10.27.2010

Feeding change - help

Kara is almost 3.5 months old and eats 5 times a day at 7/8-11-2-5 and 7:30/8/before bed.  By 4 months, I'd like to switch her to a 4 times a day schedule so morning-12-4 and 8.  At 4 months do I just make the switch or ease into it? With Nick, he wasn't on a set schedule as well as Kara is. She is doing so well with a schedule and I think that has contributed to her sleeping so well at night.   I'm a little afraid to switch her to 4x/day too early but many days I have to wake her up to eat.  Any mom advice?
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10 comments:

  1. Kaz10/27/10, 2:58 PM

    Have you read somewhere that they can go to 4 times a day? All I know is that on my feeding guide on the formula box it says: up until the end of 6 months - 5 bottles per 24 hours, then 3 bottles from 7 - 12 months. 3-4 months it is 5 x 6oz but goes up to 5 x 7oz until the end of 6 months. 7-12 months it is 3 x 7oz. I know you're breastfeeding so that may be different. I really don't have any idea to be honest but I thought that info might be of use.
    Kaz

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  2. misszippy10/27/10, 3:04 PM

    My memory is fuzzy from so long ago, but...will you be introducing cereal at all at 4 months? I would think that would help stretch her a bit if so. Sorry I can't remember!

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  3. Michelle Simmons10/27/10, 4:55 PM

    My pediatrician told me that at 4 months Moana would no longer NEED to eat in the middle of the night... she might 'want' to, or she might have been in ht e'habit', but that at 4 months she was physiologically ready to go for longer times without eating. That just makes their daytime meals bigger (which is good too!). So if Kara is good on a schedule, you could totally manipulate it. :)

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  4. Angela and David10/27/10, 11:11 PM

    My memory is so fuzzy but it seemed like Zach ate every two hours for FOREVER. I'm useless here.

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  5. Clare10/28/10, 7:19 AM

    i don't remember a thing. but i THINK andra ate at 6, 9, 12, 3 and 6 when i went back to work until i started some solids, around 6 months. can't hurt to try, she'll let you know if she's hungry and it's not enough!

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  6. Billie10/28/10, 8:40 AM

    I can't remember either. But I never really followed a schedule and we co-slept a lot, which ended up meaning he ate a lot at night :-)

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  7. Unknown10/28/10, 10:15 AM

    I never switched to 4 feedings for my LO. I kept it at 5, in hopes that she wouldn't wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

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  8. Jess10/28/10, 12:57 PM

    I'm no help. I fed Norah on-demand instead of on a schedule, and she basically ate every 2 hours or so. She was a hungry little creature. She didn't go to 4 feedings a day until she was about 6 months old -- when we introduced cereal.

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  9. Sarah-Mae10/28/10, 9:52 PM

    Maybe try gradually adjusting meal times until two of the meals are close enough to be combined into one? I'm not a mum so don't have any experience, but it seems logical?

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  10. Sparkplug10/29/10, 11:08 AM

    Wow, it sounds like you have it pretty good already! I would personally keep the 5 feedings, especially as she likely isn't having any solids yet, and don't forget that the nursing is both her nutrition and hydration. But that is just me :-) Of course, my 12 month old is still nursing 3x daily, along with three meals and snacks, and the nursing all occur between 6:30 pm and 6:30 am, so maybe I am not the one to ask!
    I am sure if you did try a 4x schedule, she will let you know if she is still hungry. Good luck!

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