When did your baby stop feeding every 3h?

[Aneley]

Hi, I have a 2m old baby. Unfortunately, due to a massive kidney infection after birth (and having to be on heavy antibiotics), I lost my milk and was not able to recover it and breastfeed so she's been on formula (Hipp Organic Combiotic, in case it is relevant). She is progressing well, hitting all the developmental milestones etc.

When she was born, I was advised by the doctors and midwives to make sure to wake her up every 3h to feed as she was born on the smallish side (2.6kg, due to preeclampsia) so I did. She settled into eating every 3 - 3.5h day and night (About 8 feeds per day). Last couple of nights she's been fidgety and waking up every hour. She'd eat a little, go back to sleep then wake up and again eat a little... during the day, she'd eat normally - every 3h or so.

Now, my mum has been over and said that both my sister and I at 2m started skipping one night feed and had longer periods of sleep (5-6h). We spent the day together and when DD started crying after 3h, she just changed her diaper and did not offer a bottle. Lo and behold, DD went straight back to sleep, slept for another 3h and then ate normally (she still hit her daily intake target, comfortably).

This left me wondering if I am overfeeding her? Maybe I shouldn't offer her the bottle every time she cries/when I change her? Maybe it is ok for her to sleep 5-6h without waking for food once per day?

I am sorry if this is too obvious and stupid thing to ask - but she is my first and I am desperate to be a good mummy and do the right thing for her, so I'd appreciate any experience shared.

Your doing the right thing by feeding on demand. Look at paced feeding and remember if she finishes a bottle of milk then offer more.

Don’t forget that you have to change the teat sizes.

I wouldn't leave large gaps in the day, as she will then need to be fed more overnight.

I would suggest looking at 2.5-3hr feeds during the day is 7am-9pm. Then trying to settle her without a feed if possible at some overnight wakings. If she is fed regularly int he daytime ie 8 feeds, then she will gradually start going longer stretched overnight.

If you stretch her 6 hours without feeds in the day, she is going to need feeding at least every 3hrs overnight to ake up for what she hasn't had during the day.

Most people as adults don't go more than 3 hrs daytime without a drink of some sort

@Selfsettling3 - Thank you for helping! She is increasing feeds regularly - went from 60ml per feed in her first week to 180ml per feed now. I also just switched the nipples from 0 to 2+ so a bit more of a flow. Will read more about paced feeding!

@Caspianberg - yes, I was wondering about the night. My mum just tried to demonstrate while she was here that it was possible and it happened to be during the day, but I am wondering if I should offer bottle every time she wakes during the night.

@ Aneley - Maybe try only offering a bottle every 3.5 hrs overnight for a week and trying to soothe without in between, if that works then upping to 4hr gap, 4.5hr etc gradually.

Mine is 10 weeks and I generally feed on demand during the day which is generally every 2.5-3 hours and just this week he has had a couple of nights where he slept 6 hours straight! He is definitely taking more at each feed during the day so looks like he has dropped one of his night feeds. I just hope it lasts as the extra sleep is very much needed (for me!)

I would say she should be able to go longer then 3 hours at night with out milk, especially it is formula, which keeps them full longer. I am breastfeeding and she started out waking every 1-2 hours the first 4 weeks, which was VERY tough, but then someone suggested stretching the feeds during the day a bit (she was snacking a lot) and so she could take fuller feeds and go longer at night. The very first day she went 3 hours and then a few days later 4 hours and now at 8 weeks she goes 6-7 hours the initial big sleep and then wakes 4 hours after. I know every baby is different. But from friends that formula feed, their babies slept longer stretches earlier.