When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

DS is now 3 months old and I've been feeding on demand, which is basically every 1-2.5 hours when he is awake.

When did you start feeding on a schedule?

I always read about women say they give bottles every 3-4 hours. I think DS gets the same amount of milk per day but smaller servings more frequently.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

DD is 4.5 months old and I still feed her on demand. It just turns out to be every 3 - 3.5 hours.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

I've always fed DD when she wanted to eat which in the first 3 months was always every 3 hrs. At 3 months she stopped her nighttime feedings on her own and had her last bottle at 10pm and then slept until about 8:30am. At 4 months she cut out the 10pm bottle and she had her last bottle at 7pm and then slept until 7am. At 9 months she is now on the same schedule. During the day she has a 6oz. bottle at 7am, 11:30am, 3:30pm, and 7pm. She has solid meals in between.

She pretty much put herself on these schedules and routines but around 5 months I really tried to stick with set eating times during the day so we had a routine. Some days it didn't work out but gradually she adjusted and now she's very regimented.
I would say to follow your child's lead and slowly try to get her in a routine over time.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

I still feed on demand at 7 months - sometimes they eat every 2 hours...sometimes they can go 4

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

i feed ebf my ds (2 1/2 months) on demand and on a schedule depending on what is easier for me.

he can go 2 1/2-4 1/2 hours during the day (4 1/2 if he's sleeping) but usually every 3 hours. i feed him at the 3 hour mark even if he's not 'asking' if i want to go out or need to do something with my 2 year old.

i usually feed him 6-7 times in a 24 hour period. 7 if he wakes earlier than normal at night.

i'd try to spread your feedings out a bit.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

I BF on demand until DD was a year old. When she started solids she had a schedule for those after about a month (so let's say between 7 & 8 months).

ETA: She still nurses 1x per day - so I guess for that she is still fed on demand at 18 months.

Message edited 6/20/2009 9:02:28 PM.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

You know, I don't know how exactly one would give a baby more than they are ready to eat, KWIM? I mean, I think that you just have to follow their cues, even if you are on a "schedule"

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

i have always fed DD on demand. i have broken all the "rules" and my dd is a happy and healthy little girl.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

I fed on demand until they were off bottles and done with breatmilk/formula at 12 months. I never once looked at the clock to see how long it had been since they had eaten. Sometimes it would be every hour other times it would be 4 hours. I never worried about feedings.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

I always fed on demand. DD put herself on a schedule, but if she was hungry before her usual time, I fed her. The older they get the more predictable they get, imo.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

DD is 4 1/2 months and I EBF on demand. It usually work out to be every 3 hours during the day (a lot of times it's 2 and sometimes it's 4). At night, I am struggling a little bit right now because she used to sleep longer (5-6 hours, wake to eat, sleep another 4 hours). Now she has been waking every 3-4 hours.

Like the other moms said.. just follow your babies cues.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

Sydnie was like that and while BFing didn't last that long for us she is STILL at 10 months old a "grazer". She never was a marathon eater. Little bits all day.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

3.5 / 4 months. I had a better schedule suggested by the pediatrician.

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

i started a schedule right away at every 3 hours. It is a little harder when bfing though i have heard.

try to ease into a schedule if you can..

Re: When did you start feeding your baby on a feeding schedule vs on demand? DS still feeds like a NB - every 2 hours.

At 6 weeks my ped told me to put her on a schedule so I did.. it took about a week for it to work.

My DD is one of those kids who really thrives on a schedule.