Feed your baby breast milk by the hour. Feeding on demand or by the hour: Komarovsky’s advice. What's good about routine feeding?

Feeding on demand has become very popular lately. Information about this type of feeding is available to most young mothers; in almost every city there are consultants who can be contacted in difficult cases. Unfortunately, the older generation often has a negative attitude towards this innovation. A woman who has given birth has to listen to lectures about the inadmissibility of constantly being with the baby, the need for water, and sleeping in the same bed is generally declared dangerous for the baby. Let's try to figure out what the origins of such confrontation are, whether it is better to choose feeding on demand or by the hour, and whether there is a compromise in this situation.

Feeding the baby according to the schedule

In pre-revolutionary Russia, among merchant families and among wealthy peasants, it was customary to breastfeed for a long time - three long fasts. The average was a little less than 2 years. Mothers who had the opportunity to spend time with their children did not deprive them of their breasts; the babies spent most of their time in their arms, having unhindered access to milk. For poor peasants, breastfeeding was not nearly as joyful. They sometimes left the babies in the cradle for the whole day, leaving a cone with sweetened rye bread mush, while they themselves went to work in the fields. The mortality rate of children at that time was off the charts; in some regions, less than half survived to a year.

Feeding according to the regime arose during the USSR, in the 30s. On the one hand, this was an attempt to convey the basics of breastfeeding to the general public, on the other hand, it was necessary to prepare the child for the nursery regime, which many babies ended up in at 3 months, when the mother’s maternity leave ended. For working women, feeding by the hour was the only way to combine work with childcare and still manage to get enough sleep.

Thus, at that time this type of feeding was quite modern, reasonable and justified.

How often should you feed?

The main idea in the theory of feeding according to the regime was strict adherence to the deadlines when the baby could be breastfed. Deviation was allowed literally 10-15 minutes. Such precision was explained by the concern that milk could accumulate in the mother’s chest, and the baby would have time to digest the previous portion of food.

The newborn had to eat every 3 hours, after 3 months the period without food was extended by half an hour, after six months feeding was allowed in 4 hours. At night there was supposed to be a long break so that mother and child could get some sleep, for a newborn - 6 hours, for a one-year-old - 8.

If it happened that the baby slept through feeding, he should have been woken up with a delay of no more than half an hour, and then returned to the schedule.

Features of hourly feeding

In addition to strictly following the schedule, the idea of hourly feeding includes several rules that are designed to ensure adequate nutritional intake for the baby and the comfort of his mother:

Breast alternation- During feeding, only one breast should be released.
Application time is limited- then the baby is weaned until the next feeding. Sucking time for a newborn is 30 minutes, by 3 months – no more than 20.
Pumping immediately after feeding- until there is no milk left in the breast.
Early introduction of complementary foods- for example, juices are introduced from the age of one month. This provided the child with vitamins in case of a lack of milk and when switching to infant formula, which at that time was far from modern in its balanced composition.
Particular attention to hygiene- before feeding the child, you had to put on special clothes, cover your hair with a headscarf, and thoroughly wash your chest and hands with soap. Before feeding, it was recommended to treat the breast with boric acid and hold it to free the baby’s nose for breathing.

Already at 5 months, the child took the main amount of energy from complementary foods. By this time, lactation had subsided in the vast majority of women.

Disadvantages of timed feeding

The advantages of timed feeding include a clear daily routine and freedom for the mother; the woman knows exactly when she needs to be at home and can plan her day. In addition, this regimen, earlier than feeding the baby on demand, ensures long-term sleep without interruptions for sucking.

