Feeding on demand Breastfeeding Message Board

Jen_C · 03-06-08, 10:19 AM

I've been nursing on demand to help get the milk supply going and ease into everything. When should I switch and try to form more of a schedule for feeding? How the heck do I do it? Preston LOVES to suck and is kind of taking a pacifier (we're still working on it!) If he doesn't fall asleep nursing, he wants to keep nursing until he goes into a deep sleep. I know that's a bad habit to start, but I'm hoping to start trying other things once we get some sort of schedule going. He screams really loud when I don't "feed" him so I'm worried trying to get him on some sort of schedule is going to be really hard.

rudolphia · 03-06-08, 10:22 AM

We didn't get into any kind of schedule until Marek was about 3 months old. I would say, if he's falling asleep and wants to keep sucking, try continuing to hold him but subbing the paci in when he's drowsy.

imagine · 03-06-08, 11:50 AM

my ds started to get more on a schedule around 3 months. I still feed on demand but he got into more of a schedule on his own. and now at 6 months I still feed feed him when he wants to eat instead at certin times but he does want it about the same time everyday.

kareybear · 03-06-08, 12:12 PM

Calvin is 6 months, no schedule here and won't start one, he eats when he's hungry and that's fine with me.

Do what feels best for your family.

teddybear1082 · 03-06-08, 02:06 PM

Erin started finding her own schedule around 2 and a half months, but I helped it along. I tried to hold her off for a bit each feeding. My doc said this would slightly increase how much milk she got each feeding and allow her to last longer between feedings. She is now eating about every 3.5 hours but the exact times vary from day to day by about 30 minutes in either direction.
(She is almost 4 months old)