How often do you feed you newborn and do you do it on demand or have you tried to introduce a routine by waking them to feed?
How are you going with this?
2007-02-06 14:14:23 · 13 answers · asked by Boo Boo 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Until a month old, feed them on demand. As much as they want, when they want it. At about a month, they start to naturally get into a cycle. My pediatrician told me this while I was in the hospital, and she was right. My daughter is going on 7 weeks old, and for the most part, she eats every 3-4 hours during the day up until midnight, then she wakes up anywhere from 4-7 am for a bottle, though it's usually closer to 7. Then we go back to bed while daddy's at school and get up around noon. I know midnight's a bit late for most people, but I'm an insomniac who can only sleep during morning hours lol. If I put her in bed w/ me, she'll sleep 9-10 hours without a whimper. But if you start waking your child early on, it could start a pattern that will last a lifetime. My friend used to try waking her children up to feed them, now they abhor going to sleep because they got woken up too much and don't want to bother. Lol. Good luck!
2007-02-06 14:39:41 · answer #1 · answered by heartlostangel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's been a long time since I've taken care of a newborn, but the ones I cared for drank 2 ounces every 2 hours during the day. I have never wakened a newborn in order to feed him. They don't usually settle on a schedule right away anyway. They ususally wake up at least once during the night to eat. Some babies sleep all night right away, and some not for 6 months. The Lord bless you and yours, and may He grant you sleep. :o)
2007-02-06 14:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Gail S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is almost 9 weeks old. He will take about 5 ozs every 3-4 hours except at night. He'll take one around 11 go to sleep and wake up for the next one around 7 and sleep for a couple of more hours w/ me (very good snuggle time :) however drs. don't recommend it). The first few weeks we fed on demand thou and it was about every 3 hours. Routines just don't really work w/ newborns. You are supposed to feed them on demand for the first few months before you try to get them on a routine. Your child may decide a routine for you thou... Mine sure did. :) Best of luck!
2007-02-06 16:54:16 · answer #3 · answered by mariposa_de_baile 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bottlefed both my kids now toddlers. I found it was a bit of both, if baby is finishing most of the amount for their age then its about every 3 to 4 hours. If your baby wants to sleep then let him/her sleep that will give you both a rountine break and maybe develop a regualr sleep pattern. Always be prepared to offer more at some feeds.
2007-02-06 14:27:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feed them when they're hungry while they're newborn. Once they start to develop a schedule, you will want to nudge them toward sticking with that schedule as much as possible, so if they have some dramatic change in needs, you'll know.
Relax.... hold that baby snug as a bug and let it eat what and when it wants. We give our kids food hang-ups soon enough.. no need to start before the umbilical cord falls off!
2007-02-06 14:42:55 · answer #5 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't want to push a schedule on a newborn, it probably won't work. They need to eat on demand in the beginning. As they get bigger they start to show patterns of sleeping and eating. Then you can begin trying to get your baby to sleep at certain times. I don't know if I would wake your baby to eat. I never did that with my daughter to get her on a scedule ( I was supplementing in the beginning and woke her to breasfeed.) Let them eat and sleep as much as they need. Your baby will start to show signs of his or her own schedule soon enough.
2007-02-06 14:23:55 · answer #6 · answered by jc2006 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my daughter is 3 months old and she is bottlefeed and i do the on demand feedings. It is rough at first but she will work out a her routine for you. Good Luck!
2007-02-07 02:22:19 · answer #7 · answered by sabner2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 3 week old eats every 3 hours... I introduced him to this routine, but he really wasn't hungry before three hours anyway. Now he eats faithfully every 3 hours (give or take 15 minutes)... You really should try a routine- it makes it easier on you and everyone who babysits your child.
Good luck!
2007-02-06 14:36:22 · answer #8 · answered by Miss Taryn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I fed my son about every 3 hours or so. I never woke him to feed but that is not a bad idea.
2007-02-06 14:21:40 · answer #9 · answered by Samantha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
during the day, wake them up. it helps you get more sleep at night. just be careful not to force feed or the little one will get a tummy acke. :)
2007-02-06 14:20:26 · answer #10 · answered by rblankenship_rblankenship 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