if he has reflux. You'd end up increasing the amount and that may cause the reflux to flare up. Just listen to his cues. If he is still hungry after 5 oz, you could consider feeding him more and he might eat less often. But you also might end up making him sick if he isn't (my daughter gets horrible reflux and projectile vomits if she eats too much). Honestly, every 3 hours at night is doable if you sleep in between. I was still BF at 6 weeks and my daughter was waking every 1-2 hours all night (and day too) and feeding between 30 minutes and 2 hours at a stretch. 2 hour feeds with only an hour break at night is rough! But just make the most of the sleep you do get and tune into your baby's hunger cues. When he's ready to have more or go longer, he'll let you know. If he isn't, it's not worth forcing the issue.

 

[kettle28]

4months usually for 4hr feeds, but, yeh, with a refluxer I'd stay smaller and often as long as you can

 

[Monalissa]

My DD still eats every 3 hours at 6.5 months old! She won't take more than 6 oz at a time right now.