There are many more disadvantages to hourly feeding:

The digestive system in newborns is less developed than in adults; at first, few digestive juices are produced in the stomach. This circumstance is often used as an argument for feeding by the hour. In fact, milk from the breast is digested very easily, starting from the intestines, and some of its proteins are generally absorbed in the stomach without splitting. Thus, after 1.5-2 hours the child may be hungry.
Children have a hard time with hunger, so the mother needs to be ready to distract the child, carry him in her arms, waiting for the next feeding.
A baby may eat less if he is sleepy, sick, or simply not in the mood. If you force him to wait a certain time, the baby will be malnourished, which will affect weight gain and overall development.
Feeding by the hour contributes to the gradual suppression of lactation. The system “milk production – consumption by the child” works surprisingly accurately; milk is produced exactly as much as the baby is ready to suck. Adjusting the breast to his growing needs takes literally 1-2 days. If you feed on a schedule, alternating breasts, the mammary glands are emptied every 6 hours, insufficient prolactin is produced, and less and less milk comes in.
Eliminating night feedings makes the greatest contribution to reducing lactation, since the main part of prolactin is produced in the pre-dawn hours. This is a direct path to formula and early complementary feeding.
Every child is born with a certain type of temperament. And if choleric children are able to adapt to the rules of feeding by the hour, then phlegmatic children simply will not have time to eat enough in the 20 minutes allotted to them.

The main disadvantage of hourly feeding is the psychological aspect of breastfeeding. Physical proximity to the mother and sucking on her breast is necessary for the baby not only for satiety, but also for calmness and a sense of security. A nursing woman who waits every time for the time to feed prevents the child from developing a sense of trust in his mother, and then in the whole world.

Feeding the baby upon request

Feeding a baby on demand is often considered a new trend; in fact, this model of feeding is much older than hourly feeding. Moreover, it was not developed by doctors, but was formed naturally during human evolution: mothers, not having a watch, focused only on the needs of the child.

At first, breastfeeding at the baby's every request was based on fashion trends that promoted a return to nature. Subsequently, the theory was supported by scientific facts, and it was approved by both pediatricians and psychologists. With the beginning of the promotion of natural feeding, the duration of breastfeeding has increased significantly, and it has become possible to delay the start of complementary feeding without resorting to artificial feeding.

Basic rules for feeding on demand

It is believed that feeding a newborn on demand is not just satisfying his physical need for food, but also compensation for psychological problems and protection from the outside world. A breastfed baby almost never cries, as there is no reason for it.

A list of principles describing how to properly organize feeding on request:

Give the baby the breast at his every request, without expecting loud crying. The requirement is considered to be whimpering, searching movements of the lips and head, and restlessness;
do not use nipples and bottles, as they distort the baby’s correct attachment to the breast, which leads to nipple injuries and insufficient stimulation to produce new portions of milk.
Do not supplement with water until six months, as breast milk can satisfy the baby’s needs for both liquid and food.
By practicing co-sleeping with the child in order to be able to feed him at night without getting up to the crib, over time mothers begin to not even wake up completely.

In the first month, the number of feedings a newborn reaches 20 times, the baby may literally not let go of the breast. For moms with multiple children or extensive household responsibilities, help will be needed for a while. Already at 3 months, the baby determines its special regime, you can predict when the baby wants to eat, and allocate time for urgent matters.

When feeding on demand, the number of attachments in children under one year of age is 10-12 times a day. The majority of these feedings are short, during which the baby simply quenches his thirst or makes sure his mother is nearby. The number of long feedings, when the baby completely sucks the breast, decreases with the introduction of complementary foods.

The duration of feedings largely depends on the nature of the child: some people get full quickly, others like to nurse until they fall asleep. Usually, the latching time increases during periods of rapid growth of the baby, when he does not have enough milk. Long sucking in this case gives a signal to the mother’s body to increase the production of breast milk (see how to do this).

The advantages of this feeding

Feeding on demand imposes certain restrictions on the mother - sometimes the baby has to be fed at inconvenient times and in inappropriate places. Feeding in such cases is made more comfortable by devices for carrying the baby, which not only free up your hands, but also protect the breast and baby from prying eyes.

The advantages of feeding on demand more than outweigh the disadvantages:

The baby receives as much milk as he needs and is able to regulate its secretion himself.
The habit of eating when hungry is formed from birth and determines eating behavior in the future.
Mothers who practice natural feeding are more mobile, the child is provided with food in any conditions.
Establishing lactation is mostly problem-free; the likelihood of lactostasis in the breast is lower.

Having familiarized yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of both methods, it is easy to choose whether to feed on demand or according to a schedule in order to best meet the needs of the child.

Why might a woman choose the first option?

