How do we discourage DD (6 weeks) from grazing during the day (FF)?

[GraceSpeaker]

DD has just had a her 6 week check-up and the GP advised us to try to get her to eat every 3 hours rather than graze over the course of much of the day.

At the moment, we're making up bottles regularly every two hours, which DD doesn't always finish (although sometimes she has a whole one and wants more!). She'll scream for food, then have a little bit, then sleep or lose interest, then want some more a little bit later... and repeat.

Has anyone managed to get their DC into more of a routine at this age? How do we get her to drink her whole bottle (150ml) and then not want more for 3 hours?? Good distraction techniques? Feed her more? She's 11lb 7oz, if that's helpful.

Thanks!

What reason did he give? 3 hours is a very long time for a tiny baby to go between feeds.

I would ignore, if I were you!

Why did the doctor suggest that? Seems weird as babies are supposed to feed on demand.

Just to get her into better habits so that we're not a food factory ALL day, really. She's just had a 90ml feed and fallen asleep, so we'll see how long it takes for her to become hungry again!

She's 6 weeks old- you're supposed to be a food factory! She'll sort herself out- that's what she's programmed to do. As I said- ignore, ignore, ignore.

She's only tiny and has a tiny stomach. I'd give her a few more weeks befoe you start imposing a routine - you may find she has got herself into a routine by then anyway.

Your GP's a dick

She is supposed to "graze" pretty much all the time at this age. You can't and shouldn't get her to take a big feed every three hours.

Can't believe there are GPs out there who give this shit advice!

Ignore. Feeding on demand is exactly what you should be doing and it sounds as though your way of feeding her is just perfect.

Her tummy is small. However the tummy is a muscle. If you start trying to shove more milk in it that she actually asks for then you stretch it, thus making her need more. And more. And more. The theory being that this sort of thing is one of the reasons that bottle fed babies are more likely to be obese in later life as it can override the baby's natural food intake.

As others said, a that age a food factory is what you are however you are feeidng your baby. Either constantly sorting bottles or constantly getting your breasts out! But as she gets a bit bigger she will be taking more of an interest in the world and start to have more defined awake and play periods between feeds and bit by bit she will take bigger, more spaced out feeds.

Gp is an idiot

GP is wrong. Out of interest, how old is this GP?

Thanks for the unanimous responses! GP's late 30s, I'd have thought. She has two girls of her own. Not a medical dinosaur!

We'll carry on doing as we have been, then. DD's just becoming aware of toys and things around her more, so, as you say Indith, that will probably keep her occupied more and more.