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Original poster

3 week old baby crying in every 2 hours

54 replies

Funnyfits · 04/12/2022 15:34

Hello everyone, I hope someone would be able to help me. I have a 3 week old baby. I breast / formula feed baby in every 3 hours. I keep him on my breast for 25 minutes and then top up with 45 ml formula. So far baby was content and happy but past two days baby is crying, looking for feed. I increased the formula to 60 ml per feed. I am not producing huge amount of milk so I assume baby must be taking 10 - 15 ml max from my breast in every 3 hours. Does my baby need more ? Or is he drinking too much already. Helpppppp

OP posts:
Roundandroundthegarden0 · 04/12/2022 20:59

My baby only went 2 hours between breastfeeds as a absolute maximum until about 5 months, in the early days they cluster feed lots and I would essentially just be breastfeeding all evening at times. This is very normal and your baby will be feeding lots to increase your supply.

FunctionalSkills · 04/12/2022 21:00

Mine was every 2 hours too. But the actual feed time got much shorter.

Murdoch1949 · 04/12/2022 21:00

Demand feed on the breast. Do nothing else, don't wash a cup. Rest or sleep between feeds and drink as much as possible. The more they suck the better and more plentiful your supply. You'll be tired but soon your supply will be satisfying baby for longer.

swissrollisntswiss · 04/12/2022 21:02

It’s just feed feed feed in those first weeks I’m afraid. There’s no schedule and they love to cluster feed at certain times too. I felt like mine was permanently attached to my breast. As others have said, they need to feed for you to produce more. All babies and breasts are different too, mine fed every 1.5hrs until 5 months. He was around the 30th percentile so not a big baby either. They feed because they’re hungry, if they’re not then they won’t take it.

SalviaOfficinalis · 04/12/2022 21:05

Merryoldgoat · 04/12/2022 20:55

Also babies DO want to be carried all the time, how can this surprise you?

Very supportive 🙄
I was definitely surprised when I had a baby and realised they required being attached to me at all times. It was like I’d entered a parallel universe.

But in answer to your follow up post OP, unfortunately it is normal to cluster feed in the first few weeks. It will settle down into a more manageable routine later on, but it’s hard work at first.

Notyetacatlady · 04/12/2022 21:05

You need to keep your baby on your breast for as long as he needs not 25 minutes. That could mean the baby is on and off feeding for hours, which is cluster feeding. Some feeds will take 5 minutes, others will take an hour. Follow the babies lead and cues. Don’t take baby off if he is not ready, you will know as he will come off himself or he will fall asleep and naturally fall off the breast. Keep baby close to you and your breast most of the time even when not feeding and pop him on at the first signs of hunger before he has time to cry. Be prepared to sit on the sofa and feed feed feed this is totally normal at this stage.
babies need to be held and carried most of the time at this age. As long as it’s safe to do so eg your not falling asleep with him in your arms. It’s tiring but babies this age do not sleep on cue or for long. Naps can be short or long and will differ day to day. Unfortunately there is no schedule at this age day or night. Eventually he will feed less and sleep longer but he’s still so tiny. Just make yourself comfy and wait it out. I hope you have support. Oh and yes see a health visitor about tongue tie just incase.

Hello12345678910 · 04/12/2022 21:07

My breastfed baby even now doesn't go 3 hours between feeds. At 3 weeks old it was every every hour to 1.5 hours!

Have a look on kellymom.com - there's a wealth of information for breastfeeding mothers, everything you describe is normal! - though, is there a reason your topping up feeds?? Milk is made but supply and demand

TiredInPerpetuity · 04/12/2022 21:10

My 3 week old ate every 2 hours on the dot (fed on demand but that was schedule she put herself on!). I expressed breast milk so I knew how much she was getting and at 3 weeks she was having 90-100ml per feed. If she drained it, I offered more. Just try more feed and higher frequency and see if it settles them

fairgame84 · 04/12/2022 21:12

He's too young for a schedule. Let him breastfeed as much as he wants. At this age he will feed between 1-3 hourly, he will settle for a sleep when he is content and full. Only offer a bottle top up if he is still hungry but refusing the breast.

My 8 week old still feeds 2-3 hourly day and night, it's exhausting but it's normal. She is breast and formula top up due to previous tongue tie. I have no idea how long she feeds and a vague idea of how much formula she has as I don't watch or count. She putting on weight which is what matters and she will regulate her own feeding.

stuntbubbles · 04/12/2022 21:14

At the risk of “cancel the cheque”: like everyone says, feed on demand!

Don’t time between feeds, don’t time the feeds. Learn your baby’s hunger cues before they cry. Get a little basket or tote bag and keep in it a water bottle, flapjacks, TV remote, phone charger, chocolate, Lansinoh, etc, park yourself on the sofa, and feed and let the baby snooze, feed some more, etc. Watch everything Netflix has ever made. Feed some more.
l

Scotty12 · 04/12/2022 21:17

Sounds normal. I really wouldn’t top up with formula if you want to continue breastfeeding. The supply and demand between you and your baby will just get sorted out naturally. Adding formula messes this up, unless you want to switch to formula feeding instead. Just go with it. Feed the baby when the baby wants food.

Nowthenhere · 04/12/2022 21:26

Your baby cannot tell the time. They have no idea that it's only been two hours or one. Your baby has been in your lovely warm belly for 9 months; feeding when hungry, sleeping when tied and just bonding with you.
Whilst it maybe common, it's not healthy for you to ignore your baby until they cry. They are communicating with you in the only way they know how.
Listen to them.
Hold them, love them and remember soon they will be 3 years old and you will never get this time again with them.
Follow their lead.
Before you get them diagnosed with 'reflux'

pointythings · 04/12/2022 21:49

Newborn babies want to be close to you all the time. I spent the first three months with both of mine carrying them around pretty much the entire time, that's why slings were invented. And I fed on demand too (EBF, was fortunatel enough to have good support and loads of milk).

