Schedules

[alotofyarn]

Who comes up with these suggested schedules for babies? I keep looking at what we "should" be doing about now, and it always stresses me out. E nurses about 8 times/day right now - 6:30, 9:30, 12:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, dreamfeed around 10:30, and she usually wakes up around 3:30am and I feed her only one side, hoping to wean her back off of that one. She gets solids after her 9:30 and 5:30 feeds. I realize I have a somewhat low supply, so we're going to be feeding more frequently than "normal" to make up for it. I'm just curious what other babies are doing, and if any 5-6 month old breastfed baby is really only feeding 4 times a day. I'd like to do her breakfast solids earlier, but since I want her to nurse first then feed, it's easiest to do it after 9:30 so they can feed her at daycare (and I can occasionally go back to sleep on the weekends). Right now I'm feeling like I have no idea how, if ever, we'll get her onto a normal eating schedule. Please tell me I'm crazy and that I need to stop overthinking these things.

[Urowife]

I wouldn't stress about it! When my kids were 6 mnths, they still nursed at least 8 times a day. We just starting adding in meals when it seemed convenient. It'll work itself out. But, I was never much into schedules. I did try to settle into a sleep schedule once the naps got down to 2 a day.

[OrionGrad]

I don't remember exactly what DS's schedule was at that age, but I remember we basically just organized it around naps. So he'd nurse before or after (I forget which) each nap, along with first thing in the morning and before bed each night. I think we averaged around 5 or 6 nursing sessions a day.
Don't worry what the books say, just go with whatever works for your family and whatever makes your DD happy.

[alotofyarn]

On a good day she takes 4 naps still, catnaps around 8:30 and 5, and 30 minute to 2 hour naps around 10:30 and 2.

[Deebs]

My first baby had the exact same schedule, and I loved it - she ate like clockwork! Breastmilk is easily digested, so it doesn't stick with many babes for long. It sounds like her schedule is great.

[ladymoreta]

It sounds like she's right on track! I love this site for realistic sleeping and eating schedules: http://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sl...ing-schedules/.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I don't keep track very closely but E and D are basically the same age and I can assure you, she is not eating only 4x/day. She gets at LEAST 3 5oz bottles while I work (9-5:30), usually nurses immediately after work, several times in the evening, 3-4x overnight and sometimes again in the AM between wake up at 7 and work at 9.

So yeah, she eats a lot. Do NOT worry about those silly schedules. Frankly, the fact that she wakes once/night is #winning in my book...she's crushing D who thinks a stellar night of sleep is 3 wakings. Better than her older sister who never, ever slept more than 4 hours until she was 14 months old.

We haven't even started solids and ain't no way mama is getting to go back to sleep on the weekends, EVER. So, sounds to me like you're doing really well and she's a happy, hungry baby!

[GrayMatterWife]

Babies have a schedule?

Another thing in the Mom Book I missed.

[SoonerTexan]

Schedules

I don't bother keeping track of how much we nurse. This kid is a snacker. And we just feed on demand which = "oh you're fussing, here is a boob/bottle"

I'm sure if we paid attention more a clearer pattern is there. As N got older her naps became pretty defined. But we always pretty much followed her lead

[alotofyarn]

She often wakes more than once a night, but she's not usually hungry, she just wants to be cuddled. If she wakes up around 4:30 or later, she either ends up in bed with me or in the swing. I only go back to sleep occasionally after feeding her around 6:30, and that's only if she cooperates and goes in the swing afterward. She certainly doesn't go back to sleep in her crib.

[Thirteen]

Babies have a schedule?

Another thing in the Mom Book I missed.

My son laughed at anything that resembled a routine, until he was 9-10 months old, then he graciously began sleeping for 45min -1 hr once a day. You know, to show me some leniency.


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[Vanquisher]

I never ever worried about schedules. Hungry? We eat. Tired? Time to sleep. Kid poops? Diaper change time. I've got an appointment? Kid comes too. No schedules, and it was great!!

[ladymoreta]

Just for funsies (and to show you how insane I was about documenting...) Here's a typical week from my DD at about your DD's age.

[Vanquisher]

Oh holy crap! iphone apps to make you neurotic about everything. I'm almost glad my kids were born before smart phones.

[ladymoreta]

Oh holy crap! iphone apps to make you neurotic about everything. I'm almost glad my kids were born before smart phones.

Haha it was actually kind of fun... I could celebrate when we broke a record for how long DS and DD had slept!