Length of time between feeds

[woopster]

Hello all,
I'm new to this bottle feeding lark, and am really confused...

Lydia and Lydia rarely go more than 3 hours overnight without a feed, yet can go up to 5 1/2 hours during the day before waking.

HOW???
More importantly: WHY?
And more importantly still: WHY NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND??

Yours, confused and sleep deprived of Kent!

[LindseysMom]

Hello.  Have you tried waking them during the day and not leting them sleep past 2 hours for naps and hopefully they will transfer some of the day sleep to night sleep.  I know I am not a big believer in waking a sleeping baby but it sounds like they have their days and nights mixed up.  Also, I think if you try to feed them at least every 3-4 hours during the day maybe they will learn that day time is for eating and night-time is for sleeping.   It may take a week or so to get their little bodies adjusted but if it were me I would give it a try. HTH.

[rooby-rooby-roo]

Wendy, i agree with Lindseys mom, make sure you feed them every three hours during the day. And they are still very small (only due this week if i remember) they will need to be treated like a newborn for several more weeks. If you are consistant with the 3 hourly feeds during the day, and try a cluster feed at night, it may help. WE are at something like this right now:

7am - feed
10am - feed
1pm - feed
4pm - feed
6pm - feed (before bath)
7pm feed (after bath)
10.30pm - feed

Sam and Lydia will, i assume then wake around 3-4am ish. It may take a while, and they may do 2am, 5am 7am which is a killer, but they will get bigger soon and be past this stage before you know it!

If one gets up do you wake the other?

[woopster]

Hi girls,
I have tried waking them, but they are just not interested - Sam especially will NOT open his mouth whatever you do to him!

This morning I woke Lydia after 4 hours - she managed 2 1/2 oz before conking out. I tried changing her, I laid her down on a cold changing mat, and still she didn't wake  :roll:
She never took any more...she is in bed now.

[LindseysMom]

You know, with them being premies, it may just take a little longer for them to be ready to try and adjust to normal night and day routines.  Sorry, don't know what else to recommend.  Hang in there though, it has to get better at some point. :wink:

[rooby-rooby-roo]

Again agreeing with Lyne here! This is typical newborn behaviour, Red was like it for the first 4 weeks too. Feed, nappy change, sleep, feed, naapy change, sleep. It will get better. Their small tummy's can't hold too much at the moment - what are their current weights?? I can work out what they should be having per day, to put your mind at rest if you like. Are they gaining enough?

Love x x