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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

How long did you continue to completely demand feed your baby?

35 replies

zazas · 19/07/2007 00:19

Other bf Mothers told me today that they feed on schedule every 3 or 4 hours (babies around 3 month mark) and were suprised when I say I don't really have pattern! I feed completely on demand. Obviously in the morning and at night but even then they might just be a quick comfort suck I honestly can't say what time DD will feed during the day, how long for and how long it will be until her next one - although I will know she can go happily 3 hours at a time during day and up to 7 at night.

Please tell me I am not the only one who feeds like this. I just have not given it much thought so far - just gone with it, so was suprised to listen to others with such established schedules!

OP posts:

DangerousBeans · 19/07/2007 00:21

I can't remember stopping, tbh.
I certainly wasn't a conscious decision.
I fully subscribe to the 'if it works for you and everyone manages to get some sleep, you're doing really well' school of parenting.

UCM · 19/07/2007 00:21

My DD will be 6 months old next week and she still has a bottle EVERY 3 hours. Obviously she likes to be fed like this. She does go from 11pm til 5am though. I have absolutely no problem with this.

Gingerbear · 19/07/2007 00:23

Till my norks hung low and I could tie them in a bow, I could thrw them over my shoulder like a regimented soldier, till my norks hung low-dee-o-dee-o.

chipkid · 19/07/2007 00:27

depends on what you are prepared to do. Both my children were bottle fed-breastfeeding not an option here. My children fell into a routine by themselves-ds was sleeping through from 3 months and dd from 5 months. They both fed heavily during the day and then they slept all night-something I was more than happy to encourage. Not suer I would ever have felt happy to enforce a routine on them.

weasleymum · 19/07/2007 00:28

dd2 is 13 months old and no schedule in sight!

I think letting babies regulate their own appetites is a fab idea.

Original poster

zazas · 19/07/2007 00:29

Well I guess it is working for us so far. Might actually notice what times I do feed tomorrow - maybe there is a pattern?? I was just stumped today when I was asked when is her next feed due and I just had no idea !!!

OP posts:

pooter · 19/07/2007 00:29

Hi Zazas,
I have absolutely no schedule at all and never have done. My lovely little boy is 5 and a half months now and i just offer him a boob if i think he could be hungry or if hes gone a while without showing signs of wanting it. sometimes he feeds for ages, sometimes just a quick suck - and today - he made a cheeky little face at me, big grin, opened wide, and made a 'popping' noise by sucking and letting go, then giggled at me!! Anyway - just thought i'd let you know you are not alone. When my friends say 'oh hes due a feed' or 'we're cutting down one feed a day now' i think 'what the hell are you talking about!!!' I couldnt even guess at how many feeds he has per day. If he wants it he gets it. We co-sleep and my husband has told me that my ds (i dont actually like those abbreviations, so i'll say 'son') sometimes wiggles up to me for a feed and i stay asleep!! Fantastic in my opinion.

RuthChan · 19/07/2007 01:17

My DD is 8 months old and exclusively breast fed.
She has always been fed on demand and we are both really happy with that. She drinks for anything between 10 seconds and an hour and half depending.
I believe that bottle fed babies need a schedule, but that breast fed don't because they'll never over feed. They drink a little if they're thirsty and more when they're hungry.
Apparently it also helps them to regulate how much they eat once they're weaned too.

katelyle · 19/07/2007 01:33

I demand fed until dd was about 13 months. Then I began to suggest alternatives if she wanted to be fed during the day (apart from first and last things) but I still fed her if she was insistent. Then when she became fully verbal at about 19/20 months, I resisted feeding her unless she was undestractable dureing the day. we went on with occasional daytime feeds, first thing and last thing and in the night if necessary until she was 3 and suddenly said one morning "I don't want milky any more" And she didn't!

Tapster · 19/07/2007 08:01

Had absolutely no schedule until 7 months old - demand fed until then, EBF. DD was very slow to take to solids so I decided to try and limit BF to a rough schedule but if she wanted feeding in between she would of course be fed. She really wasn't demanding to be fed, started to get distracted by playing. However, it didn't help her increase her intake of solids (she is very round so not worried). Now at 8 months I feed morning, post lunch and then at bedtime and give a solids snack at 3pmish. When she is upset or just starts biting my shoulder or headbutting my boobs I feed her in between but its rare.

