Gaps between feeding

[OnNaturesCourse]

My HV said every 2 hours (at 2.5 weeks old) was a lot of feeding and expected the gap to increase to 3-4 hours pretty quickly. Baby was taking about 2oz at each feed.

My little one is now nearly 4 weeks and is wanting fed every 2.5 - 3 hours, and taking anything from 2oz to 4.5oz. No rhyme or reason just sometimes will take more than others.

HV has said the amounts will "even out" once I have baby in a routine of feeding every 3 - 4 hours with a slightly longer gap at night?!

My first born is 3 now and if I remember rightly she just kind of got herself into a routine and increased her intake herself, I don't remember me trying to get her into a routine if that makes sense. I don't think she had a pattern until about 3 months...

My baby is now showing signs of discomfort - I think he is getting too hungry and gulping at the bottle so has crazy wind which in turn is reducing the amount he will take and is resulting in him being hungry a hour or so later... Could I be right in thinking this? And that 4 hours for a baby is crazy? And to expect a newborn to have routine is even more crazy?

What was your feeding and routine like with a newborn?

2½ to 3 hours sounds perfectly normal for that age. Their tummies are still tiny so won't be able to take huge feeds

Yeah 2 to 3 hours sounds good.

Dd is nine weeks and was the same with the gulping. I went up a test size and it slowed her down despite being faster flow. It was like she was fighting to get it and that was filling her with wind. She drank better on next size.

She's this week started doing one five hour stretch from 8pm to 1am but staying on three hour ish rest of day and night.

It did mean she was quite a bit over at times and I'm BF as well but I've just had to go with what she wanted. She's reducing back to an average level last couple of weeks.

Sounds perfectly fine to me!
Your basically feeding on demand and rightly so being so young!
My DS basically made his own routine, I went with his cues and he started going the longer stretches on his own to the 4 hour marks.
Would find it cruel making them go longer when their obv hungry!
Your doing fine ❤️

Thanks ladies.

Good to our my mind at rest. Need to start having faith in myself sometimes! Tiredness making me doubt myself.

@brokengate we have went up a teat size already as had the similar experience with first baby, and it did help until HV suggested trying to stretch the gaps.

I'm the same with judgement. HV knocks my confidence sometimes.

I think you are right, baby will stretch the gaps when ready. I've stopped waking Dd now and just feed her when hungry. Did wake her when tiny tiny.