Dropping feeds

[CharlieP]

I feed on demand and it seems that my Baby is starting to drop feeds. I have been giving him 8 feeds that are around 3 hours apart...but I think it is going to 4 hours now.

I also tank him in the eves so he gets a feed at 4, 6 and 7...but tonight he didn't want the 6 feed.

I feel really nervous about him dropping the feeds in case he doesn't get enough milk and starts waking more regularly in the night - Over the last few nights he has only had 1 feed in the night which is a real breakthrough for us so don't want to ruin it but obviously can't feed him if he doesn't want it.

When did everyone elses little one's start dropping feeds, and how many did/do they have have 4 months?

Cheers!

 

[loopy loulou]

Hi, I feed on demand too and also 'encourage/force' a feed if I want LO to take more, or if I want to go out etc...

She has about 6 feeds a day, from 6am to 6-7pm, and sleeps all through the night. So to fit in these 6 feeds in 12 hours, she feeds about every 2-3 hours! (Rough times for feeds are 6am, 9am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6:30pm.) She doesn't always cry for food but as she only feeds for about 10 minutes a time, I think if I didn't force some of them she wouldn't get enough to go through the night!

She's 3 and half months..

 

[CharlieP]

Thanks for the reply.

We had the first day of a new feeding routine today which has suited him much better.

He went 3am, 7pm, 11pm, 3pm, 6pm, 7.20pm - so 6 feeds - We'll see how well he sleeps tonight...He always wakes for at least 1 feed so hopefuklly it won't increase past that!

 

[loopy loulou]

That sounds good. Hopefully he'll push that 3am feed later and later until all 6 are during the day!

Good luck with tonight.

 

[CharlieP]

That sounds like heaven! Hopefully one day it will happen - we've gone from 1.30ish to 3am in the last week or so so we're heading in the right direction!!

 

[Oushka]

We still demand feed (tho I occassionally offer prior to a long journey etc) and Isobelle has dropped to about 6/7 feeds a day.
Generally they are around 8am, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm, 11pm (lol - we call the 4pm one her high tea) and maybe one night out of 7 she will wake at 3am, but Ive noticed a pattern with that - she only wakes in the night if we've had a really busy day, if shes met new people or learnt new things. She obviously works up hunger processing it all!

Oh, Belle started dropping some 3am and 6am feeds at 5 weeks but only properly since she was 10 weeks.

 

[CharlieP]

Just bumping this to see if anyone has any advice.

I'm really worried about him not getting enough milk in the day and waking at night...He was waking once but now it is twice (was 3am, now its 11 and 3)

I can't get him to feed any more regularly - he just throws his head away and will not latch on.

Today he has gone: 8am, 11.15am, 3.15pm, 5.15am and I will feed him about 7.30

Should this be enough to get him through the night? On normal form he will also feed around 11ish but this will sometimes be 12-12.30 and then 3ish.

Should I dreamfeed him? Has anyone got any advice about how to get him to sleep longer? He doesn't cry when he wakes but he can't be resettled without a feed (usually has a good feed)... He's a rubbish day napper although I did get a 2.5hour stretch out of him today in his pushchair. He napped for 30 mins at 10am and then 20 mins at 5.45

If its just a case of put up with the night wakings that is cool with me, but just wondering whether there is anything I can do differently...so many other people's babies of the same age seem to be sleeping much better!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[MsEmski]

Mine is a month older than yours and still feeding every two hours... Day AND night!

I believe that babies get much more efficient at feeding as they get older. Perhaps this is why you've had a feed dropped?

If you're worried that they're not feeding enough, monitor nappies to see theyrehaving enough.

Sorry I haven't any better advice than that!

 

[CharlieP]

Thanks Emski - He's defo having enough wet and dirty nappies... I guess I'm just concerned he's going to start waking more regularly - like every 2 hours! (sorry!)...

I'm not sure how you must be coping - I hope your LO gets longer between feeds soon!

xx

 

[tinyme77]

I would try and make the feeds equally spaced and they will appreciate the consistency and you might like to be able to plan your day. You will also grow in confidence knowing how long they can last during the day. If you feed them after a couple of hours they might not be fully hungry and so only take half a feed and then need feeding again two hours later.
I found feeding on demand essential at first but you need a routine after a while. I would dream feed at 11ish and then even if he woke i wouldn't feed him for 3 hours. I would offer water. He's now sleeping from 7 til 6.30 with the occasional bad night.

 

[CharlieP]

Thanks Tiny - I was routinely feeding him every 3 hours but now he is going longer - except in the eve when I feed him more regularly to help him go a bit longer at night as advised by my HV.

I agree routine is important and we did very well on a routine til he started to not want to feed. If I fed him every 4 hours then he would defo not get enough food in him by the time he went to bed.

 

[bumpty]

we are having same problem!! pulling off laughing at me!! shouting ...blowing raspberries on my boob!!! im trying more spaced out feeds today!!