We haven't implemented much structure at all in Ava's life. She feeds whenever and we put her to sleep whenever. We certainly don't want to go ape with the timing and structure, but maybe she's getting to a point where some is better than none. I'm thinking something like a 3 hour feeding schedule with override. Shoot for 12, 3, 6, 9 but if she's asleep or crying adapt to her needs by up to, say, 30 minutes either way. If you feed early, at 2:30 for the 3:00 feeding for example, you should try hard to hit the next one on time, 6:00 in the example. Otherwise you'll quickly be where we are now which is a full on-demand feeding schedule. Pros and cons to on-demand and to on-schedule. A hybrid id probably best, like most things in life. Overall I feel that Ava's through the trauma of becoming an air-breather and is ready to start her doctoral thesis... I mean... start learning how to sleep for longer than a few hours... and how to use her hands. Because that's key. After millions of years of evolution you don't want to waste that opposable thumb.
Sunday, September 9, 2007