Allowing baby to BF whenever they want to will increase your supply. Keeping them close will give them a sense of security that will pay off as they get older. It's really normal not to be able to put them down when they are very very little. The books know nothing.

YukoandHiro · 05/12/2022 16:28

Feed every time you hear a peep. Three hours isn't a real thing. If baby is content between feeds it's probably just hunger

LadyLucksters · 06/12/2022 11:49

What pointythings said!

Wnikat · 06/12/2022 11:53

Are they sleeping enough? Might be crying because over tired and looking for breast to suck to aleep

ChristmasTidyings · 06/12/2022 11:53

Don't forget you need to eat and especially drink enough so that you have enough milk!

Plus basically what everyone else said.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 06/12/2022 12:13
  1. At three weeks old, feed on demand for as long as baby wants. Most babies at that age are fed approximately every three hours. However, babies can’t tell the time so it might two hours and then four hours and three hours and fifteen minutes. Follow you baby’s cues and feed on demand.
  2. At three weeks, baby should be getting roughly 750ml of milk every 24 hours at that age, at roughly 90ml per feeding. You don’t know how much baby is getting when breastfed so be willing to give up to 90ml of formula.
  3. A three week old baby may be cluster feeding as part of a growth spurt. That means feeding patterns may change and baby may need much more than usual. Personal example: my DC fed for up to 25 minutes each side and would then have up to 60ml of formula, followed by burping and cuddles, and would then want more milk, possibly just for comfort, about 10ml.
  4. The best way to know if your baby is getting enough milk is by weighing them once a week and checking their weight gain. A Health visitor can do this for you. Newborns should gain weight at approximately 150g+ you per week and stay roughly on the same centile.
BeanieTeen · 07/12/2022 02:05

Is baby really hungry or just want to be carried or suckle on breasts ?

Both no doubt. Nothing wrong with either.

After feeding baby must sleep peacefully for an hour at least but not doing so. :(

Are you reading a parenting handbook published in 1954? Babies ‘must’ do nothing - they are a law unto themselves! And they can’t tell the time. As above, just feed on demand.

Incidentally, I’ve had a knackering day at work and therefore ‘must’ surely sleep like a log through the night… yet here I am, unable to sleep and scrolling on MN… I don’t know why babies are set such high standards when it comes to sleeping and feeding patterns by some when adults struggle with this themselves all the time. Hardly seems fair!

lking679 · 07/12/2022 02:10

Mine just went through a growth spurt at around 3 weeks and fed a lot more than previously!!! Keep feeding with however you can feed baby until settled. I was worried about over feeding and colic but baby was happier full up. Taking 300ml over a couple of hours! And was fine.

mathanxiety · 07/12/2022 02:33

"Baby must sleep for an hour..."

Sadly, babies can't read the rulebooks.

Your baby should be allowed to feed on demand. You can slip a pacifier into her mouth if she falls asleep and seems to be just sucking while sleeping.

Feeding on demand will result in increased supply.

Sugargliderwombat · 07/12/2022 02:44

If it is painful when you feed he might not be getting much breastmilk due to his latch. I am a few weeks ahead of you and midwife also suggested expressing when I topped up with formula so that my supply would keep up. Seemed to work ☺️. But yeah my baby was on the boob constantly for a good few weeks, the midwife said some babies are born skinnier than they want to be and so catch up as quickly as they can by eating, eating, eating. It's really hard but keep going it gets so much easier soon 🤗

MamaFirst · 07/12/2022 03:46

Agree to read up on cluster feeding. You're complicating it by adding in the formula. Ml's in breast milk and formula are not comparative, and you'll be disrupting your milk supply by using the formula. If you are definitely making milk, let baby feed on demand, listen for the swallowing sound and rely on wet nappies to reassure you. Babies will also continue to suckle for comfort sometimes rather than drinking, so pay attention to how it sounds and you can take baby off once they're suckling only.

kiwigeekmum · 07/12/2022 03:58

stuntbubbles · 04/12/2022 21:14

At the risk of “cancel the cheque”: like everyone says, feed on demand!

Don’t time between feeds, don’t time the feeds. Learn your baby’s hunger cues before they cry. Get a little basket or tote bag and keep in it a water bottle, flapjacks, TV remote, phone charger, chocolate, Lansinoh, etc, park yourself on the sofa, and feed and let the baby snooze, feed some more, etc. Watch everything Netflix has ever made. Feed some more.
l

All this.

OP, this is really hard for you right now. I promise you, it all sounds VERY normal and you're doing great. Baby is probably going through a growth spurt and is cluster feeding. It's really difficult at the time but you WILL get through it.

Google some info on baby growth spurts or cluster feeding if you like to know stuff, or forget the books/manuals and just snuggle in with your baby and keep feeding.

MarianneVos · 07/12/2022 04:17

Have you been put on a top up schedule because of weight gain concerns? If so, I don't agree with feed as long as baby wants. I was told to limit to half an hour as more than that it's often non nutrive sucking which can tire the baby out, so give a dummy instead. Have followed this with all 3 DCs and they've gained weight brilliantly.

It's usually at least every 3 hours so do agree with more frequent feeds if baby might be hungry.

Hang on in there, it's tough but this is the worst part and it gets easier as they get older (and can drop top ups).