What would be a good feeding schedule for a 7 week old?

[aamia]

DS keeps trying to go for longer periods of time between feeds, but this is causing him to not gain enough weight. So - what sort of interval between feeds would be right? He's bf. I did have him on two and a half hour intervals. He seems to want to do three and a half hourly...

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

I don't know, I just used to feed mine when they asked iyswim...I didn't ever really time it?

Sorry, don't know what to suggest - do you think he has any other issues going on that would make him not want to feed? How do you know he doesn't want it - does he get upset when you try and feed him?

[tiktok]

aamia - there's no real answer to this :)

Obv you need to feed often enough for him to gain weight sufficiently well. I think you had probs at the start, did you not, and you worked back to full bf?

Most bf babies of this age would be feeding a lot - with periods of being on and off the breast as 'cluster feeds'.

If you keep him close to you when he is awake and asleep you will spot more feeding cues.

Does that help at all?

[bubbles1231]

Can't time it. The feeding intervals will change. I fed mine each time they cried at that age. sometimes it was 2+ hours, other times I felt like I was a permanent milk dispenser- it was easier just to give in to it, put my feet up and allow them to feed!

[Bert2e]

If he's not gaining much weight I'd go for feeding 2hrly in the day and when he wants at night.

[aamia]

Yes we did have tt problems and a lot of topping up at the start. Thing is, I got him into a routine and he he used to cry or start rooting etc every two and a half hours on the dot. Now it's every three and a half. We have the odd episode of feeding hourly, but not every day or always at the same time of day either. One of my friends says her kids were always hungry about every three and a half hours, but I bet she's remembering them as older babies with that bigger time interval. MW says feed on demand, but that's not working in terms of weight gain. Am I not getting enough into him at each feed? I offer both boobs until he's no longer willing to suck on them or my finger...

[needsadviceplease]

What happens if you offer between feeds?

[Mobly]

Agree with bert2e, try and let him go no longer than every 2hrs during day. Change nappy, bath etc to wake him up if he doesn't seem to want to feed.

[Beans1977]

My DD#1 is 7 weeks old. I am EBF and we seem to be tracking the 50th percentile so I guess she is putting on weight appropriately. We (generally) feed around 3am, 6.30am, 9am, 11am, 2pm (she likes a long nap after the 10.30am), 3.30pm, 5.30pm and then about 8.30/9pm. This means she does go about 6 hrs between feeds from her last one of the day to the first one of the next overnight. At each feed I try and get her to take both boobs for about 15 mins each.

[Shybairns]

Are you certain he is draining the first breast before you move on to the second? You may be producing alot of the watery first milk. Some women have to express for a minute or so before the breast feed in order that the baby get the fatty milk. Then you give the watery milk in a bottle if necessary. Bit of a faff mind.

[tiktok]

Shybairns, none of that will help, really, and what a faff, yes :)

No one needs to 'drain' the first breast before moving on to the second - it's not even possible. There is no need to express off the first milk, at least I can't think of any situation where this would be a good idea :(

[SamSmalaidh]

I'd aim for every 2-2.5 hours in the day, and 4 at night.

[KatAndKit]

Are you sure the weight gain is a problem. Babies don't always follow the chart in the back of the red book, they are all different. Unless your baby has already dropped through 2 centile spaces then there is not necessarily a cause for concern - some gain faster than others.