Breastfeeding on demand greatly reduces the mother's time in the first months and requires constant presence with the baby. For mothers who must work during their children's infancy, this option may not be feasible. It is also difficult to establish natural feeding if the mother is periodically forced to go to the hospital or take medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding.

But even in such situations, it is not at all necessary to strictly comply with all the requirements for hourly feeding; they can be changed taking into account the interests of the child. It is worth leaving at least one night feeding, try to establish a joint sleep so that the mother can get enough sleep, use modern breast pumps and bags for storing breast milk so that the baby can receive natural nutrition in the absence of the mother.

A kind of compromise is also possible, the so-called free feeding. In this case, the baby receives the breast when he asks for 30 minutes at intervals of at least 2 hours, which allows the mother to free up time for other things.

Most mothers always think about the question: how to properly feed a newborn - on demand or by the hour. In most maternity hospitals, doctors promote the first option, but on the Internet you can find video recommendations from famous pediatricians, whose opinions on this issue are absolutely contradictory. Let's consider the advice of the most famous pediatrician in Russia - Dr. Komarovsky.

The pediatrician claims that there is no fundamental difference between the named feeding modes: both the first and second will ensure the full development and normal weight gain of the baby. The point is different: can a woman withstand 2-3 weeks until the baby gets used to hourly feeding, because the baby is inclined to instinctively demand the mother’s breast not only for feeding, but also for calming, a feeling of security, etc.

Komarovsky claims that a newborn, provided that he has abandoned the breast on his own (i.e., has eaten enough), can not eat for the next 2-3.5 hours without harm to his health. At this time, a woman can leave home on her own business: going to the store, gym, or seeing a doctor. The pediatrician considers this the limit of the norm and claims that when feeding a newborn by the hour, his mother does not harm his development and health in any way. On the contrary, it develops a certain regime in the family when parents can find time for themselves.

According to the doctor, if the child is gaining weight normally, then he should not be specially woken up at night for feeding. At this time, the baby can go 5-7 hours without food.

However, if a woman is ready to arrange breastfeeding on demand and she has such an opportunity, then this is also a normal option. Therefore, the doctor does not have any specific recommendations: the woman herself has the right to choose the feeding regimen that is convenient for her.

How to wean your baby from breastfeeding

This question arises for many women who continue to feed their child breast milk after a year. The second question is when to wean off mother's milk? According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, breastfeeding (BF) is mandatory for a child up to two years of age, and optional after that.

How to wean a baby off breastfeeding? For one-year-old and older children, you can choose one of the alternatives suggested by experts:

Gradually reduce the duration of feeding: first by a minute, then by three, and so gradually reduce the duration of feeding to a minimum.
Distract the baby. It's no secret that older children may ask for breastfeeding out of boredom. Therefore, in the process of weaning off breastfeeding, you can buy your child a new exciting game, engage in a new type of creativity, or read a new book.
Involve relatives in this process. Let dad or grandma spend more time with the child, play with him, carry him in their arms. One of the goals that needs to be achieved in this way is to teach the baby to cope longer without his mother.

If there is a need to abruptly wean the baby from the breast, the mother needs to leave home for a few days, entrusting her child to her family. After this period, come back and endure the first few hours after meeting the baby with dignity: he will persistently ask for the breast, but you should not give in to whims. This is the most reliable way to wean children off breastfeeding after a year, which pediatricians consider optimal for the mother and her child.

How to replace breast milk after one year

During this period, most children already eat a variety of foods: cereals, soups, meat, etc. Therefore, during this period, you can move on to gradual weaning. How to replace mother's milk is a purely individual question, the solution to which will be suggested by the child himself. After all, some children easily switch to formula, others like store-bought milk, and others flatly refuse any proposed substitute for their mother’s breast. Pediatricians and experienced mothers offer the following options for replacing breast milk:

adapted mixtures (the manufacturer and variety should be chosen depending on the preferences of the baby, existing allergies or intolerances to the components, and, accordingly, financial capabilities);
baby milk porridges, which can be diluted to a liquid consistency and given to drink through a bottle;
dairy products;
goat or cow's milk (you can't boil it, you just need to warm it up to body temperature).

