Actually you're right - the two ideas don't really go together. Feed-sleep-play is not really the way babies normally work. In the early days with DS1 when I thought I had to follow the parenting books, I tried to implement feed-sleep-play, but always ended up with feed-sleep-feed-play etc. What ended up happening with both boys was that they fell into their own ryhthm and I just went with it. Things worked so much better when I let them lead the way.
So if I want to go back to just demand feeding, I should let her dictate? If she is happy to chat and play and doesn't necessarily want a feed as soon as she wakes, I should just go with that?
I might try that tomorrow... I have a home day, might see how we go.
For example after some sleeps she is quite content to play or coo at me (so in that circumstance its sleep, play, feed, sleep).
Other times she will wake wanting a feed (so its sleep, feed, play, sleep).
She is a happy baby so I just go with whatever and when I go to the MCHN and they say how is she going, I just say great. I save all my questions for you guys as I find they dictate to me only one way that DD can be otherwise.
OP, whatever works for you is probably the best thing to do. I found that following their cues worked best - so in that case yes, if she's not hungry when she wakes then hold off and feed her when she is. It takes a while, but you get to know the sleepy and hunger cues. Crying is a late sign of hunger so with practice you can figure out when she's hungry before it gets to that point.
The other thing though, is still keep in mind the "guidelines" - this comes in handy when you miss the cues (which will happen at times). So what I mean is, a young baby usually will only stay awake for 1 1/2 hours tops. So if it's been 3 hours then it's probably best to try sleep even if she doesn't seem tired. Same for feeding - if it's been a long time since the last feed, then I would offer a feed.
It might sound confusing, but once you are doing it, it seems to fall into place quite easily.
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