11 week old - should I be doing smething different?

[ladymoo]

My 11 week old ds is on a rough 4 hourly feeding routine which seemed to suit him well for while. However he now cries approx 2-2.5hours after feeding but will fall asleep (in arms) 1/2 before his next feed is due. Is he hungry when he cries? He normally has a play for about 1/2 after feeding & then MIGHT sleep for about 1/2 hour until he wakes up crying wanting to be held. Should i be feeding him more frequently? Or having a more structured nap time? Oh tis so difficult! Just when I think I am doing it right he changes & i doubt all my decisions!!

ladymoo - first of all, relax!i am sure i sounded like you at this stage, had been reading too many flipping routine books (which had great points but i think made me feel a failure when things weren't "going to plan") - you need to remember that your LO will have growth spurts and may therefore have a few days here and there when he needs feeding more frequently. I would say just go with the flow a bit more, don't panic and remember too that your LO is constantly growing and changing so that what works for a few weeks will not work forever (which is a pity!). Sounds like you are doing great, enjoy your little one while he is little and cuddley, it doesn't last long..

aaah thank you - it is those darn books!! I regret it every time I pick one up!

Hello, I too can just reitterate - never read those damn books they just seem to make mums feel bad. I'd feed on demand - if you are breastfeeding, not sure how it works for bottle babies. See if you baby has trapped wind or a dirty nappy, then sit down and just cuddle, and if he falls asleep in your arms, well, whats wrong with that?

bless you, i remember my ds being about 5 days old and sitting desperately trying to memorise the routine featured in one of the better known routine guides... feel quite sad in retrospect as i am sure my instincts would have got me there, but it was useful reading - you just need to trust yourself too. My ds is 14 mo now and having been a superb sleeper til he was 9 mo he has been pretty awful since - for a while i beat myself up but am much more chilled now. i still feel very clueless but have realized that dh, ds and i are just learning together and finding our own way! All the best to you

Hi Ladymoo,
This sounds so familiar to me too I am constantly regretting every decision I make. My DS is 9 weeks old and just when I think I've sussed him out he goes and does something completely different the following day. I have been trying to feed on demand but the trouble is that sometimes I don't think he is quite sure what he wants because he when I offer him food when he's crying he will almost always take it so it can be quite difficult to know when he's finished. I have also had the situation where he has fallen asleep around 2 1/2 hours after feeding then has slept for another 2 1/2 hours. I was panicking to say the least and spent most of the time looking at him in his moses basket thinking surely he's going to wake up any moment and want food. (What a waste of time!!) Do you mind me asking how long your ds sleeps for during the day?