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Original poster

Feeding newborn

8 replies

Hellohello24601 · 09/04/2023 09:26

Hi all

looking for some advice.

two week old baby feeds every 1.5 hours at night but needs to be woken every three hours in the day, otherwise would probs stretch to four hours in the day.

any advice on how to switch this round or why this is the case? Would obv rather the stretches at night and more frequent feeds in the day!

thanks

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twoundertwowho · 09/04/2023 09:40

Are they having enough milk in the day? Try stretching to 3.5hrs and increasing amount if struggling to get volume in?

I've always sworn by capping day naps at 2.5hrs which then gives you time to feed and have some interaction before they are tired again and keeps them on this 3.5hr cycle. Is baby getting natural light (not through a window) and napping in a semi-light/ not totally quiet place in the day? As opposed to very dark and quiet at night?

are you starting the day at the same time every morning? By 6/7?

if baby has regained birth weight and is putting in weight well then you could start reducing volume of milk at night by wake up time, so before 1am a full feed, between 1-3 a bit less, between 3-5 just 30-60ml and then no feed at all between 5-6am, just cuddles and whatever you can to soothe, so you don't derail the breakfast feed at 6am.

I'm sure it's just a matter of setting baby's circadian rhythm, day/night confusion is really common when they're brand new.

Original poster

Hellohello24601 · 09/04/2023 10:08

he feeds every three hours in the day (I wake him). Didn’t lose weight after birth and 6oz up on day 10.

hard to know how much as BF, but making sure we go out every day and he’s sleeping / feeding in v noisy environments in the day! He just seems backwards😅🤣should I try feeding every two hours in day in hope of reversing?

OP posts:

F1nit0 · 09/04/2023 10:13

I think for a 2 week old having their day and nights the wrong way round is pretty normal. They will figure it out eventually. Sounds like you're doing the right thing by waking them in the day making sure they don't go more than 3 hours without a feed. Try taking them outside every day to get natural sunlight and fresh air. But mainly they will just take time. I'm sure HV told me anywhere up to 8 weeks to figure night and day out.

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0-3 months old Babies & sleep Families General parenting

twoundertwowho · 09/04/2023 10:26

Have you tested your supply with a hand pump? Might just give you a rough idea of what baby is getting in a certain time frame.

Obvs very much depends on how efficiently baby feeds but it will give you a idea at least.

I had to reluctantly formula feed, but the book/routine I used was all about breastfeeding, Charmian Mead's Sleeping Baby Routine. Highly recommend.

As with all things baby related, just read it and then pick and choose what works for you and don't stress about the rest.

SErunner123 · 09/04/2023 10:35

It's not unusual but it is good to try and switch it round if you can or help them learn. Lots of daylight in the daytime, outside, fresh air. Dark quiet environment evening and night time. I would wake them every 2 hours in the day and try to get them taking more then in the hope they reduce amount needed overnight. We also did daytime clothes and nighttime clothes - I know it sounds silly, but the actual process of getting ready for bed seemed a helpful one and then developed into a bedtime routine around 12 weeks when she started wanting to settle to sleep around 7.30/8pm and finally stopped evening cluster feeding!!

DragonbornMum · 09/04/2023 16:22

This is really normal - at night be very boring: no communication, low lights etc. In the day be as bright and chatty as you can. It takes time but all babies adjust to the reversal!

fireandsaga · 09/04/2023 22:26

A different approach, might not be something your after but could be less stressful, is to feed on demand and not time it (minus waking up after 3 hours)
when they are newborn they are growing and cluster feeding a lot, as soon as you find a routine it’s another growth spurt sleep regression cluster feed that throws it out the window.
when it comes to sleep or feeding at night no babies are the same. Mine woke up a lot at night to feed, my friends only woke up once or twice, my cousins sleep through the night. All in all, each one is completely normal ❤️

TooMinty · 09/04/2023 22:39

They usually start out with day and night back to front but it sorts itself out eventually....

To help speed it up you can make daytime loud and bright and nighttime dark and quiet. Wake to feed frequently in the day to try and get lots of calories in then. Tag team with your partner if you have one. You go to bed early and they stay up with baby so you can get a big block of sleep at the start.

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