Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

4 months and feeding every 3 hours - advice please

17 replies

custard1 · 30/03/2008 18:29

I have a wonderful 4 mth old baby who sleeps through the night without a dream feed, so 7pm-6.30am. She is exclusively breastfed.

Most mums I speak to are feeding there babies every 4 hours, however I feed her every 3 hours and did not know whether I can carry on like this or whether she should be feeding every 4 and I should give it a go.

I am a little confused as it is my first baby. I know I have got into a routine of feeding her every 3. This seems the right amount of time in the morning when she is more hungry, but by her afternoon feeds she could go longer, but then I am worried about how this will disrupt her bedtime feed.

Sorry if I am ranting and the question is silly, but I don't knwo what is normal or right. blush

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

custard1 · 30/03/2008 18:30

Oh and i just tried inserting an embarrassed smiley face and it didn't work, so now I feel silly!!!!

OP posts:

moondog · 30/03/2008 18:30

I think you are doing great.
Ask yourself if you would go 4 hours with nothing to eat or drink.

moondog · 30/03/2008 18:31

And everyone ballses up emoticons {grin]

Original poster

custard1 · 30/03/2008 18:31

Thanks for being so prompt and for being kind.

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 30/03/2008 18:32

3h sounds perfectly normal to me, but really you should be guided by her cues - there's absolutely no reason to make her wait 4h if she's hungry, but, conversely, no reason to force the boob on her every 3h if she's not interested.

Original poster

custard1 · 30/03/2008 18:35

I thought that myself, however she eats like a horse after 3 hours so maybe it is the right amount of time. Thank you

I have a broken foot so I think I have too much time over analyzing!

OP posts:

lilQuidditchKel · 30/03/2008 18:56

I'd also say brill job. Anytime between 3-4 hours depending on your baby's signals sounds right and a bit of wiggle room in your schedule is usually necessary in real life.

when you introduce solids things will change but till then this ought to work.

so that your first sleeps through at such a young age!

Pannacotta · 30/03/2008 18:59

DS2 fed every 2/5 hours at this age!
Just feed her when she is hungry, please dont worry about what anyone else is doing, be guided by your baby, she knows when she is hungry!
And btw DS2 is 10 months and still not sleeping through the night, all babies are different!

Pannacotta · 30/03/2008 19:00

sorry, should read "every 2.5 hours"

PuppyDogTails · 30/03/2008 19:13

IIRC when my DS hit 4 months his feeding rate went up manically, he seemed to be feeding about every 2 hours for a few weeks. He's now nearly 11 months and is a long way from sleeping 7pm-6:30am!

CorrieDale · 30/03/2008 19:13

Just go with the flow. Blimey, if my DCs had slept through at 4 months, I'd have... well, words fail me. I don't know what I'd have done!!!!! (Beware - she may start waking up more when she starts wanting to crawl/walk - this is normal and does not mean you are doing something wrong.)

lokka · 30/03/2008 19:13

DS fed every 3 hours at this age. Normal I think. She's eating loads during the day to get through the night!

Meandmyjoe · 30/03/2008 20:20

Keep doing what you're doing. Breastfed babies often need to feed more often. My ds could only go 2 hours when breastfed and only went 3 hours when formula fed at 3 months. Sounds like you're doing great. DS slept through due to eating loads in the day. My friends babies who fed less often in the day were having to feed a couple of times in the night so if she's sleeping through, leave well alone!

strawberrycalpol · 30/03/2008 20:49

I have a 4 month old who is breast feeding and I just feed him whenever he seems to be hungry - sometimes every hour, more often every 2 - 3hrs. All the women I know from ante natal are now ff and they seem to have the four hour routine, have introduced solids etc. I decided that I was just going to carry on doing what we were happy doing and although I do occasionally feel restricted by breast feeding and would quite like an evening back (DS won't go to sleep till 11ish..) I do remind myself that this isn't forever and while what we're doing is working for us that's all that matters.

ScarletPimpernel1976 · 30/03/2008 21:23

My 6 month old bfs every 3 - 4 hours and wakes once in the night so you're doing great! Lucky you!

mumeeee · 30/03/2008 23:20

3 hours is fine for a 4 month old especially one who is breastfed.Just do what is best for you and your baby, It is very good that she is sleeping through the night.

MadamePlatypus · 30/03/2008 23:28

I think the 4 hour thing is partly because it seems to be true that ff babies can go four hours between feeds, but also because ff babies are less likely to be demand fed - you make up so many bottles to last a day, every bottle is the same, you measure every thing they drink.

Breastfeeding just isn't like that. The milk changes, its available all the time. Its quite different. 3 hourly sounds great, but just go with the flow. (pun not intended).

Flip