Hello there, my daughter Roisin is 18 days old now and I've been exclusively breastfeeding. Pleased to say that I'm now over the bleeding /cracked/painful nipple stage but really worried about how often she feeds. I've been doing everything baby led but have other people telling me I should be getting her into a routine, but it's just so hard! She likes to sleep in 1/2 hour blocks in the day ... should I be waking her up to feed? At night time she generally wakes for feeding every 1-2 hours ... this is tough going but I'm getting used to it ... but I just spoke to my cousin who said her breastfed baby who had a routine only ever woke up 1-2 times a night for feeding. Am I doing something wrong?

Hi,

It really depends on how you want to go but if you are feeding on demand then I wouldn't worry about establishing a routine just yet as it's too early. My son is 10 weeks old and has only just started going 4-5 hours at night before that it was still 1-2 hours. He is getting himself into a routine of cluster feeding from 7-9.30pm and then sleeping till 2.30-3am.We get him ready for bed at 7ish so he gets nice and warm, change his nappy just before 9.30 and then he is set.

You are not doing anything wrong hon, every baby is different and you need to go with your instincts as to what is right, try not to worry too much about what other people think as what was right for them is not necessarily right for you. As your little one gets older she will sleep less in the day but at the moment she prob still needs to sleep a fair bit so don't worry, no need to wake her.

HTH

No, you aren't doing anything wrong! Roisin is still very young and needs feeding little and often, partly because her stomach is still so small, partly because she is helping to build up your supply. She will eventually feed less - in the meantime, feeding on demand is the best way forward.

As for routines, please, please don't worry about them yet! As Sazzle says, every baby is different. Some fall into routines very quickly, some take a while longer. It took my son three months to develop a daytime routine and he still isn't sleeping through the night (at six months). It does get easier as you get to know your little girl better. And you will know her better than anyone, so go with what you feel is right, not what anyone else tells you she should be doing.

Good luck and please try not to worry. It sounds as if you are doing a grand job so far. :\)

totally agree with the others! Sounds lik eyour doing really well!

u r doing amazingly well!!
George has always fed every 1.5/2hrs during the day and for the first 6weeks i wud have him on me cluster feeding from around 4pm till 7pm, its thier way of getting your supply really strong, i found it awfull at times i cried so much i thought i had no milk and i thought i just couldnt take it anymore almost every day and then suddenly it got easier!
forget about a routine through the day,feed as often as possible,never wake a sleeping baby is my number 1 rule unless they miss a fed then u must as they need as much in them as poss and u need to keep your supply going.
the more the baby gets in the day the long it SHOULD sleep at night but not yet, u still need to go with the 2hr feeds am afraid.
in 7 weeks (he is now 14weeks) George has gone from 2hrs day and nite to sleeping a full 8hr stretch 8pm till 4/5am so please bear with it u r doing a wonderfull job and babies r clever little things they know how to get the best from boobies just follow wot your little one wants x x

sounds like you are doing fine hun,all babies are differently and theres plenty of time for routine as baby gets a bit older.Well done xxx

Hi Littlerose, so glad you posted this as i've been wondering the same! My son Charlie is 3 weeks old today and follows exactly the same pattern as your daughter. I've been having the same feelings about thinking he should be going longer or I should be thinking about a routine, its nice to know we're on the right track with our little ones, thanks ladies.
Cath xxx

Thank you so much everyone! This has made me feel so much better. It's hard not to be anxious with your first esp when everyone's giving you conflicting advice but you guys have really reassured me. Thank you!
Cath - it's always good to hear from someone else in the same boat - hope to see you on the bf forum again soon!

Helen x

Hi Littlerose,
Looks like you're doing fab, but when it's your first little one it's often hard to feel confident in how you're doing. I was exactly the same with my first, but the great thing is that things settle down and your baby will move towards a routine when they're ready.
I used to worry about all sorts of things all the time, but have now come to realise that everything works itself out in the end!
Enjoy your little one - they all grow up far too quickly!!
H x