XP: How many feedings in a day?

lifeisbetteronthered · May 2013

DD is 16w old, and has always been an amazing sleeper. Currently she sleeps nearly 12h straight every night. During the day she feed (EBF) every 2 hours and has a 45 minute nap between each feed. This week she seems to be fighting most of those short naps then having one or two longer naps. This sounds like a dream but I am concerned that she won't be feeding enough.

Currently she feeds 6 or 7 times a day. She seems full and content and has been hitting her milestones ahead of schedule, so I'm not really concerned about that. I am concerned that there have been days that she has only ate 5 times because she slept through a feed. Some days I keep her up longer at night to get in an extra feed.

We won't be introducing solids until 6 months or so, nor will we be using formula, but I have a freezer full of BM so could add a bottle, but I don't really know when I would do that because she won't feed well if I try much sooner then 2 hours after the last feed.

DD has always been gaining weight on the slow side, and in the past month it has slowed further.

What kind of feeding schedules are your 3-4 month LOs on? Any suggestions? Am I over thinking this?

Thanks,

J

divajackie67 · May 2013

As long as your LO is gaining weight, healthy, and still sleeping through the night I wouldn't worry about it. I've read the nutritional value of breastmilk changes throughout the baby aging.

https://attachmentparenting.org/blog/2010/01/13/the-composition-of-breastmilk-part-2/

If it is thicker or more nutritious now it's possible your LO doesn't need to eat as often.

I formula feed so it's completely different, but my LO eats every 3 - 3 1/2 hours. Sometimes 4 hours if there is a long nap. He eats 5x a day and STTN as well. A stand in pediatrician as my pediatricians office said I should stretch his feeding to every 4 hours, but he's happy and I'm happy so I am not going to change what's working. I also can't imagine getting in the amount of formula he needs with 4 feedings a day without 8oz bottles which he is not up to yet.

DublinMama · May 2013

I'm not sure it's relatable, because we FF DS, but he eats about 5 oz. every 2.5-3 hours. So if we start at midnight, which is usually when he wakes for a MOTN feeding, he eats at 12, 4, 7, and 10 a.m., then 1, 4, and 7 p.m. So that's 7 feedings in 24 hours. There may be an extra bottle in there, but never less. If your DD is not showing hunger cues and doesn't seem unhappy, I wouldn't read too much into it unless your pedi is concerned with her weight gain.

lifeisbetteronthered · May 2013

Thank you guys for helping to reassure a sometimes crazy FTM. I really appreciate the support that this site gives, advice when I need it and getting me back in check when I may be loosing it a little.

Thanks again,

J

schick · May 2013

My 4-month old is only eating 5 times a day (7, 10, 1, 4 and 7pm), exclusively breastfeeding) and sleeps from 7pm - 7am.

Sounds like yours could be droppping a feeding and is ready to sleep through the night!

Mkjess · May 2013

DD eats every 2 hours still and has been getting 5 oz bottles at every feed. She does fuss between so we are going to increase the bottle size and hopefully she will also go a bit further between feeds. She does sleep from 8pm-8 am (at least) on days she is not at day care.

Our pediatrician said that if she is hungry then that is fine that she is still eating every two hours.

Want a personalized experience?

XP: How many feedings in a day?

Re: XP: How many feedings in a day?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards