B/F rules - do u wake up baby?

[Lilli]

Hi there,

It's been 10 months since I stopped b/feeding my DD and I am due to have baby No.2 in just over a week's time - however, I feel like I have forgotten everything about B/feeding!!! Am I supposed to wake sleeping baby to feed him/her? I seem to recall that I used to set my alarm to feed my DD every 3 hours at the beginning - including at night (was I nuts?!). If you are "demand feeding" and the baby sleeps for 4-5 hours at a stretch do you wake them up for a feed at the 3 hour mark?

Also, I have heard that baby's are now fed solids at 4 months whereas when I had my DD it was 6 months - what's the deal with that?

Hope you can help!

[Ellee05]

Hi Lilli,

My DD was a little prem and when we got out of hospital we were told to wake her at 4hrs if she hadn't woke already - only in the early days. Once she'd gained enough weight etc we could just go with demand feeding, sometimes 3hrly sometimes 6

As for the solids. We have just started this over the last month. It is still recommended to exclusively breast feed for 6months then start introducing solids. ABA have the motto - food is fun until you're One. But obviously you would follow your babies cues for deciding this.

Good luck with the upcoming arrival of bub number 2.

[StrawberryMumma]

For a baby that's putting on weight, has no other medical issues or concerns- no I wouldn't wake them.

I'm sure everything will come back to you when you start feeding again. All the best

[~me~]

Unless there is an underlying premmie issue or something else I would use the old saying
'never wake a sleeping baby'

Congratulations, you will be just fine. You will be amazed how it all just falls into place.
I think now you go by your judgement with solids. So somewhere between 4-6mths. Have a look at the baby led solids thread as they follow the Gill Rapley principles of Baby led weaning. Which is no solids until 6mths and finger foods and no purees. Provided that works for you. Not sure what I plan on doing yet, will cross that path when I get to it.

x Heather

[Jennifer13]

I don't think the guidelines on introducing solids have changed at all. The WHO still recommends exclusive bfing for 6 mths. Baby led solids eliminates any need to be worried about this though, since baby will only explore and eat food when they're developmentally ready (inside and out!).

GL with your new baby and be sure to pop in if you have any bfing questions!

One thing that is new is that the ABA helpline is now a tollfree number 1800 mum 2 mum, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A bfing counsellor can help you over the phone if you need it.

[~clover~]

As long as your baby is having minimum 8 - 12 feeds over 24 hours there is no need to wake them