Do you have a strict routine for your baby or are you easy come easy go?

[fannybanjo]

I am usually easy come easy go but after DD3 was born, she turned from an angelic newborn to a very hard work 3 month old and I reached the end of my tether and have to confess, I bought the Gina Ford book out of desperation.

I skimmed through it and took out of it the bits I liked (ie nap times) and have done it for the past two days and bingo, DD3 is back to being an angel. Why the hell after 3 children did I not realise that a routine of sorts is better for them?

Do you have a routine or do you let your child dictate?

we had a routine of sorts with ds1, but only cos he kind of fell into it by himself.

ds2 is very much a non-routine baby. which is also fine.
not sure how you can have much of a routine with a baby who is fed on demand and will only sleep on you though lol

thisisyesterday, DD3 is also fed on demand and would only sleep on us (she had a nasty virus recently and it really threw her) but with having a 20 month old and 6 year old to see to aswell, I couldn't carry on any longer. She is still fed on demand but I make a more conscious effort to read her more and not just stick my nipple in her mouth when she cries! I find that with BF three children, it is easy to just comfort them with your boob and I made a rod for my own back.

how is that feeding on demand then?

As in I feed her when she is hungry, not just when she cries! What other way is there to feed on demand? I take it feeding to routine is letting your baby cry until it is whatever o'clock or 3 hours since last feed whereas feeding on demand is feeding when they want it. Which is what I do.