Feeding every two hours

[bessyboop]

Hi, I would really like some advice on my 12 week year old DD2. I'm feeding her every two hours throughout the day (formula), she's usually in bed by 7pm, I give her a dreamfeed at 10, and she sleeps until 3am (has around 3oz of milk) then back to sleep until 7am. I know I can't complain really.

But I mentioned to the HV today about the two hourly feed during the day, and she told me that I should stop feeding so frequently, and that I should try to be strict and make her wait for her milk so that I stretch her to every three hours... Hmmm! I just can't bear to hear a little baby scream for food. My gut instinct says that I should ignore her advice ...

What do you think? Has anybody else had any experience of this kind? She's such a content little girl, I dont want to spoil that for the sake of feeding every 3 to 4 hours.

But is she in a habit of feeding every 2 hours? Shall I switch to a hungrier baby formula? She's a healthy 13oz by the way.

I'd be greatful for any advice :-)

[Habbibu]

Oh, ffs. Habit, schmabit. And strict? With a baby so young you still count her age in weeks?

Nod and smile, watch your baby and do what you think she needs. How many adults/5 yo are still drinking bottles of milk every 2 hours?...

[nickypomtimes]

sounds utterly normal! good in fact.

she is clever enoughh to eat lots in the day so you get to sleep lots at night!

ds1 was ffed abd was 2 hrly in the day till about 4 mths, then 3 hrly.

advice is to feed on demand regardless of feeding mode.

[Haliborange]

My DD1 fed every 2-2.5 hours through the day until she was 6 months (and onto solids). It was fine - she tanked up in the day and then slept well at night.
Sounds like you are both doing great to me!

[bessyboop]

Thanks for your replies! Good to hear its normal - the HV made me feel like I should be guilty for feeding my little one so often during the day - and that I'll be feeding like this for a long time, and that i will have no life! I just wondered if it was actually normal.
I'll carry on then, until my little baby tells me to change her routine! No point in changing formula then, to the hungrier baby one?

[Haliborange]

I wouldn't switch.
If you were breastfeeding you couldn't make any change - you'd just feed her as and when she wanted it. I don't see why ff should be different if you are both happy and she is sleeping a reasonable amount (which she is).

[bessyboop]

Thanks Haliborange - good advice. :-)

[MoonUnitAlpha]

Hungry baby milk is a load of rubbish imo - it has no extra calories, it just forms indigestible lumps in their stomachs making them feel full

Just feed your baby to her appetite, ignore the HV.