The mother and the baby must decide what, when and how to feed their child, so that they both feel comfortable. You shouldn’t listen to the opinions of “experienced” people - no one can tell you better than the baby’s own feelings and behavior what is the right thing to do in a particular situation.

Everyone already knows that it is now recommended to feed a child “on demand”. But not everyone knows what it’s like to feed on demand. Some mothers give for each squeak, others - only when all other causes of concern are excluded, and others simply allow +/- 30 minutes to the feeding schedule by the hour. Which is correct?

What is “clock feeding”?

In medical school, I taught that babies should be breastfed by the hour. At first every 2.5-3 hours 7-8 times a day, then less and less. Breastfeeding after one year was not recommended.

Before feeding, the woman had to take a shower or wash her breasts with warm water, treat them with a soda solution, put her hair under a scarf, sit on a chair, place a stool under her foot, take the baby and give him the breast in a special way - holding the nipple between the index and middle fingers.

It's difficult, isn't it?

Feeding at night was not recommended. The maximum that the mother could do was give the baby some water. Picking up was strictly forbidden - the baby was required to withstand a six-hour nightly break in feeding. Doctors thought it was good for the stomach.

I was an excellent student. After giving birth to her first daughter, she did everything exactly as she had learned: she washed her breasts, treated them, put on a headscarf, and sat on a chair with a bench. She fed by the hour, patiently waiting for the hands to show the right hour, and before that she calmed the screaming Vera with water, dancing and anything else. I tried to. From 0 to 6 o'clock I didn't feed her, I just gave her water, I didn't pick her up - I rocked her. The whole family lay awake hearing the screams. And then - stagnation of milk, mastitis and at 4 months the end of all this mess, transfer to formula. Who will endure this hell?

It was easier with my second daughter. I had no time. I breastfed her “for about an hour,” and at night too - I really wanted to sleep. But she kept her in the crib and didn’t take her in her arms again. It was already better, we fed until we were a year old.

My third daughter is late. I had read a lot about feeding on demand, and therefore we didn’t have any problems or screams - just straight to the breast. During the day the girl was in a sling, at night she was in bed with me. She gave up breastfeeding herself when she was less than five years old. Consciously. Gently stroking your hand goodbye.

The knowledge acquired even in medical school does not always turn out to be correct. The sections on breastfeeding in all our textbooks were written by men...

Feeding on demand

Feeding on demand - putting the baby to the breast at the first squeak or concern. This is everything any mother needs to know. You need to put the baby to the breast immediately after birth, and then at every, even mildly expressed, concern. There is a completely scientific basis for this. A newborn does not understand whether he is hungry or not. He just feels discomfort and wants to calm down. The best place to calm down is in the mother’s arms: the heartbeat and rumbling in the stomach, the usual 9 months, smell, taste. The discomfort is over, the baby is calm and feels safe. The baby will learn to understand what he wants in about two months. It is then that mothers begin to easily determine by their behavior what kind of discomfort the baby is experiencing at the moment.

As soon as the baby is slightly worried, the breast should be given immediately!

How often should I feed?

Honestly, it’s better not to count the number of breastfeedings per day.

In the first couple of months there may be 19-20 or even more. This is normal, because the baby not only eats, but also calms down under the breast.
From 3-4 months the number of feedings decreases noticeably. There are approximately 14-16 of them, a night break of 3-5 hours may appear, especially when sleeping together. At the same time, the baby develops a daily routine, and since latching on the breast at this time is associated with the baby falling asleep or waking up, he begins to ask for the breast at about the same time.
At six months The baby begins to be interested in adult food, but complementary feeding does not replace breastfeeding, but only supplements the mother’s milk. The number of breastfeedings is 10-15 times a day.
At seven or eight After months, children become active, they are so captivated by exploring the world around them that they may skip feeding. And if the mother puts it to the breast, they will suckle inactively, constantly being distracted by anything. It is at this time that mothers are advised to hang bright beads around their necks. Looking at and sorting through them, the baby concentrates and remembers the forgotten feeding. In total, he can suckle 8-10 times a day, and sometimes less.
At nine-ten months, babies begin to ask for the breast more often again. They begin to actively move and fall, filling cones. And how to calm down? That's right - under the chest!
At 11-12 months Having barely learned to walk, children immediately use their skill to approach their mother and ask for the breast. Or they can take it out in a masterly manner, suck it for three seconds and hide it back. And so every half hour...
In the second year of life the number of applications is approximately the same, but there will be only 3-5 long applications, the rest are short-term and sedative. And they are no less important for the child. The fact is that in the second year of life, milk becomes not so much a source of nutrition as a supplier of the necessary components for fine-tuning brain cells.

