On demand vs. schedule

I went to the park with my family today, and all I did the whole time was feed babies!! I fed them right before we left, but as soon as we got there they started fussing and rooting around. I feed on demand...but sometimes they demand it every 30 minutes (or sometimes I just don't know how else to soothe them besides giving them the boob!). So I was curious how many of you feed on demand, and how many of you have "scheduled" your feedings. I know my babies are too young for a schedule, but at what point did you try and schedule yours?

Reyna

 

I fed on schedule while I had to pump and supplement (first 4 weeks) mainly just to fit nursing them for 45 mins each, then pump then supplement, etc. Once we were ebf I did it on demand, but stuck with every 3hrs mostly (but NEVER denied bfing them). I now nurse more around sleep schedules (naps and bedtime) and it amounts to every 1-4hrs. I think you just need to "wing it" for another month or two and soon things will "schedule" themsleves nicely

I also want to add mine gained ALOT more weight once I fed on demand and stopped the supplementing/schedule.

 

Demand. They were preemies and they were on a 3 hour schedule BUT that meant the MOST they could go without food was 3 hours. They would sleep longer then 3 hours if I didn't wake them up. Once they got strong enough, they were able to feed on demand without me having to wake them up.

 

It's hard to give a straight answer! We had to start out on a schedule, to build up their weight & my supply -- but our schedule was every 2 hours. If we were going out, I'd feed them about a half hour earlier, and then maybe slip in a shorter feeding while we were out. This helped me because I mostly tandem nursed, but not if I was out. If I made sure they weren't going to be starving, I could just give them each a quick 10 minutes while we were at church or whatever.

I started moving them to every 3 hours when they were 8 or 9 weeks old, but would still give them that bonus before a short outing. By 16 weeks, we'd be gone for longer stretches, so I'd just be prepared with bottles when we went out. I'd sometimes mix nursing with bottles, but this way meant that I wasn't always having to sneak off to nurse. And by that time, I knew my supply would adjust.

Hang in there...

 

Demand but I fed both when one was hungry. I noticed that they developed a schedule of their own, though, and their feedings got predictable. Growth spurts would come along and knock us for a loop but mostly I knew when they'd be hungry. They never went 3 hours until they were eating solids. It was always 2-2.5. I can't imagine trying to put them on a 3 hour schedule if it meant they were hungry and fussing for 30+ minutes!

 

Hang in there! you're doing great. I think BF twins often ends up being a combination of on demand and schedule. It is really time consuming. We went to the park saturday and I spent the first hour feeding them before we could do anything else.

I had lots of problems BF my preemies and now at 4 months we've finally got things working well. Mine started out on a 3 hour schedule from the NICU. they were eating EBM and some formula. If they did get hungry early, we'd feed them early but we kept them together on the same schedule so if one demanded, the other would get fed too. Now that I'm breastfeeding most of the time and giving about 1 bottle of EBM a day (no more formula) they sometimes eat more frequently. I will offer every 2-2.5 hours during the day unless they are still sleeping. Usually I start BF whoever wakes up first in the a.m. and often that one will feed first all day. (we haven't mastered tandem yet). But if that one gets hungry first, I'll switch up the order to accommodate.

 

We were on a 3 hour schedule from the NICU and we still are basically on that schedule. They go longer at night (thank goodness) but during the day it's every 3 hours! They really seem to like it though. They seem to get hungry right on cue!

 

I think it was about 8 weeks we developed somewhat of a pattern. They will usually go 3 hours- sometimes one 4 hour stretch during the day. I always feed them before we go anywhere though- even if it isn't the usual time. But- if they get hungry a bit early, I don't make them wait. They have their usual times plus or minus about a half hour. Hmmm- so I guess it's sort of a combo of demand and schedule.

 

I started out feeding them every 2- 2.5 hours and changed that to every 3 hours at around a month. If one was hungrier before the 3 hour mark I'd feed them both, but that rarely happened. I now feed them every 3-3.5 hours, but will tailor the schedule to what we have going on in the day- feeding them a bit earlier if it means we can get a feed in before going out.

 

When they were newborns we were on a two hour schedule meaning if after two hours they were not up, I'd wake and feed them. Usually they would eat every 1.5 hours. Some days it was every 45 minutes and other days it was the full two hours and then I'd wake them. Now, I don't let them go longer than 4 hours but they feed whenever they want to.

 

this is a tough one to answer one way or another so I would have to say both....I have never denied them bf when they are hungry but we are on a 2-1/2 hr schedule from start to start, that being said i found that if i make sure they get a full feeding then they will go 2-1/2 - 3 hrs

 

Demand...While home they are still eating sometimes every hour, sometimes they go for two or two and a half if they're napping well. However, when we go out (usually just for walks or the occasional, once or twice since they were born, meal) they can go a little longer. I think they know they can have it whenever they want it at home and they are more entertained if we are out. I never know when they are going to want to eat so we are prepared no matter where we go. But no scheduling

 

I feed on demand. Even though mine tend to cluster feed still, it's not been a big deal yet, but we rarely go outside the house.