EBF and spacing LO's feedings

KMac570

When will/did you start trying to space out LO's feedings more, if you are EBF?  LO eats every two hours like clockwork, which feels like a lot.  Is there a point at which you can start to put him on a bit of a schedule, or is it always on demand? He is 7 weeks old tomorrow.

iumegan716

It's up to you.  I have always done on demand.  

It does seem like every 2 hours for a 7 week old is a lot.  Do you try other ways to soothe him before feeding?  He might just want to change positions, go to sleep, etc. 

MrsWindyCity

I feed on demand and DS also eats about every 2 hours. He'll start daycare next month and I think he will naturally start spacing out his feedings once he starts getting bottles for much of the day. At least, that's what DS1 did. He's already pretty efficient, though, so I don't mind nursing semi-frequently since he's quick.

DanandVan

I would stick with on demand feeding. Like pp said, try to rule out other reasons for why baby is being fussy first, but if he wants to nurse, just let him. I couldn't imagine denying a little baby because it wasn't "time". 7 weeks is still so young. By the time they are a few months, babies will naturally space feedings out longer (but they have occasional growth spurts that cause them to nurse a lot more for a few days here and there).

KMac570

Thanks ladies! I will keep feeding on demand, and hope that he spaces the feedings out of his own accord at some point.  FWIW, I do only feed when he shows clear hunger signs.

=Lee=B

I feed my 8 week old on demand and it's pretty much every 2hrs on the dot.  Sometimes earlier.

Mine would so not go with a schedule, if the boob isn't in her mouth quickly after she shows signs of hunger she starts screaming (and she rarely cries otherwise).  Since she is a fast feeder it's not worth it to me to try and space her out as it just distresses her.

She does go longer at night a 4 hr then a 3 hour stretch.

 

Angela814

I found my girls fell into their own routine around 4 months. At this point, I would love if DD3 only ate every 2 hours. I could actually get something done then.

ShadyKull

My guy is still eating about every 2 hours during the day (more frequent sometimes and less frequent if he is having a long nap). He doesn't always give me clear hunger signs, but I always try to sooth him first when he gets fussy rather than sticking a boob in his mouth.

linzeek44

I've always fed on demand, and he spaced out his feedings by himself. I think about 15 weeks was when he started going 2.5 -3 hours. Then, as growth spurts happened, he would go back to 2 hours, but then settled back at 2.5. Now we are almost to every 3 during the day.

bergerbride

My daughter just started spacing out her feelings a bit more the past few days, and she's 12 weeks on Friday. It felt like FOREVER since I also Ebf... So I feel for you, but I say keep feeding on demand for now.