When should you rest?

Constantly! Just learn to live with a child in your arms. Relax with him and work too. Let it not be you with him, but him with you: in a sling, in a carrier, in a car seat. Everywhere. Satisfied, happy, joyful. Developing in full accordance with the norms and in harmony with the surrounding world and oneself. It's so easy to do. Simple - feed on demand and that’s it.

Feeding a newborn on demand is considered a new phenomenon. However, this method is older than clock feeding. Feeding on demand is the basis of breastfeeding, which develops naturally and adapts to the baby’s rhythm. Many doctors and nursing mothers choose this approach and pay attention only to the baby’s needs. Let's look at each approach in more detail.

By mode

This method involves feeding the newborn by the hour. For the first month, the baby receives the breast every three hours and suckles for 30 minutes. As they grow older, the intervals between feedings increase and the duration of feedings decreases. Feeding at night is not recommended, and the break between feedings during this period is 6 hours.

The child develops a clear daily routine;
The baby does not need to be fed at night;
Mom knows exactly when to feed her newborn and when she will have free time;
There is no need for co-sleeping;
Some pediatricians believe that such feeding improves digestion and absorption of food due to the timely production of gastric juice.

Often the child has to be supplemented with formula milk, which will negatively affect the baby’s development. Such nutrition can cause allergies in a newborn, and children switch to complementary foods at 3-4 months.

The dangerous consequences of this method are the extinction of lactation and an increased risk of developing breast diseases in a nursing mother. Please note that the production of breast milk directly depends on the baby's latch. The fewer applications, the less milk is released. As a result, milk accumulates in the glands, which often leads to painful sensations in the breasts, the appearance of lumps and lactostasis.

Feeding by the hour does not at all guarantee the mother a good night, since such a long break in the first two to three months causes severe hunger in the baby. As a result, the baby often wakes up and cries. But over time, the child gets used to such night breaks, and in the future he sleeps peacefully. However, as practice shows, such children grow up more insecure and anxious.

Feeding basics

Feed a certain number of times a day. Newborns up to three months are applied seven times every 3 hours. Babies aged 3-5 months are fed six times every 3.5 hours. From six months to a year, the number of feedings is reduced to five times with an interval of 4 hours;
The duration of feeding in the first month is 30 minutes, then 15 minutes;
At one feeding the baby is given only one breast, and at the next - the second;
At night, the break between applications is 6 hours;
If milk remains in the breast after feeding, pumping is necessary.

On demand

With this approach, the baby is fed when he wants it. The duration and number of applications are not limited. The child is not force-fed, but is given breastfeed only when he wants. But they don’t take it away until the baby is full and stops eating or falls asleep. As a rule, such feedings occur every 1.5-2.5 hours during the day and at least 3 times at night. This rhythm does not harm the baby at all and does not lead to the child being spoiled, as many believe.

The first two to three weeks will require you to devote most of your time to feeding your newborn. In the first month, the number of feedings can reach 18-20 times a day or more. But over time, the duration and number of applications themselves gradually decrease. By the age of three months, his own routine has been formed, which the baby has chosen and established independently.

This promotes successful, harmonious and long-term breastfeeding, which has a beneficial effect on the development of the baby. You can read about the benefits of breast milk for a baby.

Pros:

The baby fully receives the substances and elements for harmonious growth and development;
The newborn is less tormented by colic, gas and other stomach upsets;
The baby receives the required amount of food and does not need to be supplemented with formula milk;
The child does not need to be supplemented with water and there is no need to introduce early and premature complementary feeding;
Frequent application is a good stimulation of lactation and prevention of various breast diseases in nursing women;
This method improves lactation, which avoids problems with a lack of milk for the newborn;
Natural and regular breastfeeding does not require pumping;
Frequent attachments completely satisfy the sucking reflex, calm the baby and allow you to do without a pacifier;
Such babies grow up healthier, more confident and calmer.

