Feeding on demand / feeding on schedule

Garman · 27/10/2022 15:58

All babies should be fed on demand. I've fed all of my 3 on demand from birth to answer your question.

Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 15:59

Breastfeed to a loose schedule is my plan. I think feeding on demand instills a ‘comfort food’ instinct where food is seen as the answer to every negative emotion. Every 3 hours as a newborn and every 4 after the first few weeks.

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Dipsydoodlenoodle · 27/10/2022 15:59

I fed on demand as was recommended...its only now at 11months we have a schedule!

My friends babies have all been on a schedule - its been much easier for them as they know when to expect feeding.

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Brieeeeeeeee · 27/10/2022 16:01

I genuinely don’t understand feeding on a schedule. Mine were fed on demand as newborns and it was only when they were much older and approaching solids that it settled to even a vague schedule

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Dipsydoodlenoodle · 27/10/2022 16:01

I was overhearing 13/14 week old parent saying they've just gone up to 7oz etc.. my DD has never taken that much. She's always been more of a grazer maxing out at 4 or 5oz - for that reason I don't think a schedule would have worked for us.

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MolliciousIntent · 27/10/2022 16:02

Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 15:59

Breastfeed to a loose schedule is my plan. I think feeding on demand instills a ‘comfort food’ instinct where food is seen as the answer to every negative emotion. Every 3 hours as a newborn and every 4 after the first few weeks.

This is utter bollocks. Breast fed newborns rarely go 3 hours between feeds, anyway, so if you're going to ignore your child's hunger cues in favour of a schedule, be prepared to spend a lot of time with a very distressed infant.

Remember too that milk for infants isn't just for hunger, but for thirst and comfort too. Your approach is backdated and cruel, I hope you think better of it before your baby is born.

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FlounderingFruitcake · 27/10/2022 16:03

Bottle feeding on a schedule. Neither had night feeds beyond 2 months old.
And they’re 5 and 1 so not 70s babies ha!

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OhILoveDoughnuts · 27/10/2022 16:05

2 babies. Both breastfed on demand.

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ButterflyBiscuit · 27/10/2022 16:06

I thought feed on demand was advice for breast and bottle but I think they often fall into a pattern, for example mine fed before naptime and bedtime to sleep and when they woke up reliably (plus other times!)

Those that stick to a strict schedule must spend a lot of time with a sad hungry baby. Why?!

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Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 16:06

MolliciousIntent · 27/10/2022 16:02

This is utter bollocks. Breast fed newborns rarely go 3 hours between feeds, anyway, so if you're going to ignore your child's hunger cues in favour of a schedule, be prepared to spend a lot of time with a very distressed infant.

Remember too that milk for infants isn't just for hunger, but for thirst and comfort too. Your approach is backdated and cruel, I hope you think better of it before your baby is born.

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I knew somebody would come along and say this. But it worked beautifully for us - DD was an efficient feeder, gained weight and was the chubbiest little thing, and if she cried for a reason other than hunger I just cuddled her or distracted her.

The fed on demand babies I knew were small, thin and fractious. Probably because they spent too much energy snack feeding and not taking very much milk.

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SalviaOfficinalis · 27/10/2022 16:07

Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 15:59

Breastfeed to a loose schedule is my plan. I think feeding on demand instills a ‘comfort food’ instinct where food is seen as the answer to every negative emotion. Every 3 hours as a newborn and every 4 after the first few weeks.

This is crazy.

When my DS was a few months old I tried to wait 2 hours between feeds. He was a very unsettled baby with very bad reflux. He cried constantly so it was impossible to tell if he was crying for hunger or just crying. It was more for my sanity than anything else.

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Goosegoose21 · 27/10/2022 16:07

I am bf my 2nd. Its on demand. I couldn't leave him to cry knowing I could easily give him what he needed.

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Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 16:07

ButterflyBiscuit · 27/10/2022 16:06

I thought feed on demand was advice for breast and bottle but I think they often fall into a pattern, for example mine fed before naptime and bedtime to sleep and when they woke up reliably (plus other times!)

Those that stick to a strict schedule must spend a lot of time with a sad hungry baby. Why?!

DD wasn’t at all hungry! She was born on the 55th centile and was 90th after a couple of months. Using food as a response for everything is probably why we have so many obese children
who eat constantly.

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QuiltedHippo · 27/10/2022 16:07

Breastfed on demand, no way would I listen to crying that could be easily solved.

My gut tells me that @Cuppasoupmonster food issues fear are more likely to be caused by being denied food/drink you need to grow

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FlounderingFruitcake · 27/10/2022 16:08

Those that stick to a strict schedule must spend a lot of time with a sad hungry baby. Why?!
It’s actually supposed to be the opposite, so aiming to pre empt hunger by feeding before they get to the point of crying with it and maximising daytime intake so that they sleep through the night without waking for a feed. If the baby is hungry then you’re doing it wrong!

