How old was your baby when they went 4 hours between day feeds?

[weeblueberry]

DD is 17 weeks and has a feed every three hours during the day and sleeps from 9pm til 7am. Recently she's started being quite uninterested during feeds and only takes about 15 minutes worth. She seems happy most of the rest of the time and DP suggested bringing her back to 4 hourly feeds but 6 feeds doesn't seem like very much?

[IComeFromALandDownUnder]

I don't understand why you would change it if she is sleeping so well at night. My 18 week old feeds every 3 hours during the day and wakes twice a night.

[weeblueberry]

Because she's hardly interested in feeding at three hourly intervals. She's lucky if she takes 15 mins and in that time often stops and starts when she gets distracted. So she's obviously not that hungry at those times anymore?

[TheWomanWhoMisplacedHerHusband]

7 months

[stargirl1701]

She never did. I don't eat/drink every 4 hours either. I just fed her when she showed signs of hunger. I still do although she can now sign for food and/or milk.

Why do you want her feed every 4 hours?

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

If she seems to be getting enough milk (wet/ dirty nappies, weight gain, settled etc etc) I would probably let her set her own feeding routine (I have only ever fed on demand though, so no experience of a more clock-led routine).

IIRC by 17 weeks DS fed really quickly, and DD (now 13 weeks) rarely takes more than 15 minutes to feed during the day.

[ilovepowerhoop]

ds was probably just over 4 months when he started not wanting a feed before 4 hours had passed.

[nancerama]

Babies get much more efficient at getting milk out the older they get. Don't worry about the length of time she's feeding for - 15 minutes is plenty at that age.

[catkind]

15 minutes is a big feed for an efficient feeder - is she getting a let-down or two? DD only ever fed for 5-10 minutes at a time and had 3 hour gaps from birth. (Assuming you're bf as you're talking about times not amounts?) DS was more of the half an hour every hour school, maybe every 2 hours by 17 weeks.
I'd say neither of them went 4 hours between feeds till I went to work when they were 1.
Quite normal to be distracted by things going on around them at 17 weeks. If you think she is actually hungry but being distracted, have you tried going to a quiet room to feed?
I think tbh the best plan is to stop looking at the clock and feed her when she asks to be fed.
Be prepared for the feeding to ramp up again around 5 months when they often have a growth spurt!

[hettienne]

Why not just feed her when she wants a feed instead of by the clock? Much easier to just let them eat/drink when they need it.

I guess DS was somewhere between 6-9 months when he went 4 hourly in the day.

[gruber]

DS 7.5 months & still waiting... Has just gone 3 hourly since starting solids at 28 weeks (actual). If she's sleeping that well at night she's getting enough in during the day. I wouldn't change anything would love DS to do 4 hourly

[TheWomanWhoMisplacedHerHusband]

Also depends how active they are

[weeblueberry]

Thanks all.

For those asking why I feed on a schedule it's because I leave her with mum for a few hours a couple of times a week. I've had problems expressing and can't produce enough for a bottle so I really need to 'know' when she'll need fed iykwim?

[tinierclanger]

DS never went more than 3 hours. DD is 4 months and feeds around every 2, 2.5 hours. Sometimes she doesn't have much but she'll still want something. Tricky to plan for with bottles etc I agree!

[Indith]

Not until on plenty of solids and happy to eat or drink from a cup instead of feed for me with all 3 of them. Plus depends on weather (if hot feed more), how they are feeling, what they are doing.......

All babies are different though and some are happy feeding 4 hourly so if it suits you and she is happy with it then 4 hours at her age is ok. She will let you know if she is hungry earlier!

[thisisyesterday]

about 11-12 months

[pettyprudence]

ds has needed feeding every 2 hours from the minute he was born. Even now on solids and 2.5 years old he still needs constant feeding

[pettyprudence]

by 17 weeks though it would only take him about 7 mins to bf, both breasts. They do get very efficient! Its your reward for all the bloody hours cluster feeding and growth spurts in the early days!

[weeblueberry]

Aww thanks so much everyone. I do think she may just be getting more efficient now you mention it. Ill keep going with the three hours and see how we get on :)

[catkind]

Come to think of it, I eat more often than 4 hrs still now
Still wouldn't worry too much even if you're leaving her with your mum. Just make sure you feed her before you leave, she's unlikely to even think about it when you're not there.