feed before or after naps

Hi Everyone!
Just wondering if most people feed before a nap or after? Do the babies sleep better after they are fed with their bellies full? Or does it not matter? I am trying to synchronize feeds with naps, but if you feed at wake up and before naps you kind of have to be consistent. You can't feed at one time before the morning nap and then after the afternoon nap--there is too much time between the feeds. Just wanted to pick y'alls brains on this one!!!! Thanks

 

I'd just play around and see what works best for your babies. There's really nothing to choose between feeding pre or post nap other than the babies' preference! We usually nurse right after naps, but later in the day we actually nurse right after and right before, since their hunger really picks up as the day goes on. Totally up to you (and the kiddos) though!

 

I fed on demand and they slept as they were tired......we are not a schedule type family.

 

When mine were young young, they were feeding every 2 - 3 hours, which meant bottle when they woke up, play time for 1.5 - 2 hours, bottle, nap. When they were maybe 4mos or so on, they ate then napped. That's what they do now too. It depends on what works best for them and you. Watch their cues - if they are starving when they wake - getting sleepy before it's time to eat again etc. Mine slept better with full bellies, so they napped after they ate. Good luck!!

 

Play, Eat, Nap works better for us as the bottle helps make them sleepy. However they take a long afternoon nap (from 11:30-1:30/2) and need to eat as soon as they get up, then play, sleep, eat at 4:30ish.

 

I use babywise and they suggest eat, play, sleep as a schedule. I have used this from the beginning and it works great. It teaches them to go to sleep with out having to be fed and fall alseep while eating. I think mostly it is what you teach your babies to expect. Mine want to eat when they get up now.

 

QUOTE
It teaches them to go to sleep with out having to be fed and fall alseep while eating. I think mostly it is what you teach your babies to expect.


The American Academy of Pediatrics says that babies don't need any teaching about when to eat, and that the best feeding schedules are the ones babies design themselves. Let the babies' needs be your guide.

(For babies who need help learning to fall asleep, HSHHC is a great resource. And before picking up Babywise, please take a look at these warnings.)