Up to 6 months she often fed every 1.5hours, even sometimes at night. It passes, relax. I have a very happy, secure and non clingy baby and I think demand feeding helped achieve that.

terramum · 19/07/2007 11:30

DS has always fed on demand & still does at age 3...don't see the point in scheduled feeding at any age. All it does is increase the likelihood of obesity by interfering with your ability to regulate your appetite, tell when you are full etc.

yawningmonster · 19/07/2007 12:00

ds fell into his own pattern but started encouraging other food and distracting him at about 13months as his natural pattern was every 2 hours day and night and I was nackered after a year of that.

lyra41 · 19/07/2007 12:20

Just finished demand feeding and ds is 18 months. Thinking of cutting down to just morning feed, but not sure when. It would be so handy if someone else could put him to bed.

mawbroon · 19/07/2007 13:15

DS is 21 months and still gets fed if he signs "milk" or pulls my top.

LUCIA22 · 19/07/2007 19:08

I know exactly how you feel, I am a first timer and thought I must be doing something wrong when other mothers were talking about schedules at 8 weeks and we still dont have one at 11 weeks. I think I might start keeping a note of when and how long DD feeds during the day to see if there is a pattern. I dont want to impose anything on her and feel that she will establish her own routine in time. I cant see how you can tell a tiny baby when and how much to eat. I have never denied her a feed when she asks for it, even if sometimes I think it is just for comfort, and have a very content baby who is weighs exactly what she should and sleeps very well at night and we are all relaxed and happy.

Difers · 19/07/2007 20:55

Zazas - Don't worry, We never had a pattern, patterns are for nannys and to sell books and everyone gets obsessed with them. Still don't have a pattern at 18 months.

moondog · 19/07/2007 20:57

No pattern.B/fed them as and when they felt like it (when i was around)
I have no set schedule for meals,drinks and snacks.
Why should a baby be any different??

FirenzeandZooey · 19/07/2007 21:00

I fed on demand until ds was about 2 years old

he was then capaple of being distracted for a while without getting upset

we never had a pattern until then - every day was different

please don't worry

weasleymum · 19/07/2007 22:07

Actually, now I think of it, dd1 is nearly 3 and we still don't really have a routine. We do the same things every day wrt to eating and sleeping, but the times vary according to how hungry/tired she is.

ChasingSquirrels · 19/07/2007 22:15

somewhere between 12 and 18mo (ie now), but lots of demand feeding periods since 12 mo (on holiday, when ill etc).

Tatties · 19/07/2007 22:16

Ds is 2.3 and I have always demand fed. Now that he is a bit older, if it's not a good time he can wait for a bit, but generally if he wants milk, he wants milk!

It is fine (and preferable IMO) to go with the flow and feed when your dd wants, no need to be on a schedule. You may well notice as she gets older that a pattern emerges, but it's not something you need to impose.

FairyMum · 19/07/2007 22:19

I demand fed DS2 until he was 2. He weaned himself. I tried to put my breasts in his mouth, but he spat it out.

magnolia1 · 19/07/2007 22:26

Ds1 is nearly 8 months and still demand fed, pretty much anything between 1-3 hrs day and night. I am knackered but I know it doesn't last forever and I will miss it when he stops

aviatrix · 19/07/2007 22:30

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster

zazas · 23/07/2007 22:12

Thanks for all the replies have just read them as have been away since Thursday PM. Very reassuring that there are other Mothers who are also demand feeding and are happy doing so as are their babies! I did try and notice when my dd fed out of interest over the last few days but there was no real pattern

Do you think it is also true if I am not around for a few hours (and DD has had a good feed before I have left) then she will learn to find comfort in alternative ways? DP is concerned that he won't be able to soothe her if I am gone, that she will want (need) my milk to settle even if not hungry.

OP posts:

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