Those not feeding on demand

[hooch]

how do you pacify your baby if they are hungry and its not time for them to feed yet?
My baby is a little and often kind of feeder and would like to start getting him into the routine of feeding every 3 hours.
How did you do this?
He's 6 weeks.
Thanks

 

[shamrockerjo]

6 weeks is very young still and sounds like he's not ready. Maya was eating very randomly at that point but then around 8 weeks she settled into a 3 hour routine herself. So maybe give your baby a bit more time.

 

[OmarsMum]

r u bfing or ffing hun?

 

[hooch]

Sorry, should of said, ff

 

[h mum3]

i have a 5 week old he feeds every 2 hours at the moment im hoping things will settle down in the next few weeks and we can start a routine. you could try a dummy ? or giving cooled boiled water ?

 

[mommyof3co]

At 6wks there is a big growth spurt, they need to eat more often during times like that, I personally don't think you should with hold food if you know they are hungry, a baby knows when it's hungry and no one likes to be made to wait to hit a certain time you know? There is another big growth spurt at 3-4mo old too. I do personally feed on demand, but I know a lot of people that schedule feeds but it's more of a loose schedule, times like these they would feed when needed but do try and aim for example feeds every 3hrs. But even if you feed on demand right now they will set their own schedule, my kids did pretty early minus growth spurts. I personally wouldn't do any water at this age, it doesn't take much to do too much which can be very dangerous

 

[bump_wanted]

ive fed to routine from the begining but in honesty it was Ollie who established the routine so maybe the best way to put it was i was feeding on demand but it happend every 4 hours

the only thing i can think of to stretch them out a wee bit is letting them suck on a dummy but i dont know how that would sit with you xx

 

[hooch]

Thanks for advice and info.
I think I'll leave it for a while then and let him set his own routine. As you say he is still very young and I know how I feel if Im hungry - not happy!
Im trying not to use a dummy at the moment either so not an option.

 

[redpoppy]

I don't know if this is helpful but I fed on demand (first BF then FF) and my LO got herself into a four hour routine by herself.

 

[OmarsMum]

I feed on schedule but only because I dont have a hungry baby & he never cried for food even when he was tiny. If I dont offer him, he wont ask. If u want to feed on schedule, shorten the timing between feeds 1st to 2-2.5 hrs. Once ur LO is draining bottles & can take more per feed, u can start going for 3 hrs, then 4. If ur LO uses a dummy, u can use it when he needs a soothing suck, if it doesnt work, it means he needs to be fed. Babies usually set up their own routine once they'r older. xx

 

[hooch]

I don't know if this is helpful but I fed on demand (first BF then FF) and my LO got herself into a four hour routine by herself. [/QUOTE

At what age did this happen?

 

[mommyof3co]

I would say by 2mo the boys were eating (we nursed my younger 2 and oldest was FF) every 3-4hrs on their own. Then the 3-4mo growth spurt hit and they went to eating sometimes 3-4hrs to sometimes every 1-2hrs even. After that settled they went to probably 4-5hrs between feeds most times.

 

[redpoppy]

I don't know if this is helpful but I fed on demand (first BF then FF) and my LO got herself into a four hour routine by herself. [/QUOTE

At what age did this happen?

Hmmmm... Maybe around 4 months? I know that probably seems like ages away from where you are.

 

[hooch]

I don't know if this is helpful but I fed on demand (first BF then FF) and my LO got herself into a four hour routine by herself. [/QUOTE

At what age did this happen?

Hmmmm... Maybe around 4 months? I know that probably seems like ages away from where you are.

Haha! Yeah it does but I dont mind! Just wasnt sure what I should be doing and if my baby was a "normal" eater!
Thanks

 

[carries]

Its so hard isnt it! My lo is 11 weeks and is only just getting into a 3hr pattern. He has done that by himself though. If it helps I have a friend who feeds on a schedule and has said that she still feeds every three hours at night where as most of my friends who feed on demand find that their babies go a bit longer (Freddie goes 4-5 hours).

There isnt much you can do other than use a dummy or deal with the crying/fussing...good luck!

 

[hooch]

Its so hard isnt it! My lo is 11 weeks and is only just getting into a 3hr pattern. He has done that by himself though. If it helps I have a friend who feeds on a schedule and has said that she still feeds every three hours at night where as most of my friends who feed on demand find that their babies go a bit longer (Freddie goes 4-5 hours).
There isnt much you can do other than use a dummy or deal with the crying/fussing...good luck!

Thats true, mine does go longer at night - last night from 9pm to 3:30am - so I will definately stick to on demand for now and see how he gets on.
Thanks!