FTM - sleep/feed schedule?

Looking for any suggestions/advice on a feed/sleep schedule. I've had my little one just over a week and a half, and I can't help but feel I'm working against myself by letting him sleep/feed when he wants. Just responding to his signals. I've noticed he went into a cluster feed phase for a few days then he went to a feed every 2-3hrs again.

I know everyone is different, but just wondering if anyone can share any advice on a routine to fit sleep and feeds. I am a creature of habit - so wondering if a routine will help both of us. But on the other hand I do like responding to his cues and worry about the idea of forcing him to wake or feed at set times. I mean, I'm on maternity and have a great support group, so if I do miss out on sleep because he's awake, I can get it elsewhere. It's just really hard to settle him at night/early morn once he wakes for that night feed. Could be that I'm just tired/frustrated, but feel like there's something I'm missing that could help him settle better. He sleeps so well during the day if he needs it.

Can any suggest anything or is what I'm doing OK for while he is still little?

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From a second time mom, it’s too early for a newborn to have routine this early. They can’t make a difference between day and night. You are doing the right thing to going by the baby demand.
Only thing would say the morning naps needs to be in bright light and noisy environment like in living room and evening in dark and quite room.

Feeding- cluster feeding is normal and I think newborn needs to be woken up to be feed every 2- 2.5 Hr.

My first born started to have more routine from 3 months. Till then I just went by her demand with sleep and feeding cues.

I was in similar situations with my first but I started going to breastfeeding cafe ( online due to covid) and it was very helpful especially you get professional advice. Also feeding between 1-4 am is called golden hour and babies need feeding in that time .

@Neha thank you so much for this. We have been keeping noise to normal levels during day, never want him to be sensitive to the hoover or anything haha. Life still goes on even if he's having a nap.

Thanks for reminding me it's all normal/okay. Sometimes I forget that, especially desperately rocking him at 2am when i just want to go back to sleep.

It's good to know to start a routine from 3 months. I always keeps feeling like I'm missing out on some information or easy trick that will somehow fix/solve something I'm struggling with. ❤️❤️❤️

I use to feel same, it’s very normal. But sooner I understood the pattern I was more ready than baby and automatically wake up around 1 am and wait for baby feeding and then go back to sleep around 3-4am and then again at 6 for morning. And after breakfast go to bed with baby 😂.

If it helps you feel better, the official guidance we got from NCT (and NHS) supports responsive feeding at this stage. Trying to force a schedule could put you under more pressure but also risks underfed baby and milk oversupply issues. For example, people go on a schedule, baby starts sleeping through the night, parents take that as a good sign when in fact baby is too weak to show feeding cues

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