What are your schedules like for 5-6 month olds?

Hi ladies,

I've written before regarding my two and the trouble I'm having to get them to drink their bottles. I need help though because I'm starting to feel like I'm failing as a mom.

I had been feeding them every 3 hours starting at 6am, which was giving them 6 bottles. Lately I've been stretching time between because they are so fussy while eating, like they aren't hungry. DD's bottle is 5.5oz and she very rarely drinks more than 4oz. DS's bottle is 6.5oz and he does okay, but sometimes leaves some. I'm not so worried about him as he is up to 15 pounds. DD is only at 12, and he hasn't really gained much in the last 2 months. I can't stay on the 3 hours because I feel like I'm stuffing them with food.

They are taking an hour to drink and I think that's too long.

My babies usually sleep between feeds, and I'm finding that I have to wake them up to feed during the day. So they don't cry for food unless you count the 2 minutes between the diaper change and the actual eating.

So with them becoming more fussy, and the schedule totally off course. They are only getting 5 bottles and the last one is at 10pm.

I would love to get an idea of what you ladies are doing. I'd like them to go down for the night earlier, but I know I have to get them to drink more. We haven't started cereal, but do have a pedi. appointment next week and I'm hoping he'll tell us to start. I may just start a little bit this week to see how it goes.

I'm using Dr. Browns bottles with level 2 nipples. They dribble with them, but I did try 3's last night to see if it would help. They both refuse to eat, so I guess that means they aren't ready.

Please help if you can.

 

Have you tried dropping a bottle or going 4 hours between feeds? I think you are on the right track by thinking of stretching them a bit longer on their bottles. I am sorry that they are having a hard time finishing their bottles for you. It is very frustrating. Mine were born at 32 weeks as well and they really didnt get a good schedule and good eating habits until about 6 months actual. Hang in there.
Here are some 5 month schedules from the FY handbook sticky from above. They might help you formulate a plan. :hug:

 

ITA, if they aren't hungry at 3 hours you can go 4 hours and see how they do. I remember DD didn't drink much for the longest time and she only gained 7 lbs in 9 months. It is hard not to get caught up in their weights (BTDT) but you really just have to go by their moods, wet diapers and how much they sleep. If they are good in those departments you are doing well. As far as getting them to bed earlier it will take time but you can start a good routine now for the time you want them to go to sleep and even if they don't catch on for a while they will get it eventually! GL

 

My babies are 5 months old and were doing a lot of fooling around on the three hour schedule (just two weeks ago they went through a growth spurt and ate every 2.5 hours yuck!) so I have been waiting until they get fussy to eat. It has been about 3.5 to 4 hours between feedings. Although sometimes they still need to eat after only three hours, I am just letting them tell me.

 

What nipple flow are you using? If they are taking an hour to eat, they might need a faster flow nipple. DS went to a fast flow at just 2mos old!

 

QUOTE(Gen&ThadsMom @ Nov 8 2008, 09:20 PM) [snapback]1062753[/snapback]
My babies are 5 months old and were doing a lot of fooling around on the three hour schedule (just two weeks ago they went through a growth spurt and ate every 2.5 hours yuck!) so I have been waiting until they get fussy to eat. It has been about 3.5 to 4 hours between feedings. Although sometimes they still need to eat after only three hours, I am just letting them tell me.


My challenge is that if I stretch to 4 hours then they don't seem to be getting enough feeds in and I'm waking them up to feed them later in the evening.

For the last week we've been letting them tell us and it's been approx 3.5 - 4 hours. Even so, they are fussy. They are hungry but we struggle to feed them. The faster flow nipple (#3) seemed too fast and they both refused to eat.

Thanks to all that replied.

 

We had been doing 5 bottles a day with 6 oz, 3 hours apart. A couple weeks ago we dropped to 4 bottles with 7oz, 4 hours apart. I find that it took a day before they started eating more. They get up around 6 or 7 and have their last bottle at 7. I use level 2 nipples, also Dr. Browns. Ellie would eat every 3 hours if I fed her. She is always hungry. I found when I stretched her to 4 hours, she started drinking more. I would wait until they seem hungry to feed them. I bet in a day or two, you'll see them drinking more at each feed. We started cereal at 4 months. I do it around 4-5pm. I notice every couple weeks or so, they'll start drinking a little more. They weren't finishing their bottles a couple weeks ago, but are now. I do the powdered formula, so they are probably drinking 7.5 oz. once it's mixed 4x/day, plus their cereal has at least an ounce or two in it.

 

we wake up at 7-8 and dd takes 5-6oz, ds takes 3-4oz. they eat every 3-4 hours, and they go down for a nap around 9-10 and sleep for 1-2hours. then they nap around 1-2 for another 1-2 hours, and then usually a short nap about 45min long at around 4 or 5. their last bottle is around 6 or 7 and then bed. sometimes dd will sttn, sometimes she wakes at midnight for a bottle, and then again anywhere from 3-5 for another bottle. ds usually goes 3-4 hours at night before he cries for a bottle. he has trouble eating too. we use dr.brown's and he's on level 2, shes on level 1 cuz she refuses the faster flow, who knows? neither are eating solids on a daily basis, dd refuses them but ds will eat bananas and sweet potatos without complaints so far. hope that helps?

 

Mine are around the same age as yours they have been eating 4 bottles a day for the last two months just in the last week I started adding an once to morning and night bottle I tried to all the time but It is a little to much for them. They are both over 16lbs so I know they are gaining plenty.

here is what my scedule looks like

7 AM Bottle 7onces
play till 9 AM nap
11: 00 solids cereal and fruit
11:30 of 12:00 6oz bottle
1:00 nap for 2-3 hours
3:00-3:30 6 or 7 oz bottle
play time
cat nap at 5:00
6:00 veggies and fruit
6:30 bath
7:00 7oz bottle and lay them down while they are still awake with their music on and they usually sleep until 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning and they have been since they were three months old.

Have you tried to not feed them their last bottle at 10PM to see how long they would sleep. All babies are different I hope this help. Good luck

 

Oh How I remember those days! Mine were born at 32.5 weeks too, and they (esp DD) never liked her bottles. Looking back, I really really wish I would have been more relaxed about it... they are big, healthy babies and I think that it's true that they'll eat what they want (of course, as long as they are growing).

Just offer the bottle every 3-4 hours during the day and/or whenever they're hungry. I did find that they ate better right before they would go to sleep (we ended up doing a wake/eat/play/eat/sleep routine. So they'd take half their bottle when they woke up, then I'd get them to finish it off when they were sleepy again.

Good luck!

 

QUOTE(strubtwins @ Nov 9 2008, 09:40 AM) [snapback]1063294[/snapback]
Mine are around the same age as yours they have been eating 4 bottles a day for the last two months just in the last week I started adding an once to morning and night bottle I tried to all the time but It is a little to much for them. They are both over 16lbs so I know they are gaining plenty.

here is what my scedule looks like

7 AM Bottle 7onces
play till 9 AM nap
11: 00 solids cereal and fruit
11:30 of 12:00 6oz bottle
1:00 nap for 2-3 hours
3:00-3:30 6 or 7 oz bottle
play time
cat nap at 5:00
6:00 veggies and fruit
6:30 bath
7:00 7oz bottle and lay them down while they are still awake with their music on and they usually sleep until 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning and they have been since they were three months old.

Have you tried to not feed them their last bottle at 10PM to see how long they would sleep. All babies are different I hope this help. Good luck



We have pretty much the same schedule execpt I only feed mine solids in the morning so far and they go to bed at 8pm but everything else is exact!