Missing feeding cues in sling

[hoorayforharoldlloyd]

Have just started carrying baby in sling but miss feeding cues or he is really deeply asleep and then wakes up panicky and outraged to be fed. I'm trying to keep an eye on the clock and wake him every 2 hours to check but he keeps beating me to it.

I'm going to start checking every 1.5 hours but if there are any other tips, I'd be grateful. He's 4 weeks old and was 7 weeks prem if that's relevant?

Are you carrying him all the time? He really should be spending some time lying flat. You need to take some advice from the SCBU about how often you should wake him to feed and when you can start being a bit more relaxed. If he is very hungry he is likely to take a good feed

I've only had the sling since Monday. He was in 2.5 hours yesterday with a break with no cues and then furiously hungry when we got home, then 2 hours earlier and furiously hungry again. He's just been in another hour or so and is fine.

Scbu suggested a sling and now his weight gain is good, he's been signed off. I was waking him to feed 3 hourly per hospital schedule but they said I could now feed on demand, just never go 4 hours without a feed.

I'm probably overly worrying. He got weighed again today and his gain is good so maybe I just need to get used to the sling and him in it

My dd would do this, she was just so comfy! She'd suddenly wake up outraged that we hadn't fed her earlier! You'll never get things timed exactly right each time, try not to worry. Are you BFing or FFing?

Certainly try not to get too wrapped up (no pun intended!) in timings. If you're out and about then the LO can easily forget about eating - mine does! If they've been asleep then be aware that any moment they may wake to eat and be prepared for that. If they're awake but just so chilled they forget to signal then interact with them more, jiggling and talking to keep them alert and look for signs. Overall - don't worry! If they're growing, which you said they are - you're doing great. X

confusedbeetle have you got any evidence for that? It is my understanding that there is no limit on how long a baby can spend in a sling assuming both wearer and baby are happy. I'm not sure why a baby would 'need' to be lying flat. A sling is very different from, say, a car seat or similar.

I'm breastfeeding - thanks for the reassuring replies, I will carry on carrying him as he sleeps really well and I get to have two arms and not be pinned down by a Tiny baby. Its probably still nervousness about moving away from hospital schedule. And he's getting chubby legs and a fat belly now, so something must be going right!

I wouldn't worry too much as long as baby is fed and gaining weight