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Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 16:09

QuiltedHippo · 27/10/2022 16:07

Breastfed on demand, no way would I listen to crying that could be easily solved.

My gut tells me that @Cuppasoupmonster food issues fear are more likely to be caused by being denied food/drink you need to grow

If my baby dropped centiles then I would absolutely increase the feeds.

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Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 16:10

FlounderingFruitcake · 27/10/2022 16:08

Those that stick to a strict schedule must spend a lot of time with a sad hungry baby. Why?!
It’s actually supposed to be the opposite, so aiming to pre empt hunger by feeding before they get to the point of crying with it and maximising daytime intake so that they sleep through the night without waking for a feed. If the baby is hungry then you’re doing it wrong!

I agree. I had oversupply and DD would absolutely drain a boob, I’m certain she got far more milk than snack-feeding babies. She was then fuller for longer, and hungry again a few hours later.

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thejadefish · 27/10/2022 16:13

DC1 breastfed every 3 hours (as instructed by midwife at the time including waking baby up to feed which in retrospect I think probably wasn't necessary but I was told to wake the baby to feed so I did. I seemed to get conflicting advice depending on who I spoke to and found it rather confusing but went with the 3 hours, gradully got less strict/clock watching after a few months but still offered at regular intervals). DC2 breastfed on demand, although if it's been more than 4 hours I will offer just in case.

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Dahlia444 · 27/10/2022 16:16

FlounderingFruitcake · 27/10/2022 16:08

Those that stick to a strict schedule must spend a lot of time with a sad hungry baby. Why?!
It’s actually supposed to be the opposite, so aiming to pre empt hunger by feeding before they get to the point of crying with it and maximising daytime intake so that they sleep through the night without waking for a feed. If the baby is hungry then you’re doing it wrong!

This exactly. I bf 1st on demand, prem twins bf on schedule- basically stuck with the schedule they were discharged from nicu on and gradually increased the intervals (or decreased again if they were growing fast etc) and after great experience with schedule feeding 2 and 3 I bf schedule fed DC4. There is no 'leaving them to cry' or not comforting a crying baby. I seldom heard 2 3 or 4 cry as their needs were anticipated. Bring it on.

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BeanieTeen · 27/10/2022 16:17

I think if you breastfeed it needs to be on demand really. With a bottle, where you can see how much they’ve had you can more easily create a schedule if it suits. We just did on demand combi feeding. We then naturally ended up in a four out or so (very roughly) schedule after a couple of months.

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Aria2015 · 27/10/2022 16:17

Breastfeeding wise, on demand. You need to feed on demand to establish supply and also, tiny babies should be on a schedule. I found both of mine (both breastfed) fell into a natural feeding patterns when they were a couple of months old anyway, every 3 hours and then every 4 hours (roughly). Wasn't anything I did really, just loosely followed eat, play, sleep pattern.

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WhatNoRaisins · 27/10/2022 16:28

Fed on demand with breast, it just felt right for us.

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RedWingBoots · 27/10/2022 16:40

Cuppasoupmonster · 27/10/2022 15:59

Breastfeed to a loose schedule is my plan. I think feeding on demand instills a ‘comfort food’ instinct where food is seen as the answer to every negative emotion. Every 3 hours as a newborn and every 4 after the first few weeks.

Ever heard of cluster feeding?

I combi fed and my DD cluster fed especially when she was going through a growth spurt.

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RedWingBoots · 27/10/2022 16:41

thejadefish · 27/10/2022 16:13

DC1 breastfed every 3 hours (as instructed by midwife at the time including waking baby up to feed which in retrospect I think probably wasn't necessary but I was told to wake the baby to feed so I did. I seemed to get conflicting advice depending on who I spoke to and found it rather confusing but went with the 3 hours, gradully got less strict/clock watching after a few months but still offered at regular intervals). DC2 breastfed on demand, although if it's been more than 4 hours I will offer just in case.

Lots of people seemed to be told by midwives to wake their baby up to feed every 3 hours.

I've never heard that as babies wake up if they are hungry.

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40andfit · 27/10/2022 16:46

RedWingBoots · 27/10/2022 16:41

Lots of people seemed to be told by midwives to wake their baby up to feed every 3 hours.

I've never heard that as babies wake up if they are hungry.

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This is for new borns before they have regained their birth weight. A new born can easily become jaundice and sleepy and won’t wake for food therefore start to become ill.

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Feeding on demand / feeding on schedule

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