Wake for 10pm feed or not?

[Baby Nanny]

Hi

I'm a nanny to a toddler and soon to be newborn.  Mom wants to introduce a bottle from week 1 just like with toddler with EBM.  When toddler (T) was a newborn (I was there too, helping at nights) dad did the night feeds but he waited till T woke up, then only heated the bottle in warm water so it took a while and we all know how much a baby just LOVES to have to wait for their food    Now, T could wake up anywhere from 9pm to midnight in which case it threw the entire night and the rest of the day out.  If he nursed at 10, then he nursed well at 2, then again at about 5 (usually a smallish 'snack', then usually 8.  But if he nursed closer to midnight, then he snacked from 2 till 7 all night and mom was exhausted the next day and so was T so he slept a lot, therefore didn't feed well during the day and so on.

So, I suggested that they feed the new baby (girl) at 10/10:30pm so that at least mom knew that she would most probably feed at 2am, and also, dad wouldn't have this guessing game of when baby is going to wake and there wouldn't be an issue with baby having to wait for the EBM to be warmed (it's winter here so room temp is pretty cold).  Dad refused to go to bed before he had fed baby so he was often up till all hours.

What are your thoughts?  Wake baby at 10:30ish so at least one feed is a 'known' factor?  Leave baby to find their own feeding schedule - mind you, mom plans on feeding on a 3 hours routine although I disagree, (I've put forward my exp and suggestions - both times at her request, but she wants to do it this way) so it kinda makes sense to 'schedule' the evening feed.

Sorry, I know it's difficult, babies are all different, but any advise would be appreciated
Tx
Sarah

[daisymelan]

Sarah, you are a very wise women!  BTW, I love your tickers! hehe

I would strongly encourage them to introduce the feed, it sounds like it will be beneficial to both mom and baby to be.  But as you said, all little ones are different and this one may thrive more in the evening on a demand basis.  But I would tend to side with your way of thinking.  If they are "scheduling"  all feeds, it seems kind of silly that they would not keep it up until Dad's night sleep.

Maybe explain it to Dad in a way that makes him feel like he will have to do less work and will also get more time for himself and a reliable bed time.

[Carter'sMama]

I think it would definitely be a good idea to "schedule" a 10:00pm ish feed.  Atleast that way the parents can kind of know what to expect.  It must be such an ordeal to warm the bottle and have  a screaming starving infant!

I think that Dad would definitely be on board with introducing the dream feed because he will get more sleep that way.  I could never sleep very well when I was expecting/waiting to see when my lo would wake up.

HTH

[Baby Nanny]

Hi Ladies

I like my tickers too, better change them soon

I will discuss with dad this week.  Mom goes in on Thuesday morning at 6am so I'm at work early, but will chat to dad when he is at home and then when mom gets home will chat to her too.  I think it will work best to 'schedule' the 10pm feed, even if it means waking baby between 10 and 10:30pm  Hopefully that will make it easier during the nights later on as baby gets older with regards to 'loosing' one of the night feeds.

Tx

Hope you had a great Easter
Sarah

[JacobMarksMummy]

Sorry I meant to post eairlier! Definatly give it a try, when I introduced a feed at that kind of time with my DS at around 5weeks it saved my sanity! You can think to yourself 'Right I've got 4/5 hours of sleep before I have to do it again'.  I wish you could come and be my nanny! Your obv. very clued up, they are lucky to have you