how do you count time between feeds?

[mrskx0x0]

I am trying to make scarlett go 4 hours between feeds because she really should be able to do that at 7 weeks, I don't think it's too cruel. She will only take 3-5 oz in one go though so ends up hungry before the 4 hours!

Question is, am I calculating it right, do you count from the start or the finish? She last ate at 8:15 but it took her until 9:15 to drink it all so her next feed should be 1:15 right.... or is it 12:15?

 

[sunbeam]

if mine take that long to feed i usually take it from the middle of the feed time....hope this helps..

 

[ellie27]

If she starts bottle at 8.15, then I would say next is 12.15.

But, if she seems hungry I would just feed her!!

Why does it take so long for her to drink 3-5 oz bottle?

 

[mrskx0x0]

If she starts bottle at 8.15, then I would say next is 12.15.

But, if she seems hungry I would just feed her!!

Why does it take so long for her to drink 3-5 oz bottle?

I wish I knew! It's always taken her forever HV suggested making her wait between feeds as she only gained 2oz last week and I wasn't able to tell her how much she is taking due to the fact she trickle feeds aaaaaaall day.

 

[mummytobe]

i was told to count when 1st started feeding. Are the teats ok? could that be y she taking so long? x

 

[OmarsMum]

I count frm the starting times. Some times it takes him forever to finish his feed as he stops to coo & talk, sometimes he takes a play break for 15 mins!

 

[mrskx0x0]

i was told to count when 1st started feeding. Are the teats ok? could that be y she taking so long? x

We looked into different teats but we use the Dr Brown's because she has colic and the next size is 3 months +. OH says to get some but I don't know if it would be wise because she has screamed for 12 hours before and am terrified of a repeat performance.

 

[Vicks]

I count from the start time too. Joe has always gone 3 hours between feeds during the day, even now at 6 months he can only sometimes go for any longer than that.

x

 

[minnie83]

I count from the start, Olivia will rarely go longer than 3 or 3.5 hours between feeds. Sometimes she can take an hour to finish a bottle, she falls asleep during it and we have to wait till she wakes up after a few minutes to carry on. MW suggested the next teat size up, but it was too fast for her and she just dribbled it all out

 

[Vici]

I do it from start of bottle to start of next bottle! But saying that, I demand fed Imi sand never tried to get her into a routine of making her wait. She soon did that herself x

 

[Emma1980]

i was told to count when 1st started feeding. Are the teats ok? could that be y she taking so long? x

We looked into different teats but we use the Dr Brown's because she has colic and the next size is 3 months +. OH says to get some but I don't know if it would be wise because she has screamed for 12 hours before and am terrified of a repeat performance.

I had to move Finley to those at 5 weeks, he would scream at the size ones cos it didnt come out quick enough - just give one a try!

And my HV said you should count from the start of the feed

though i just do demand feeding, sometimes he'll go 5 hours, sometimes only 1.5 - if shes hungry i would just feed her hun - she can stock up on milk in the day to sleep longer at night

 

[Mynx]

I also count from the start of a feed
I agree with the teat size thing. The ages on the packets are only a guidline, Evie's been on 3 month + teats since she was about 7 weeks old as it was taking her nearly an hour to finish a feed. She can finish a 6oz bottle in 15 minutes on the 3 month + ones!
I've only ever had Evie wait for a bottle a few times and they've been down to bad timing, and mistaking her hungry cues for being tired lol! The screaming from being hungry is not nice to listen to so it's definately something I couldnt do tbh. I demand feed her..she demands, I feed Even if it has only been an hour since her last one

 

[aimee-lou]

Earl went up a teat size at 6 weeks, then again at 10 weeks! He's been on Fast Flow (which is meant to be 6m+ since then). The age ranges are just a guideline so I'd give it a go. She may also take more in one go as she may be getting tired/bored of trying to get milk out of the bottle if it's too slow, and giving up.

Also, 3-4 hours is the recommendation, so I wouldn't try to push her to 4 hours if she doesn't want to go that long. All babies are different....Earl would only go 2.5 hours between feed (6-8oz in a feed) up until about 3 weeks ago, and I've never tried to push him to go longer. He now goes anywhere from 3.5 hours and I sometimes lose patience waiting for him to get hungry and end up feeding him after 4-5 hours lol. He's done this himself though. I demand feed to an extent though, so it depends what your routine is. I would follow her lead.

 

[mrskx0x0]

I've been feeding on demand but I assumed that most people followed a schedule because that;s what they tried to make me do in the hospital. We had to stay over night because the day she was born she wouldn't even take half an ounce in an hour, not even the staff could make her. They made me wait 3-4 hours in between and sometimes when I would ask after 3 hours they made me wait another hour! I thought that was pretty cruel so have just been giving her what she wants but trying to make her wait I noticed that I use the bottle as a way to get her to sleep which probably isn't a good habit. Maybe I should be more flexible again!

 

[trashit]

i just feed him when he wants feeding, its usually every 2-3 hours so i just say if he starts crying "when did i last feed him, right its food he wants!!"

 

[Dream.A.Dream]

I count from the start too xx

 

[jennifer89]

start of the first feed, to start of the next, but then he takes only about 10-20 mins to drink

xx

 

[suzanne108]

Ditto what everyone says about the teats.

Lola was on size 2 at 2 weeks old!! And that was on my HVs advice. She is on comfort milk though which is slightly thicker.

 

[suzib76]

i have never counted it i just feed her when she needs fed

b ut i would definately agree with tryin next size up teats, Lana switched to next size up at 8 weeks and it has made a huge difference as although she seemed happy on the other ones it was taking her forever to drink her bottle x

 

[Rhiannon]

Rhys goes 4 hours between feeds as he was also taking 3-4 oz every 2 hours in bits and pieces.

It is hard to keep them for 4 hours - but i found that taking him for a walk would help stretch him out for the 4 hours or putting him down to sleep or just playing with him.

He is now taking 5-6 oz per feed and is quite happy to go 4 hours. it does seem cruel initially but it really does help them in the end as they are happier and arent just feeding all day long!