Feeding on cue

[llghoney]

Does or has anyone done this with bottle feeding?

 

[peace in the vally]

Sometimes Depending On How Much She Has Cried Through Out The Day. If She Spent Most Of The Day Crying Then Yes Because I Would Do Anything To Make Her Quite, If Not Then I Would Let Her Cry A Little. It Also Depended On If I Was Doing Something Or Not

 

[tiredwalker]

I feed her whenever she asks for it basically (cries or starts rooting/sticking her tongue out). The whole world stops when she's hungry. If she has to wait an extra two seconds, she gets the purple faced, stop breathing cry. Not pretty.

 

[angelsgirl]

Yeah, we do this. It's not so much of an issue now that Maddie is older and has more regular feeds. But when she was younger she was all over the place with her feeds. I'd feed her whenever she wanted it. Sometimes she would drink the whole bottle other times she wouldn't. I checked with my Early Childhood Health Nurse and she said it was fine to demand feed when they are little.
There are sometimes now where I still do it. If Maddie has worked herself into a tizz then I will feed her to calm her down. Sometimes it's the only way to stop her from crying!

 

[jgonz]

I'm feeding Abel on cue, which turns out to be about every 2 hrs during the day.

 

[Birbitt]

I have always fed my children on demand whether it was breast feeding or bottle feeding didn't matter to me, I always fed them when they were hungry until they were ready for solids then I'd start to wean them to a schedule...like first thing in the morning would be cereal and then a bottle to fill up, then am "snack" would be some finger foods/crackers and a bottle, then lunch would be some sort of fruit and a bottle, pm "snack" finger foods and bottle, and supper would be veggies and maybe some cereal and a bottle, and just before bed another bottle....however if they were hungry between this I would fix a bottle for them. It worked great for us and made transition to a scheduled meal routine much easier...even now when my boys are 4 and 5 they know the schedule and what to expect it works great!

 

[seamonster]

I fed my son on cue both while BFing and while bottle feeding totally worth it, IMO

 

[Hadassah]

Yes, when we were using the bottles, we did. He'd usually say "mmghee" Or "Ohghee" and would root on anyone/everyone that held him until he got it. On cue was generally every 2-3 hrs, just like breastfeeding

 

[Leanna]

This is one of those things I don't get.... don't all parents feed on cue.... I mean who is not feeding the baby when the baby says they are hungry??

 

[jgonz]

There are parents who stick to the 4 hr schedule that the hospital nursery uses, come h*ll or high water. That was pretty much me, with my first child, because I didn't know any better. Pure ignorance! LOL Being on that strict of a schedule contributes to very Detached parenting, which, unfortunately, was also me with my first two kids. (We had to work harder later to fix that.)

 

[angelsgirl]

My husband keeps thinking Maddie can't be hungry so soon (2 hours after her last feed) cause 'most' of the time she goes at least 3 hours between feeds. It really frustrates me, cause I know my daughter and I know her hungry signs. I try not to let it get to crying... But my husband would rather drag it out to the 3 hour mark at least. I feed her when she is hungry, whether it is 1 hour or 4 hours after her last feed.

 

[llghoney]

Well, now I'm feeling bad because I do stick to the 4 hr schedule except the night time feeding. But when she wakes during the day it's a 4 hr schedule & I don't see how I could not be attached to her by doing this.

 

[angelsgirl]

But it's whatever works for you though. A 4 hour schedule would never work for us.
Your little one might not want to feed more than 4 hourly!
Don't feel bad! You have to do what is right for you and your baby!

 

[Leanna]

I don't think 4 hour schedules make any sense. My 4 year old doesn't go 4 hours between eating, we have snacks, and if I don't expect my 4 year old to do it why would I expect a baby to do it? We all know even in adulthood that metabolism works better if eating more smaller meals.

Also its far less likely for a baby to sleep all night if you start them out with a 4 hour schedule during the day. Babies are going to insist on getting the calories they need to grow (most anyway) and if you don't give it to them during the day, then they're going to wake at night to eat. A worse fear is if they don't insist they could become "failure to thrive."

If baby is hungry sooner llghoney, definitely feed her. Trust her to know what she needs to grow. This does not mean you need to feed her every hour or anything.

 

[Assisi]

Well, now I'm feeling bad because I do stick to the 4 hr schedule except the night time feeding. But when she wakes during the day it's a 4 hr schedule & I don't see how I could not be attached to her by doing this.

Do you mean that she naturally feeds four hourly? Then that's good for her. It's not like she is wanting to eat every two hours and you are making her wait and cry until it's four hours, right?

 

[gracepaints]

Well, now I'm feeling bad because I do stick to the 4 hr schedule except the night time feeding. But when she wakes during the day it's a 4 hr schedule & I don't see how I could not be attached to her by doing this.

I don't think a schedule necessarily makes you unattached. Some babies naturally want to eat at regular times and if that works for both of you, then that's great. I'd would however make sure to learn and pay attention to her subtle hungry cues - like rooting and smacking her lips. These things are not as obvious as fussing and crying (which are late signs of hunger) and getting tuned into them will strength your connection with your baby and give you more confidence in your mommy-intuition.

Also, for growth reasons, I wouldn't put her off if she is hungry before 4 hours. When they go through growth spurts, babies always want (and need!) to eat more often.

 

[llghoney]

I don't stick strictly to the 4 hrs schedule if she is hungry say at 3 hr or what not I will feed her. But usually she goes 4 hrs without being hungry. She only wakes once at night which she goes to sleep around 7:30 and wakes at 12:30-1:00. Then not back up til 5 or 6. I'm not starving her for sure. Someimes she doesn't drink the whole 4 oz. either. I read in The Baby Book it's better to not overfeed/force feed, their stomachs are really small still.

 

[gracepaints]

Sounds good to me, then. (Not that you have to get my clearance. You are the mommy!)

 

[Assisi]

I don't stick strictly to the 4 hrs schedule if she is hungry say at 3 hr or what not I will feed her. But usually she goes 4 hrs without being hungry. She only wakes once at night which she goes to sleep around 7:30 and wakes at 12:30-1:00. Then not back up til 5 or 6. I'm not starving her for sure. Someimes she doesn't drink the whole 4 oz. either. I read in The Baby Book it's better to not overfeed/force feed, their stomachs are really small still.

Sounds like your doing a good job to me.

 

[Neenie1]

I don't stick strictly to the 4 hrs schedule if she is hungry say at 3 hr or what not I will feed her. But usually she goes 4 hrs without being hungry. She only wakes once at night which she goes to sleep around 7:30 and wakes at 12:30-1:00. Then not back up til 5 or 6. I'm not starving her for sure. Someimes she doesn't drink the whole 4 oz. either. I read in The Baby Book it's better to not overfeed/force feed, their stomachs are really small still.

That sounds great! If she is gaining weight and looking healthy then that is a good sign that she is eating enough.