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:

determination · 23/07/2007 22:56

My dd1 and dd2 both fed on demand whenever and weherever they liked and i did not mind in the slightest... until now - when im soooo tired.. but going to cuddle up with DP and dd2 now and prob nurse all night long again! The years pass so quickly so my theory is - "make the most of them when they are still young"

harpsichordcuddler · 23/07/2007 22:57

still feeding on demand and dd2 is20 months
we are v happy with it

Jas · 23/07/2007 23:51

I demand fed, but by 3-4 months ds had fallen into his own fairly predictable routine, and by 12 months only fed when I offered. Once I introduced a cup of milk during the day he lost interest in bf and self weaned by about 14 months.

I would say try leaving hi with dp and go to a friends, so you can be called back if all else fails. My dp is not particularly good with babies, but if they couldn't see me he always managed to settle them.

Jas · 23/07/2007 23:51

beanbearer · 23/07/2007 23:52

Joy of BM - always there so no need for regimental planning of day around feed times.

It'd probably help if she has ways to self-soothe established before you leave her for too long or it could get ugly. DD started out as a hand sucker, moved on to a blanket - strictly in cot only - around 10 months.
My DH was like your DP, worried about not being able to settle DD. Think it was his worry that made things tricky though - found the 2 of them fast asleep on the sofa with tear tracks on both faces when I left them for 2 hours to go shopping when she was about 3 months old. When I left her with my Mum she took EBM fine (apparently). All you can do is try to build up his confidence about how to comfort her, things she likes, ways to hold her if she's got wind etc etc.

maisym · 24/07/2007 00:14

bf my little ones for as long as they wanted. Had to stop with ds4 at 18 months due to medication I had to take.

Katy44 · 24/07/2007 09:26

hi zazas
i'm exactly the same, once T has fed it might be 3 hours or 1 hour until he wants the next one.
I tend to assume that I can go out leaving him with DH for 2 hours though and he'll be ok when I get back.
Better go - is screaming and his last feed was at 8

zebedee1 · 24/07/2007 09:29

DS is 11 1/2 weeks and seems to have settled himself into a VERY loose pattern where he wakes up, feeds, has about 1- 1 1/2 hour awake and smiley, then he gets grizzly and sleeps again for anything from 1/2 hr to 2 hrs. In the evening he seems to have a very long awake period where he feeds on and off for ages - tanking himself up for the night i expect! I know what you mean about schedules though, one of my friends asked me "who does the 10pm feed" - and what 10pm feed would that be ?!

berolina · 24/07/2007 09:34

I still am 'demand feeding' ds and he's 2.2 - what I mean is, he asks for a bf, he (almost always) gets it. Like HC , we are very happy with it.

AngeG · 24/07/2007 09:40

Hi Zazas

Same here.
DD is bf with occasional bottle of ebm. She has no routine whatsoever...she does tend to go to sleep at 8pmish and sleep to anywhere between 6-9am.
During the day she can feed anywhere between an hour to 3 hours. I have no idea when her next feed is due...it's when she demands it.

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