Spacing out feeds & sleep

[clarejane]

DS is 14 wks, excl. BF & gaining weight brilliantly. He's feeding about every 3hrs thru the day then going a 5-6hr stretch when he first goes to bed. He has 2/3 long naps during the day. He seems to be starting to naturally space his feeds out longer during the day. If I let him go 4 or more hrs bwn feeds during he day is this likely to disrupt this long stretch of sleep he's just started getting at night? That 5-6 hr stretch has restored my sanity after the first few months of very frequent feeding! Thank you.

Personally I wouldn't let him go more than 3 hours in the day, then let him sleep as much as he wants at night.

He probably needs X number of feeds in 24 hours and can either space them evenly night and day, or you can get as many in as possible between 7am-7pm and hopefully get a baby who sleeps through

That makes complete sense! Thank you, much appreciated :)

its hard to say with BF babies as you dont know how much they're taking. MY DS is now FF and is 12 week he use to feed every 3 hours round the clock but started to drain bottles and want bigger feeds during the day and was only taking a OZ or 2 during the night, i followed his cues and let him go longer then 3 hours during the day is he wanted, no he has a bottle anywhere between 8-9 am 7oz again bewteen 12-1 7oz then between 4-5 7oz and again between 8-9 7oz then sleeps through till 8am. i don't clock watch and do a strict 4 hour rule if hes hungry after 3 hours i feed him, if he naps for longer or is happily awake i wait for his cues. you know your baby best is all trial and error but you may find he drops a day feed and stays on the breast for longer each feed, dont know if this will help but thought id share with you :)

Agree with Rita, I would feed him at least every 3 hours during the day and try to ignore Rita's first statement.

Also agree with Rita.

alfiesmummy - you don't need to know how much a BF baby is taking, that is the whole point. They self-regulate.

Sorry meant alfiemummys first comment. Why would you say that to a bfing mum ffs.

Agree with Rita. I used to wake DS1 in the day for a feed if necessary (exclusively bf until 5.5m), so he never went over 3h. He slept through at night 9pm-6am from 12w (but I was prob just lucky!!). DD2 used to space her feeds a bit more, maybe up to 4h in the day, but she cluster fed all evening, then slept 10-5 from 6w. They are all different, so you have to go with the flow a bit, but I found planning day feeds ahelped a bit, esp with DD2.

Thanks ladies - I'm going to stick with feeding every 3 hrs more or less during the day. Unless he's fast asleep and then maybe he can go a little longer. It helps me to plan my day if I know there's a rough schedule. Thank god we seem to be past the cluster feedinng stage (famous last words). And yes, I have NO IDEA how much he's taking. I just know it's enough because he's thriving - and he's a very clever boy, obvs :)

" I have NO IDEA how much he's taking. I just know it's enough because he's thriving". Fantastic

Sounds like you've got a great plan and your DS has a great Mum.

Thank you! :)