14 weeks and still feeding every two hours?

10 replies

YouTry · 27/02/2011 20:03

My FF DD is now 14 weeks. She has always fed every two hours (even less when very young) through the day but at the moment is sleeping through the night 7 til 6ish. Other babies only seem to feed every 3-4 hours! Am I over-feeding her or should I just continue to feed on demand? Any idea when there will start to be longer between feeds, as it can be quite restrictive? Thanks!

OP posts:

NinkyNonker · 27/02/2011 20:06

Not sure to be honest (sorry, useless post). Dd is breast fed and fed 2 hourly (apart from at night, most of the time) until she started on food at 6 months. She doesn't eat a huge amount (doing baby led weaning) but it has made a difference most days.

RitaMorgan · 27/02/2011 20:13

How much does she have total in 24 hours? Maybe she's just a little and often feeder.

Original poster

YouTry · 27/02/2011 20:44

She has 5 lots of 6-7 oz plus a 3oz top us before bed- so around 39-45 oz depending on the day- that seems like a lot!

OP posts:

RitaMorgan · 27/02/2011 20:51

Is she a big baby? A rough rule of thumb is to times her weight in pounds by 2.5 to get the number of oz formula a day. So that amount of formula suggests a 16-17lb baby.

Original poster

YouTry · 27/02/2011 20:55

She's in the 98th centile, I'm not sure of her weight but 4 weeks ago she was 14lb 7! So it sounds like she's having what she needs for a big size!

OP posts:

doricpatter · 27/02/2011 20:58

I have no idea about volumes but surely for a baby so little to be sleeping all night they have to feed very frequently during the day in order to get enough calories? Most babies at that age would be having night feeds - so the daytime frequency might be restrictive for you, but I know what I'd choose!

PenguinArmy · 27/02/2011 21:15

all sounds dandy to me.

relax, carry on and enjoy the sleeping baby.

Even as adults we're told little and often is better than 3 massive meals

Original poster

YouTry · 27/02/2011 21:34

Thanks all. Yes, I am very lucky with night times and I'm not complaining! I just wondered if I am feeding her too much, but I guess it makes sense for her to need the calories!

OP posts:

RitaMorgan · 27/02/2011 21:46

You could always try offering her dummy if you don't already - babies need to suck, and while breastfed babies can suck at the breast without getting much milk it isn't easy to bottle fed babies to suck without doing so. This can sometimes lead to overfeeding. Your dd will soon make it obvious if she wants to eat rather than just suck though!

Curlysoo · 27/02/2011 21:58

Hi there, I have only just dipped-in to this conversation but I would urge you please not to believe the hype. If she's in the 98th centile and it sounds as if she's feeding well. If she's exclusively breastfed then I would urge you even more so not to worry about it, your baby and your body know what's going on so go with the flow.
My little guy followed the 90th centile for a good long time and he wanted to be fed ever hour and a half (he was exclusively breasted) even up to six months of age. Babies don't come with instruction manuals as we're often told so as long as there is no dramatic change in the centile that she is following I don't think it's possible to overfeed. I am sure that she is fabulous and only on the 98th centile because she is big boned .

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