New to bottle feeding and confused about EASY times?

[Sweetpeajanet]

Hello,
My DD is just over two weeks old. I am new to formula feeding and am wondering if I still use the same three hourly EASY routine? Today she woke at 7:30, so I fed her at 10:30 and 1:30. I'll continue with 4:30. I get confused with the cluster feeding. What times would I do this? I really want to stick with the dream feed at 10:30-11 as we were previously doing this and she was going to 4am. If you could help me out with this routine I'd be most grateful. And how much formula should they be having? She takes anywhere from 70-120mls per feed. Is there a maximum amount? Did you wake your baby to start your day say at 7am or wait until they woke up?
Thanks

[Sweetpeajanet]

Please help thanks

[Lolly]

Hi and welcome.

Yes , with formula you still use the 3 hourly routine or even slightly sooner if she is showing you hungry cues. Clusters feeds are usually done around 6pm and 8pm and then a DF between 10 and 11pm.

With the amount of formula you let her take what she wants! There should be a bit left in the bottle so that you know she has stopped because she is full and not just because the bottle is empty. When she starts drinking all of her bottles you nedd to make them an oz or 2 bigger (30-60ml)

With wake up times it's up to you. My two didn't ever really have a set wake up time so we just did our EASY from the time they woke up. You are aiming for a 12 hour day/ night but don't stress too much about it now, your baby is tiny and you need to enjoy getting to know her!

Her are some links to help you http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=186622.0 and http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=164027.0

Oh - and just as a FYI your posts may not get answered straight away as we are all just mums helping other mums so we have our own families too. Also when you first posted it was the early hours in the UK, so not everyone who comes here would have been awake! If you can be a bit patient when you post someone will get to you.

HTH!

Laura

[Sweetpeajanet]

Hi Laura,

Thanks for replying. Sorry I didn't realise most posters were from the UK. I'm from Australia. I thought my post might have got lost in the large web forum and was just trying to bump it up just in case. I sometimes forget we live in a different time zone down here.

I read to try cluster feeds of 7 and 9 and that's what I tried tonight. I know I'm probably expecting too much as she is so little. I started late with my DS at 4 months and this time really wanted to get on the right track from the beginning.

Thanks again

[Sweetpeajanet]

I tried the cluster feeding and had one of the worst nights since she was born. She stayed awake from 11pm, slept for half an hour at around 4am and then cried again until 5:30am. I think she may have had gas pains and she was very distressed. Perhaps it was too much milk for her to consume? She fed at 7pm, 9pm, 11pm, 2:30am, 5:30am and then 7:30am. Previously she had been feeding at 11pm, waking at either 3 or 4am then between 7-8am. Should i just stick to feeding every 3 hours and a dream feed and skip the cluster feeding? Thanks

[clairew11]

Hiya,

I started later with my DS however I never cluster fed or DF as I found it made him wake up more. I would do the last feed at say 7pm and do bed time, if you want to DF I would, it sounds as if cluster feed was giving her wind so try without. Please remember your LO is so tiny, my LO didnt sleep through the night until 10 weeks and even that is classed as quite early x

[RachelC]

Previously she had been feeding at 11pm, waking at either 3 or 4am then between 7-8am. Should i just stick to feeding every 3 hours and a dream feed and skip the cluster feeding? Thanks

This sounds wonderful for her age and I would roll with it.

[*Kara*]

I would go back to the previous routine without the cluster feeds