Should I be in a routine with bf yet???

[Tryharder]

DS2 is 14 weeks old and almost exclusively bf - has odd bottle of formula from time to time as a result of a very shaky start to bf (poor latch, thrush etc etc).

However, he still feeds very, very frequently although for only 5 - 15 mins at a time usually and some days he feeds more often than others. I am still spending lots and lots of time feeding. With regard to sleep, at some point in the evening, he will go down for the night but still wakes up about 4 times in the night for a quick feed although usually goes back to sleep fairly quickly. He has no fixed times for naps in the day - some days will sleep loads other days hardly sleeps.

I am sure DS1 was in a routine by this stage. I don't mind the lack of routine really because DS2 just seems to tag along with whatever the rest of us are doing. However, we were talking about routines at my postnatal group and every other mum there except me had their baby in some fantastic routine involving feeds at certain intervals and sleeping through the night. Am I doing something wrong or is my breastmilk just not very filling???

[Tommy]

they are lying

your breastmilk is fabulous and your DS just really likes it

routine - schmoutine

[Tommy]

they are lying

your breastmilk is fabulous and your DS just really likes it

routine - schmoutine

[Tommy]

oops

[moondog]

You are doing nothing wrong.
Breastmilk is light on a baby's stomach and easily digested, unlike formula which sits there for longer.
Frequent feeding means demand is high which produces more milk.

You will probably find that yuor baby will naturaly fall into a loose routine but why impose one? It will probably be the only time in your life that you can go with the flow. People often attempt to establish routines by restricting feeding, This is cruel and extremely unkind.

[gigglewitch]

my ds 2 didn't get a routine till about 9mo, also exclusively bf. i don't think you can be doing anything "wrong" - if you are happy and baby is also happy then chill out and enjoy it. much better than regimented routines and life revolving around baby, if it suits your family life at the moment, go with it.

[Tryharder]

I've always had a "relaxed" parenting style (my mum calls it disorganised, ha ha) so I'm glad to know your DS2 didnt get a routine till later, Gigglewitch.

Ds2 actually slept through the other night from midnight to about 5.00am. He might have even gone longer but I had to wake him up because my left breast was killing me as it was so swollen from the missed feed.

[smartiejake]

dd1 was just like your dc. Demand fed when ever she liked (non stop in the evenings) No routine. Put on loads of weight and was happy (slept really well, really young).

DD2 went into a perfect 4 hour routine quite happily, put on loads of weight and was happy.

THey are all different- go with the flow!