Bottle feeding worries

[mummytoava]

Hi first time on this, just wanted some advice if anyone can help. My baby is 14 weeks old and bottle fed and she seems to have settled into a 3 hour routine she was 8lb born and now weighs 14lb. She loves her food and takes 7 or 8 oz per bottle (overall she is taking about 40 oz per day). I have tried the dream feed at different stages but she always refuses it. She has bottles roughly every 3 hours, her last bottle at 7 and generaly sleeps till 5am then takes 7 oz and back to sleep till about half seven.I really want to delay weaning untill the recomended 6 months so was just wondering if ok to stick with 3 hour routine untill baby 6 months old as if I went to a four hourly routine there wouldnt be enough time in the day to give her all the milk she needs (she already on hungry baby milk).
Thanks for your time x

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Well done for the sleeping through, you seem to be on the same sort of timings as us with a 12 week old, we are feeding him when he wants it rather than any set hours, this does mean sometimes he goes 2 hours between feeds and sometimes longer, we plan to carry on with this, don't get too hung up on having a rigid time between feeds.

[mummytoava]

Cheers for replying, Im trying to relax and just follow what my baby needs (my partner has hid all my baby whisperer and gina ford books as I drove myself mad with them in the early stages!!!) I just cant help but worry as she is on the hungry baby formula (sma white) so not sure if im supposed to try and stretch feeds out a bit longer, my friend warned me about encouraging 'snacking' and that, developmentaly she should be going onto 4 hourly routine to get her used to being awake for longer periods. mind you im not so ure taking 8 oz each time is 'snacking'!

[tiktok]

mummytoava - your friend is talking rubbish, sorry, and undermining you.

You cannot go wrong following your baby's needs. To stretch her feeds out to four hours risks distressing her - and how would it benefit her? There is nothing wrong with having something to eat/drink every three hours - most adults have something more often than that, after all

[mummytoava]

Well yes I certainly do! I just get hung up about what im 'supposed' to do but your right Ava is content so ill have to try and go with the flow bit more. My partner keeps saying, if it aint broke...........

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Listen to your partner, he seems very wise

[AnnVan]

Hmm - force baby to feed every four hours, what an archaic idea, they used to do that in the 40s and 50s when everyone followed the Truby King method.
frankly, Breastfeeding has to be done on a demand basis, I don't see why a bottle fed baby should be constricted by a schedule?

[mummytoava]

to be honest I dont think your comment was either constructive or fair. Im a first time nevous mum just trying to do the best job I can and nobodys perfect. I have never force fed my baby but she has settled,of her own accord, into a roughly 3 hour routine nd I was just concerned I was feeding her too often as she is on hungry baby milk and this takes longer to digest. I think most first time mums seek advice and constuctive coments.

[TheProvincialLady]

I think AnnVan was criticising your friend mummytwoava, rather than you.

It sounds like you have everything sorted and a supportive DP too - and a baby who sleeps well. Your friend is probably jealous!

[munchkinmum]

I generally go with the philosophy that if they are happy, then you must be doing OK! Keep doing what you are doing and trust your instinct - nobody knows your baby better than you do.

[AnnVan]

mummytoava - I was not criticising you but your friend's comments. All I was saying is that you seem to be following what your daughter needs and wants. As this is encouraged in breastfeeding, why should it be any different for bottle feeding? And really I don't see that I said anything offensive there, I could maybe have been a little clearer but jeez. Give another going to be first time mum a break for pete's sake!

[mummytoava]

Sorry AnnVan, misunderstood, feeling bit tired and stressed out, one of those days. Most days think everything going ok and wow im really getting the hang of this, then the hormone monsters get me!
Anyway thanks all for the encouragement. x

[AnnVan]

Tis ok, am a little snappish myself, being overdue, hormonal etc. In a few weeks I'm sure I'll be posting with new mum dilemmas myself.

[erwfran]

hi, just to say that my baby never took to a dream feed, it only served to wake him up uneccesarily. I found that my ds started to wake up when he was hungry after sleeping through, so he is a good indicator - I startd weaning at 5 months i would say to leave it til 6 months then its just a case of feeding him at night as well but that your baby will let you know.