WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

DS is 3.5 weeks old and on a pretty regular schedule - eating every four hours: usually

11pm
430am
8am
12pm
4pm
8pm
and then all over again.

Take tonight for instance, we were out at my brother's for a BBQ and DS feel asleep after his 8(ish) bottle. He actually ate at 7:45 and then passed out. He slept until we got home at 11. Now would you wake him to give him his 12am bottle to keep his "schedule" or would you let him sleep? He is taking 4 oz. each bottle. I woke him and changed him, feed him and he passed out again immediately - he did take the whole 4 so he was hungry but didnt wake to eat.

I feel like if he was hungry, he would have woken BUT i know that if I hadnt fed him, he would have been up by 1-2 the latest, looking to eat which would have thrown tomorrow off completely.

Should I let him sleep and forget the schedule or wake and feed according to the schedule?

Message edited 6/1/2010 4:55:45 AM.

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

I think at that young age they usually don't want them going past 4 hours of eating....I think when DD was a little older we would let her sleep and wake up on her own to eat...I think maybe check with your Pediatrician to see what they recommend.....just to make sure.

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

IMO, never wake a sleeping baby.

DD had somewhat of a schedule by 4 weeks and there were nights where she would sleep past her "scheduled" feeding and I let her sleep. She was a full night sleeper by 7 weeks. Meaning, last bottle was at 11p and wouldn't get up till 5/6am. Then by 12 weeks she was sleeping 9p to 6am and then a full 12 hours by 4 months from 8-8

Overtime I gradually gave her a last feeding a half hour earlier each night to give her a better bedtime schedule.

HTH!

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

i always woke Mia (she is 8wks and STTN 7-8hr streches) during the day if her naps were longer than 3hrs to eat. i NEVER woke her at night no matter what. i let her decide when she was hungry to eat. i did this for two reasons: 1- to determine difference between night and day and 2- because i wanted her to start sleeping in longer stretches on her own. i like to think this made her STTN so early.

i do understand you wanting to keep to a schedule but practice makes perfect in my eyes! he is practicing sleeping longer stretches. AND since they NEED sleep at his age, why would you always disturb what he is getting? believe me, he will tell you when he is hungry!

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

For the first 3 months, I never followed a schedule. I also never woke a sleeping baby. I would just follow your LO's lead. Feed him when he's hungry, let him sleep when he's tired. Throw the schedule out the window b/c it'll change so much anyway.....

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

IMO being late for one bottle isn't going to do any harm if he's gained some weight so far.

Also, we thought DS put himself on a schedule then he hit 6 weeks and it all went out the window. Growth spurts change feedings too.

I wouldn't worry about schedules till about 3 months.

Message edited 6/1/2010 9:37:26 AM.

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

I belive you should never wake a sleeping baby. They will wake when they are hungry.

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

I never wake a sleeping baby. As long as Albert eats 6-8 times around his regular times I'm OK with letting him go longer between eating...especially at night.

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

Let him sleep and when he wakes...adjust the schedule. At 3.5 weeks he will change things up on you a lot so just be flexible with him and only hold to the 3 -4 hour feeding when awake.

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

thanks everyone

Re: WWYD - newborn / feeding schedule

I always kept a schedule during the day and never woke my kids at night -- I let them wake me