Bottle feeding advice for a 5 week old

[Leanne262]

Just after some advice as a FTM. LO is 6 weeks on Monday but is still having upto 8 feeds a day as she's not taking the whole bottle as she usually falls asleep during it. I'm trying to get some sort of routine going and was wondering if it was worth trying a different teat size? She's currently on number 1. I shouldn't complain too much as she only wakes once during the night but I would like her to go more than 2.5 hours between feeds. Thanks :)

I should add her last feed of the day is at 10ish and she goes through until 2/3am

At six weeks old 2.5hrs between feeds is pretty good going.

Plenty of time for a routine later. Right now you need to follow your baby's cues.

That's what I thought but unhelpful family members keep saying she should be in a routine. Thanks for your help :)

Not a chance of a routine at 6 weeks!!! Mine is 15 weeks and still a bit erratic! 2.5 hours is good, we did change test size but was when he started losing interest in milk because wasn't able to drink fast enough, about 10 weeks I think?

I personally wouldn't bother with any sort of a routine until at least six months. My daughter fed every 2.5 hours pretty much up until she was weaned.

Thanks guys. Too many people trying to push Gina ford on me haha I'll stick to what I'm doing :)

Yup keep going as you are. She'll get there when shes ready!

Sounds the VERY GOOD end of normal. Routines are pointless at this age as they change so quickly. Tiny babies are not biologically designed to go more than a couple of hours between feeds for lots of reasons.

My ds never went more than 3 hours between bottles until he was weaned it's annoying as you feel you constantly feeding or sterilising but some babies are like that

My twins were having eight feeds a day (breast then formula top up)until they were about 6/7 weeks so I would say you are doing great! Only then did they do a little longer between feeds at night. That's a good stretch she is going at night so in a few weeks that will get even longer I expect

My DS had 8 feeds a day until about 5 months! Though BF rather than bottle. Much less stressful all round to feed to their cues rather than impose a routine I think. Sounds rubbish that your family are not supportive of this

If a baby falls asleep at the bottle, I would definitely go up the teat size.

My DD always loved her food and moved to size 2 teats at around 3-4 weeks. She could handle them pretty well and it made my life easier - feeds became slightly shorter.

Literally after posting this and talking to my mum, LO has been finishing every bottle and not falling asleep haha I've got the health visitor on Wednesday so I'll ask her too. Thanks everyone, I feel much better :)