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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Anyone know roughly when bf babies start going longer between feeds?

14 replies

MrsMar · 19/12/2007 21:56

I've got a 14 week old ds and he's still feeding every 3-4 hours during the day and about every 5 hours at night. I'm not at all concerned about this, I'm sure it's normal. However my question is this.... I got used to doing long feeds early on, ds is a slow feeder. From birth to about 6 weeks it took 90 mins, from 6 weeks to about 10 weeks it took about an hour, from 10 weeks feeds were taking about 45 mins, but recently they've dropped to about 30 - 35 mins. Now I'm sure all this is because he's getting more efficient at getting the milk out, but what I don't know is is he getting enough to sustain him. Should be going longer between feeds at this point or is he not feeding long enough and that's why he's still only going 3-4 hours?

I hope that makes sense! His weight gain is steady so I'm not concerned about him thriving, he obviously is, but just wondered if he could be going longer if I fed him a bit longer. Thing is I stop feeding him when he drops off or is obviously no longer getting any milk out. Should I leave him on to suckle and hopefully stimulate a bit more let down (sometimes this works, he's sucks a bit more and I get another let down, but not always)

OP posts:

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TinyTimLivesinVictorianSqualor · 19/12/2007 22:01

He is getting better at getting your milk out and your body is getting used to it that's all.

They do the same with bottles, the more they feed the better they get at it.

He is going 3-4 hours because that is how long it takes for him to get hungry again, don't worry, he knows exactly what he wants and how much and you'd soon know if he wasn;t getting it, he'd cry.

If you're happy feeding him that often I really wouldn't worry, besides it's a nice excuse to sit down every few hours for a cuddle.

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5goldrings4MONKEYBIRDs · 19/12/2007 22:50

MrsM

Not convinced you can necessarily expect it to lengthen out much more TBH maybe perhaps a bit longer at night but 3-4 hours with 1 5 hour stretch sounds pretty good for 14 weeks.

My DS3 is now 4 months and does pretty much that and I'd expect it to continue as such based on previous kids until well into weaning... In fact, mine started shortening the gap (not to depress you too much!) a bit again...

If it seems weird, apart from the night time, YOU probably don't go more than 3-4 hours between food or drink either I'd bet...

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JingleyJen · 19/12/2007 22:59

Until DS1 stopped breastfeeding at 10 months we fed 7am 11am 3pm 7pm he stopped needing a midnight top up at 7 months

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mears · 19/12/2007 23:04

3-4 hours is a long spell really - I wouldn't expect him to go longer. Infact if he fed a bit more during the day he might go longer at night.

Let him feed for as long as he wants till he spits the nipple out himself. Wind him, change nappy, and offer him the other side. If he doen't want it that is fine.
Sounds as though he is doing well. Remember that the breast is never empty by the way. The gentle flutter sucking that babies do towards the end of the feed is when they get more fatty milk. Don't take him off then - let him come off on his own. HTH

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MommalovesHerSpanglyXmasName · 19/12/2007 23:09

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MommalovesHerSpanglyXmasName · 19/12/2007 23:11

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WowOoo · 19/12/2007 23:17

Yes, agree with other posts. if he's happy, you're happy. He'll let you know otherwise...don't fret: you're doing so well! I had no clue about timings or whatever..just that he was a happy, cheeky chubster!

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saltcod · 19/12/2007 23:23

Blimey, I remember celebrating the fact that my DS was managing to go 1/2 an hour to an hour between feeds at 3 - 4 months old . He was a real piglet (and comfort feeder!). Your son sounds like a dream

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dal21 · 20/12/2007 09:31

Hi Mrs M - my ds at nearly 15 weeks is feeding every 3-4 hours during the day, so think that is perfectly normal and I still have milk left after feeds, so he is getting plenty.

In your situation - I would keep him on 3-4 hours during the day to ensure he gets majority of his calories during the day and then concentrate on dropping a nightfeed so he starts going longer at night.

I successfully dropped the 3/4am feed when DS was 12 weeks old (goes til 7am after his 10pm dreamfeed). Made sure I took my time over daytime feeds - offered both breasts to ensure he was getting sufficient calories. The length of time it takes to feed during the day has increased, but getting the sleep is a great trade off! Plus I found that the first few days, he drained both breasts after some feeds - but in a few days, my breasts started to make more milk.

I am still amazed at how clever our norks are!

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MrsMar · 20/12/2007 12:15

Hi everybody, thanks for the replies. It's reassuring to know that I'm doing what sounds like the right thing. His weight gain is remaining steady and he's thriving so I'll stick with the 3-4 hour feeds. I'm not quite sure how to drop a night feed Dal. He usually wakes up around 5am and is hungry cos by the time I get him on the boob he's panting and squirming in desperation. Makes me think he's really hungry instead of just getting a bit of comfort. Presumably if he's like that he won't take to me dropping that feed? I used to top him up after his 11pm feed with some ebm but he's stopped taking that, or he'll just take an ounce, which is a shame as i thought that would help him go longer at night.

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mears · 20/12/2007 23:04

I personally think that 14 weeks is too young to be trying to drop night feeds.Dal21 - sounds as though your DS was ready but I think you were lucky. I had one baby who slept through the night at 9 weeks, my third Ds was 8 months. They are all individuals.

Definitely a good plan to get more calories in during the day which might help nights but not necessarily.

I tried dream feeds but they didn't work for me - babies still woke but they are worth a try MrsMar. EWouldn't bother topping up with EBM because babies probably get more milk by directly breastfeeding.

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Dalrymps · 20/12/2007 23:14

Sorry to crash but just wanted to ask a quick question...
Mears - what exactly is a dream feed? i hear people talking about them on here and don't understand...

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mears · 20/12/2007 23:29

A dream feed is when you lift your baby and encourage them to feed whilst almost still sleeping IYSWIM. You might choose to do it at say 10 or 11pm before going to bed. Babies can often be encouraged to feed when half asleep. The theory is that they will sleep through because they won't waken with hunger.

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MrsMar · 21/12/2007 21:16

I do kind of do a dream feed... but as you say he always wakes up. He's asleep for most of it, and just as we're coming to the end his eyes pop open and he's wide awake and grinning at me, bless! Never stops him going back to sleep though, a couple of minutes chattering in his cot and he's back to sleep. If I don't do this feed, and say feed him at about 7pm and put him to bed he wakes at about 1 or 2am. I think you're right mears though that 14 weeks is a bit early for me to be dropping a night feed. He's also quite small for his age, so his tummy's probably no big enough to go through the night. I think 7 hours is his record and he's only done that once. Bit of a fluke I think.