Aa
question about feeding baby
we went to the doctor today and ariana has only gained an ounce back since the hospital....but the doctor told us its okay for her to sleep through feedings at this point, but that we should feed her every 3 hours. i asked him what about when she's hungry before 3 hours and he said its best to make her wait the whole 3 so that she doesn't get into the habit of grazing...like taking an ounce here and an ounce there.
my question is this: lately when we feed her she won't eat all of her food. she'll take about an ounce and then she won't want anymore, and 30 minutes later she'll wanna finish the bottle. how do i get her out of this habit? she's so fussy right now because she can't eat for another hour and 45 minutes..i can usually hold her off a little while with her paci but eventually she stops falling for that trick..any suggestions to get her on a better schedule?
my question is this: lately when we feed her she won't eat all of her food. she'll take about an ounce and then she won't want anymore, and 30 minutes later she'll wanna finish the bottle. how do i get her out of this habit? she's so fussy right now because she can't eat for another hour and 45 minutes..i can usually hold her off a little while with her paci but eventually she stops falling for that trick..any suggestions to get her on a better schedule?
I agree with the other ladies. Feed Ariana when shes hungry, Cole usually screams for a bottle between 2 and 3 hours.. and I always give it to him and he always eats the whole two onces. cause hes hungry. Sometimes he tries to get one before 2 hours and I give him his pacifer but he doesnt fall for it so i try to distract him by picking him up and walking around for a bit. but I never make him wait 3 hours unless hes sleeping. Fatten that baby up lol!!!
My baby is 3 weeks old today and I have been feeding her on demand since she was born. The nurses at the hospital said to offer her the breast every 2-3 hours even if I had to wake her up to feed her. She only lost 5 oz while we were in the hospital but by the time we went to her first appointment 2 days after bring discharged she had regained back to her birh weight. At her 2 week appointment she had gained 1lb 10oz. She eats less often now, closer to every 3-4 hours and her doctor says it's ok for her to sleep for 4-5 hours between feedings. She doesn't wait that long, most times she wakes up after 4 hours. She's not overweight. She was born at 6lb 5oz and is now 7lbs 15.5oz. I would definitely listen to my instincts and feed my baby when she's hungry. As someone said, doctors do mean well, but you know your baby better than anyone else.
UGGG stupid internet. I just typed a big long reply and the internet burped. Grrr.
Long story short. Doctors tend to use generalities that don't necessarily work for every child. If Ariana is hungry, feed her. I have ALWAYS fed my kids on demand, never on a set schedule, regardless of breast or bottle feeding. I also agree wholeheartedly with what LImonada said about making them fuss too long. It does more harm than good.
One thing you can try is giving her a pacifier becuse it may be the soothing from the sucking she wants. But if that's not it she will spit it out. I also didn't make a point of waking my kids every 3 hours. But Iwouldnt let them go past 5 hours.
While it's time consuming and sometimes annoying that they eat so frequently in the beginning....as time goes by they will eat more and less often. It works itself out.
BTW I know people worry about overfeeding. As I said I have ALWAYS fed mine on demand...while my kids have been on the top of the weight charts they also have been for height and NONE of them are even close to overweight.
You are her mother, if feeding her on demand is what your instincts tell you feels right, then go with that. Doctors can't possibly know what's best for each and every individual child.
Long story short. Doctors tend to use generalities that don't necessarily work for every child. If Ariana is hungry, feed her. I have ALWAYS fed my kids on demand, never on a set schedule, regardless of breast or bottle feeding. I also agree wholeheartedly with what LImonada said about making them fuss too long. It does more harm than good.
One thing you can try is giving her a pacifier becuse it may be the soothing from the sucking she wants. But if that's not it she will spit it out. I also didn't make a point of waking my kids every 3 hours. But Iwouldnt let them go past 5 hours.
While it's time consuming and sometimes annoying that they eat so frequently in the beginning....as time goes by they will eat more and less often. It works itself out.
BTW I know people worry about overfeeding. As I said I have ALWAYS fed mine on demand...while my kids have been on the top of the weight charts they also have been for height and NONE of them are even close to overweight.
You are her mother, if feeding her on demand is what your instincts tell you feels right, then go with that. Doctors can't possibly know what's best for each and every individual child.
I had always thought that babies should be feed on demand as well, and that you feed them every 3 hours if they're asleep or not wanting to eat. I can't imagine that a newborn should ever get put onto a schedule. Just trust yourself to know what to do and when you should feed her.
I thought that newborns need to feed on demand? Or is that only breastfed babies (sorry, but I'm assuming you're not BFing because you mentioned bottles.....I apologize if I'm jumping to conclusions).
Sometimes, letting a baby fuss while he/she waits it out until it's "time" for the next feeding, only does more harm than good - they can take in too much air as they cry which can give them extra gas.....or they can become so agitated that when you do go to feed them, they won't want much. Or they'll tire themselves out so much from the crying/fussing that they fall asleep very easily when being fed and don't end up taking enough to sustain them for a longer period of time.
Sometimes, letting a baby fuss while he/she waits it out until it's "time" for the next feeding, only does more harm than good - they can take in too much air as they cry which can give them extra gas.....or they can become so agitated that when you do go to feed them, they won't want much. Or they'll tire themselves out so much from the crying/fussing that they fall asleep very easily when being fed and don't end up taking enough to sustain them for a longer period of time.
I know that the doctor says every 3 hours but I will tell you that my little boys ate every 2 hours and did this for about the first 3 months until we upped the amount of the bottle. I think that doctors mean well and some babies will do fine on the 3 hours schedule but some just make their own =) I don't believe in letting a baby go hungry if you are absolutely sure that is what is going on with her. BUT ultimately it is your baby and your decision because you know her better than anyone =)
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