'he should be going much longer than 2 hours between feeds' is what i keep getting told, my ds is 9wk's and b'fed. Should he be?

[papaya]

he was 8lb8 at birth and at nine weeks he is now 15lb1ou. He is a v long baby. I have NO issues feeding him every 2 hours, I have come to accept it, the odd time he may go 2 and a half hours. He still wakes 3-4 hourly at night at well. I dont care, in fact i function well on lack of sleep and i like to be reminded during the night he is there and wants to feed from me. I have no issues with his feeding pattern until comments from friends, some family members and some strangers raise there eyebrows at the 2hourly feeds, and the fact he still wakes frequetnly during the night...
"oh i couldn't be doing with that...." is what someone said today!!
DS is such a good boy,and comments are beggining to annoy me, but I dont know what to say back. Its the 1st time i have successfully b'fed, does 2 hourly seem too much? I am now questioning whether he maybe should be gong longer? Deep down i don't think it should matter at this age should it??

[cmotdibbler]

Ask them if they go more than 2 hours without anything to eat or drink - bet they don't !

At his age, its perfectly normal to feed that often, and if you aren't worried, then everyone else can push off

[Thomcat]

Bollocks to everyone else, he's 9 weeks old fgs. Carry on trusting your instincts. He's happy, your happy, every 2 hours is just what some babies like. My DD3 fed every 2 hours 24 hours a day for months. So what. She's now 8 months, goes through the night and has found her own fab routine, in her own way etc etc.

Keep smiling and keep at it, it's all good

[thisisyesterday]

no, he is completely normal! only he knows when he is hungry, or needs comfort, not random strangers.
makes me so angry when people make ridiculous comments like that. grrr

my 7 month old still feeds at LEAST every 2 hrs.
unfortuantely, unlike you, I do not do well on lack of sleep lol

[BlueDragonfly]

ds3 is 10.5 weeks and only just starting to go longer than 2 hours. he went 2 and a half yesterday

[gigglewitch]

Ignore 'em, you're doing the right thing!!!
And good on ya for doing it. Enjoy it while you can and tell the interfering rellies to mind their own. As you point out, he's a big chap, a good weight and isn't going to be binge-eating or anything. Breast milk is the perfect nutrition for your baby, so he will digest it efficiently, and let you know when he needs a bit more.
Ask the ladies who comment if they'd like it if they are not allowed to have anything to eat or drink for at least four hours at a time... see if they change their minds.
It sorted them out for me

[PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife]

Papaya, my ds did every two hours, 24/7, til he was something like 5m!! It's just how some of them are. Just like I need to eat constantly regularly, and my dh can go 5-6 hours without a snack! Just go with what your ds needs, he'll grow out of it

[StealthPolarBear]

If it's not a problem for either of you then it's not a problem! Sounds as though he is thriving on it!
My DS fed every 2 hours during the day (nights were much better) until about 7 months, then a switch was thrown and he suddenly cut right down. Didn't really start eating mroe solid food either - weird. Of course he's recently been ill so back to feeding every hour or so when I'm around and all night from about midnight to six. I am a zombie but a fairly happy one

[policywonk]

Blimey, both of mine bf-ed roughly every 13 seconds for the first few months. Every two hours sounds very restrained in comparison!

Ignore the comments if you can - or refer people to the information on this page. It sounds as though you're doing brilliantly.

[StealthPolarBear]

[BlueDragonfly]

sorry, i had no advice lol! Just wanted to tell you that you weren't the only one

[Racers]

Mine is same age though lighter. 2-3 hourly also (at night also). You're right, they're young, it will change. No-one else's business/worry. Sorry if to the point, am on mobile device (while breastfeeding :-) )

[Pannacotta]

Is totally normal, both DS1 and DS2 (both 9 lb at birth) fed loads, at least every 2 hours for the first few months and almost as much at night.
Ignore unhelpful comments, lots of people like to comment on breastfeeding habits, was never sure why, I found the best way to cope was simply ignore such comments and just get on with doing things the way which suited us.

[LavenderMist]

Sounds like you're doing brilliantly, and this sounds perfectly normal to me. Your ds doesn't know that he should be going for 2 hours between feeds -he just knows when he feels hungry and when he feels full. He would make my ds look tiny -he was 8lb2 at birth and only hit 15lb by 24 weeks!
If you and your baby are happy that's what matters, ignore anyone (especially strangers, how can they possibly know more about your ds than you?) trying to undermine your lovely bf relationship.

[harpomarx]

people are bonkers aren't they!

of course he shouldn't be going longer - he lets you know when he wants to feed (or be comforted, or have a drink cos that's what it is sometimes) and you feed him. Two hours sounds absolutely normal for that age and I'm sure mine was often feeding more frequently than that.

i take it the family members, friends and strangers(?!) who tell you this are not breastfeeding themselves?

have you got a breastfeeding support group near you, it's good to be around people who are doing the same as you just so you can see you are normal! I

[MamaMaiasaura]

papaya - just echoing other posts. Sounds perfectly normal to me and your sentiment of it shouldnt matter (sounds like instinct) sounds spot on. Ignore all those busy bodies and enjoys him

[StealthPolarBear]

harpomarx is right- my MW gave me some really good advice, sometimes he wants a huge meal, sometimes a snack, sometimes a cup of tea and sometimes just a milky cuddle. You wouldn't expect all these to happen at routine intervals!

[Racers]

oh yes the average times are for 'meals' -snacks available anytime after all most of us like the odd snack or sip of drink. People do like to make a big deal about this sort of thing even if you're not concerned or complaining. Keeps them busy ;-)

[StealthPolarBear]

You just wait until he's 6m and 1 day - you'll then need to let everyone know

a) whether you are still feeding
b) when you plan to stop
c) whether you are giving him food as well

[OldieButGoldie]

My DS is 9 weeks too and feeding at least every 2 hours. People don't pass comment when I tell them this as I give them "the look" in advance to warn them off

Papaya - you thrive on little sleep, please do tell us your secret!

[TinkerbellesMum]

He SHOULD be doing what he IS doing.

We're far too into standardising our babies as a culture and it's ridiculous.

The whole sleeping through the night thing amuses me because officially it means four straight hours, not 12! So if he's going about four hours you can confidently say to people he is sleeping through the night.

[TinkerbellesMum]

Yes, that's my point.

[weasle]

Papaya, I have posted the same when my ds was 3 months. Everyone seems to think all babies should fit a schedule/routine, when actually, that is the exepting imho. Esp mothers/MIL generation. My MIL thought it terrible my then 3mo fed more than 4 times a day

Someone on here pointed out to me that babies have been bf for longer than humans have clocks, so listen to your baby and body. I think that is a great way of thinking about it.

You are doing great.

[SofiaAmes]

So silly what people are telling you. Everybody is different and every baby is different. My ds (exclusively bf) fed every 2 hours for the first 6 months. At 6 months I started solids, did cc and put him in his own bed/room all in one week. He started sleeping through the night almost immediately and has been a great sleeper every since. He is now 7 and is still a wonderful sleeper and eater (eats absolutely everything). Dd fed every 4 or 5 hours from birth and never did get the hang of sleeping through the night. Now she's 5 and still wakes up in the night several times a week. And would be the pickiest eater if I let her. Go with what works for you. And enjoy the ease of bfing.