Calling all breast feeding mums of 6 months and over!!

[SueH17]

A quick question please! How did you get your LO into a routine of feeding (spaced say every 3 hours) or didn't you bother and did you instead carry on feeding on demand??
My HV and mum says that I should space feeds for my 7 month old every 2 hours and gradually work up to 4 hour gaps. He feeds on demand and always has and his feeds are generally every 1-2 hours. I can't persuade him otherwise as he screams until he is fed - and rightly so as how can I expect him to go hungry/thirsty just for the sake of getting a routine in place? I have started weaning and he is happy to take a couple or 3 teaspoons of whatever I give him, but soon gets fed up and just screams until I give in and b/f!
Thanks in advance
xxx

I have found that I had lots of comment from about 9 months that pretty much stopped at 1 year when everyone realised I wasn't going to just stop. If I'm honest I would like to stop now, or at least just have the night time feed or the morning one. Ds4 is not happy with that idea though

My little man is nearly 8 months and he feeds on demand. I'm not really a routine kind of person, he does kind of follow his own little pattern every day though and mostly only feeds at nap and bed times. He feeds less when we are out and about as he is distracted. Unless you want a routine I don't think there's any other benefits. Sounds like your doing great :)

Hi HavanaSlife
I know exactly how you feel about the comments about b/f'ing. It is much easier knowing I only have the one DS - can't imagine what it must be like having 4. How do you do it?! If I am to have another one, I will have to get a move on due to my age.
My DS has had a bad couple of days as he fell over yesterday flat on his face and hasn't been happy since, bless him! He won't eat much solids and only wants to nurse. Also I'm really worried that he hasn't had a poo for 5 days now. I wonder if he is constipated but he doesn't seem to be in any pain.

Hi meggy22
The pattern you have for your DS is exactly what mine is for mine! He feeds at naps and bed time more than usual. The rest of the time he snacks and he certainly feeds less when we are out and he gets distracted. Thanks for saying I'm doing great! :)

Hi Custardfromatin. Love the name! Yes he does feed a lot out of habit and for comfort. I think if I had more than the one, I would be like you in that I just wouldn't have the time to be permanently nursing him - at this rate he will end up spoiled!! Not sure if I'll have any more due to my 'advanced maternal age' (what they call it on the green notes)
Thanks for the msg

Hi eagle2010
Thanks for the msg. So you also get the third degree from friends/family! You really feel that you have to justify everything you do! I was never prepared for it when I was pregnant. I just didn't know what I had coming until he arrived. The thing I can't believe is how different HV's have different advice they give. You'd think they would all be singing from the same hymn sheet! I did actually say to one of them what you and tiktok said that why should babies be expected to go without food and drink for 3/4 hours when we wouldn't!! Crazy!

Hi Time2beme,
I was interested to read that you plan to continue to b/f until 2-3 yrs old. Good for you!! I've been informed that up to 12 months is more than enough, so I said that the WHO recommends to continue for up to 2 years or longer and the person wasn't impressed and thought I was making it up! It is ridiculous the amount of people who think they know better when they have never even b/f'd in their lives!!
Thanks for your msg.

Hi ExBrightonBell,
Thanks for the msg. You're right about it being really handy b/f'ing for the 1st year and then going straight onto sippy cups of cow's milk. I wonder why my friend is going to go on to follow-on milk when she could use cow's milk at 1 year. I suppose it has added vitamins etc.
Good point about feeding on demand being useful for them to know their appetites in future

Hi fledermaus
Today I actually quoted you to my mum - hope you don't mind :) I said that b/f'ing is not just about hunger, but is much more than that - as you say in your msg. She actually seemed to agree! It is so true though and I think if you never have breast fed a baby, then you wouldn't know. I think the decision to b/f my DS is one of the best decisions I have ever made. It really helped me to bond with him after a very difficult and traumatic birth. I stuck at it and it is paying dividends now

my baby is just above 7 months now and i still breast feed on demand he has solids at meal times but i never space them i figure it works for us both i did the same with my other 2 children