Baby Routines

[victoriaw]

How young can you start a baby in a routine?? My son is almost 5 weeks old and I have just changed from breast to bottle feeding him and he is currently feeding every 3 hours, not finishing the whole bottle....just wanting some advice from you experienced mothers out there on how to start?

[redcrx]

theres nothing to stop you trying from birth, whether it works is another matter.

My son pretty much fell into a routine of 4 hourly feeds from birth but he was a hefty 9lbs 6oz so probably didnt need to demand feed, plus he was bottle fed which is differerent to breast feeding. he fed, and then slept for a couple of hours.

He then gradually dropped his night feed himself over the next 8 weeks.

I dont think at 5 weeks Id have made him wait for a feed though or forced him into any strict routine, he was a pretty easy going baby.

[scoobybob]

Was he lasting longer than 3 hours on breast milk?? He may be just getting used to changing to formula.

I know you said he is not finishing the whole bottle, but with breatfeeding there was no way to tell how much he was having anyway!

What helped for me was putting little one in the bedroom from about 7pm (we started this at about the same age as yours), rather than have him downstairs with us. After a few days he did sleep for longer periods during the night & after 2 weeks he was sleeping right through. Co-incidence?? Maybe!!!

There is no quick fix I'm afraid, but good luck & enjoy!!

[victoriaw]

Thank you! No, he was breastfeeding all the time so the 3 hourly pattern he has fallen in to is luxury after 5 weeks of what seemed like constant feeding! Thanks for the advice. Off to try putting him down in his moses basket in the bedroom! x