Minuses This method lies in the fact that until the first complementary feeding, breast milk will be the only food for the baby, so the mother always needs to be prepared for the feeding process. In addition, the woman will have to adapt to the rhythm of the baby, take the baby to bed and sleep together. A woman should be prepared for lack of sleep and fatigue. And the baby’s strong attachment will not allow the mother to go away for a long time and leave the child with someone else.

Feeding on demand basics

Attach your baby as soon as required, do not wait for intense crying or hysterics. When the baby gets hungry, he behaves restlessly and begins to move his lips;
The number and duration of feedings are not limited. Do not remove the breast from your baby until he is full. When the baby is full, he releases the nipple on his own or falls asleep;
Use pacifiers and pacifiers as breast substitutes as little as possible. Modern pediatricians recommend completely eliminating such devices during natural breastfeeding. The pros and cons of using a pacifier;
Do not give your child water. Until 6-7 months, the baby does not need it, since milk contains the required amount of water and fully satisfies the baby’s fluid needs. As an exception, in case of severe colic, you can sometimes give the newborn dill water. And in extreme heat, wipe the child with wet wipes, bathe and give air baths more often;
With one feeding, both breasts are used. First, the child completely empties one breast, and only then receives the second. It is important that the baby receives both fore and hind milk.
At first, sleep together. will have a positive effect on the mental development of the child. In addition, at night the mother will be able to quickly breastfeed.

Whether to feed a newborn on time or on demand is decided by each nursing mother individually. However, today pediatricians insist on prolonged breastfeeding and breastfeeding at the request of the child. This has a positive effect on the mother’s well-being and the baby’s development. Feeding on demand satisfies both the physiological and psychological needs of the newborn.

Then you must definitely switch to feeding according to the schedule (by the hour). For the first 3-3.5 months, it is recommended to feed the baby every 3 hours. For example, at 6-00, 9-00, 12-00, etc. After just a couple of weeks of this regime, you will notice that the baby has become calmer. In a month, the child will begin to wake up at the right time on his own. And all because his body will already get used to the regime and will not require food every half hour.

When the baby grows a little, after about 3 months, you can increase the interval between feedings to 3.5 hours. However, you yourself will notice that the baby begins to eat less. This means it’s time to take a break for half an hour more. The feeding table will look like this - 6-00, 9-30, 13-00, etc.

By six months, when the first complementary foods are introduced, the interval between feedings increases to 4 hours. And this is the final stage. Now the child eats at 6-00, 10-00, 14-00, etc. And during breaks, you can give your baby juice, puree or cottage cheese.

What is good about routine feeding?

For a child

The baby will become calmer. He won't scream every 20-30 minutes, demanding to eat. Now he will get used to eating well at a certain time, and not a little every half hour. Sleep will improve. The child will sleep more peacefully because he will be full. And now he doesn’t care about anything else.

For Mom

Mom will have some personal time. While the baby is sleeping, you can safely go to the shower, shop or hairdresser, clean or cook, and spend time with your husband. Or you can just sleep, knowing that the child will not require your attention for the next 3 hours. A satisfied baby will sleep sweetly in his crib. There will be no problems with walks. After feeding the baby, you can safely go to the park. After all, you have a whole 3 hours for a walk!

One of my friends was simply afraid to go out for a walk with her newborn daughter. And all because the child was not accustomed to feeding according to the schedule. The girl screamed every 15-20 minutes. Poor mom didn't know. Their walks always ended the same way - after 20 minutes the mother runs home with her screaming child to eat.

The most difficult thing is not to give in from the very beginning. If you decide to accustom your child to feeding according to a schedule, teach it. Don't expect results from the first day. When the baby wakes up and cries, take him in your arms, rock him, he will fall asleep. When it’s time to feed, pick it up and put it on your chest. After 3-4 days, the baby will begin to get used to the regime. And you will notice how much easier it has become for you.

Feeding by the hour has the most important advantage - you will not have problems with milk (if breastfeeding). Milk will come in equal portions at the right time. This means your baby will always be happy and full. And this is the most important thing now!