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Infant feeding

How do you time feeds? Bottle feeding

17 replies

sepa · 07/04/2016 21:34

If you time feeds (eg every 4hrs) how do you time them?
Example:
DC starts bottle at 6am and finishes at 6:20.
Would your next feed be 10 or 10:20?

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frangipani13 · 07/04/2016 21:36

I time them from the start of the feed.

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GingerCuddleMonsterThe2nd · 07/04/2016 21:39

I always did start of the feed as DS fed quicker on some than others.

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FuzzyOwl · 07/04/2016 21:42

Also the start of the feed although, when using an app, I often forget to change the start time and DD needs to have finished feeding so I can record the amount she has had.

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Thisismyfirsttime · 07/04/2016 21:45

From start of feed but it depends how old the baby is, formula keeps for 2hrs so dd would sometimes have 3/4 of a bottle and the other 1/4 45mins or so later after a good burp. Until she was 3mths or so we disposed of the milk 30minsish after she'd finished feeding and fed her again 3 hours later unless she seemed to want feeding before which she rarely did. As she got older we kept the unfinished bottle longer and she'd sometimes have a bit and go longer before 'next' feed. She was pfb though!

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/04/2016 21:45

I aim for about 3.5 hours from starting the feed, but as with bf, they let you know when they want it! I find judging what's left more telling to be honest, eg we do 7oz bottles for ds age 6mo but sometimes he'll leave 2-3 oz. Now he's having food as well I've found a sippy cup of water after meals keeps him going a bit longer. Not sure this would work for everyone, but my ds is a total porker and was still feeding every 3 hours round the clock until a few weeks ago!

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sepa · 07/04/2016 22:24

Thank you for your replies. I have always done it from the end of feeds but she seems to want it sooner which is why I asked. I will just start timing from the beginning of feeds now

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DonkeyOaty · 07/04/2016 22:37

here's a link about responsive or "paced" feeding

It's kinda better for baby to be fed per their cues rather than impose a schedule Try not to get too hooked up on timings

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dementedpixie · 07/04/2016 22:39

And depending on age 4 hours is too long between feeds anyway

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sepa · 07/04/2016 22:42

She is 5 weeks old. 4hrs was an example. I tend to go for 3hrs/her cues. She goes longer than 3hrs at night time but this is because she doesn't wake for food like she does in the day

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DonkeyOaty · 07/04/2016 22:44

Awwwww sniff her darling head for us wizened crones please. Mmmmmm new baby

Congratulations!

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sepa · 07/04/2016 22:56

Going by the link DonkeyI think she actually gets more than she should Blush she is roughly 3.62kg so should have roughly 720ml but has had 810 today...

I really do record my feeds as a MW once said we were starving her & at the moment I alternate between 2 different amounts as otherwise she is sick

How do you time feeds? Bottle feeding
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dementedpixie · 07/04/2016 23:18

You are just about at a growth spurt time so her feeds could increase a bit. There is no 'should' btw, just what they want/need. It is a guide not an absolute figure

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sepa · 07/04/2016 23:27

I just get so paranoid about feeding as we have had such differing advice. One MW told us to not feed over 40ml at each feed every 3hrs (at 1 week old) then the MW who said we were starving her on purpose told us it was 90 every 3hrs but then the instructions say different.
She is filling up so is getting the food she needs. I just like checking with others for reassurance I suppose

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DonkeyOaty · 07/04/2016 23:41


Now, bed is thataway ---->
Go get your head down for a bit, sleep when baby sleeps blah blah, yeah?

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MrsJayy · 07/04/2016 23:47

I demand fed my babies so it was usually every 2.5 3 hours ish last baby was 18yrs ago mum was horrified as it wasnt routine if your baby is just tiny i would say feed when they are stirring and look for cues by time dds were 12 weeks or so they were up to 4 hours and time from start of the bottle

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MrsJayy · 07/04/2016 23:49

God im so old it was ounces in my day on zimmer

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DonkeyOaty · 08/04/2016 00:04
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