wake him up to feed or let sleeping babies lie?

[Ali's mum]

my 12 week old son has taken to Tracy's methods like a champion.  He's my textbook baby and doing really really well.  He's at the point where newborn tactics maybe aren't working for him anymore, so i'm not sure how to go about a couple of things.  I believe in following his pace and going with the flow, but I think issues may crop up if I do that without intervening occasionally.

#1 - He's a sleeper (thank god!).  He eats as soon as he wakes up, and then we play, then after being up for an hour and a half total, he's ready for a nap.  This is sometimes a short nap (1 hour), sometimes a long nap (I always wake him up if it's been 3.5 hours since the start of last feed.  Should I be waking him up?  Should I let him get in the sleep he seems to want?  This will extend his feeds to about 4 hours or more apart.  Next issue...

#2 - He's an eater, loves to eat.  He's very healthy, getting loads of calories, however his number of feeds are going down.  He was eating 7 times per day, goes 8 hours at night to his first feed at 7am.  With letting his naps go a little longer and a little longer, he's now down to only 6 meals in a 24 hour period.  I'm worried that that's not enough (never mind the fact that I was told by another mum that I am neglecting my baby with Tracy's methods and my lack of feeding).  This brings me back to "should i be waking him for food?"

Thanks for your help, i appreciate it!

[RachelC]

#1 - He's a sleeper (thank god!).  He eats as soon as he wakes up, and then we play, then after being up for an hour and a half total, he's ready for a nap.  This is sometimes a short nap (1 hour), sometimes a long nap (I always wake him up if it's been 3.5 hours since the start of last feed.  Should I be waking him up?  Should I let him get in the sleep he seems to want?  This will extend his feeds to about 4 hours or more apart.  Next issue...

Yes, at this point continue with what you are doing and wake him at 3.5 hours since last feed.  Otherwise you may run the risk of confusing days and nights

#2 - He's an eater, loves to eat.  He's very healthy, getting loads of calories, however his number of feeds are going down.  He was eating 7 times per day, goes 8 hours at night to his first feed at 7am.  With letting his naps go a little longer and a little longer, he's now down to only 6 meals in a 24 hour period.  I'm worried that that's not enough (never mind the fact that I was told by another mum that I am neglecting my baby with Tracy's methods and my lack of feeding).  This brings me back to "should i be waking him for food?"

6 times in 24 hours is fine.  Watch for the signs - 6 wet diapers in 24 hours, weight gain and general happiness. 

I think you are doing a great job by listening to your baby!  You are by no means neglecting your baby.  Just beware that you are close to a major growth spurt (between 3-4 months) that will throw everything off.... but as long as you keep listening to his needs like you are, things will be great.

Hope that helps, and puts your mind at ease

[Ali's mum]

Thank you thank you thank you!  Appreciate the advice