just your opinion

[virgo062]

My babies are now 3 weeks old and we decided to stop the 3am feeding last night we feed them at 3,7 and 11:00. They seemed to do fine during the night but were squealing at 6:30 this morning. Do you think it's to early to stop that 3am feeding?

[PBluejay2]

My babies are now 3 weeks old and we decided to stop the 3am feeding last night we feed them at 3,7 and 11:00. They seemed to do fine during the night but were squealing at 6:30 this morning. Do you think it's to early to stop that 3am feeding?

It's not too early to stop the middle of the night feeding, but you need to feed them more than three times a day. Try to work a fourth in there.

[Jackie in Tampa]

EEK...I WOULD TRY TO GET MORE THAN 4 FEEDINGS IN WITH THREE WEEK OLDS!

[PBluejay2]

EEK...I WOULD TRY TO GET MORE THAN 4 FEEDINGS IN WITH THREE WEEK OLDS!

I would/do too--every three hours or so from morning until bedtime, but I don't know this person's schedule.

[Jackie in Tampa]

I would/do too--every three hours or so from morning until bedtime, but I don't know this person's schedule.
I AGREE, IF THEY ARE THAT BUSY...THE KIDS NEED A SITTER!:thumbsup

[virgo062]

Oh my...I can do every two hours when I get home from work at 5:00. My husband comes home from work at 11 and 3:00 to feed them you think that would work?

[Jackie in Tampa]

Oh my...I can do every two hours when I get home from work at 5:00. My husband comes home from work at 11 and 3:00 to feed them you think that would work?
IT GETS tricky, if you feed too often, they get diarehha [sp]
old school rule [mine]..3 weeks, 3ccs every three hours
and so on...
however, i am not a rehabber...but pbj is! i would go with his advise!:thumbsup

[virgo062]

So, how do all you folks do it? me and my hubby both work full time if I had my way I would be a stay at home mama to these babies but I have to work to buy Esbilac:thinking Just a quick poll if I may...How many people work, stay home, take their babies to work?

[virgo062]

That's why I am here for good advice....I will work in a 4th feeding :thankyou

[PBluejay2]

So, how do all you folks do it? me and my hubby both work full time if I had my way I would be a stay at home mama to these babies but I have to work to buy Esbilac:thinking Just a quick poll if I may...How many people work, stay home, take their babies to work?

I work full time, run a humane wildlife service, am on call 24/7 to pick up rescues, currently have twenty squirrels (12 nursing), and take the youngest to work with me and feed them on breaks. And exhaustion is a constant companion.

[psychobird]

a few of the rehabbers i know will take babies to work with them and keep them in the car and come out on their breaks to feed, the challenge is keeping them warm, they rely on snuggle safes and nuked rice socks but you need a microwave to keep reheating, not the best choice but it's an option
i work from home so i can feed babies as needed, but i do mostly songbirds, squirrels are breeze compared to them as long as you only have a couple at a time.
i had 23 once (thankfully no bb birds at the time or they would have been doomed) and it was crazy i would feed take a breath and have to start right from the beginning again, lol i was goin nuts! couldn't wait for them to grow up.
at 3 weeks i personally feed around 7 feedings a day every, every 3 hrs, you do need a sitter or need get up in the night for feedings *YAAAAWN....* not an easy thing to do, but they will grow faster and healthier

[virgo062]

PBJAY2:bowdown I will not whine about my situation:eek: Good job :)

[GuardianEarth]

I know I can't Imagine 12 squirrels XD
I almost died with my one little girl

But my hubby works full time and the job front hasn't been nice to me so I am home all day and the only thing I think about is when the baby needs to be fed next.

Sometimes I forget to feed myself ^^

[virgo062]

WHOA...Maybe I was not clear the babies are getting 5 good feedings a day. 7am,11am,3pm,7pm and then at 11pm....Whew sounded like I was starving them....

[island rehabber]

virgo sounds as if you're on a good schedule and so long as the babies get 4 good meals in per day they should be fine. I do 5 feedings -- one at 3am, as you did -- for the first 2 weeks but it kills me, and as soon as I can get them past the need for that 3am thing, it's gone.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I can sympathize with you on the working full time and caring for babies thing. I work from 6 AM to 2:30 PM and cannot take babies in the building AT ALL! If I have pinkies, I will go home at lunch and feed them. I currently have 8 four week old squirrels I have had for 2-4 weeks (they came from 5 different finders), 1 pinkie that is maybe 2 weeks old, 2 eyes closed baby mice that weigh just 5 grams, 6 baby bunnies that just opened their eyes, one older baby bunny with a busted nose, 5 older squirrels that are almost ready to go off milk, 2 opossums off milk, and an older squirrel off milk. Let me tell you, it is hectic and sometimes I wonder how I get it all done. For my guys at 3 weeks old, I feed them at 5 AM before work, 3 PM right when I get home, 8 PM before bed, and midnight.

[mindy65]

I added baby oatmeal with the formula when mine where that old and they did great. They seemed to be more satisfied, more filling. I didn't make it so thick that it didn't come out of a bottle but I did have to make the hole bigger for it to come out. Please let other say its okay, before you do it, I'm just letting it you know it was okay for me and they grew up healthy and happy. min

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I try not to add baby cereal to the formula to fill them up. It does fill them up, but it isn't good for them like the formula itself is. Also, if they aspirate on it, it could be fatal because it is so thick and I just worry a lot :D.

[PBluejay2]

I try not to add baby cereal to the formula to fill them up. It does fill them up, but it isn't good for them like the formula itself is. Also, if they aspirate on it, it could be fatal because it is so thick and I just worry a lot :D.

I agree. Old school was to add baby cereal (rice, usually) to formula, but it's not a good idea.

[Zoe's new mom]

I work two jobs one full time and one from home base. Zoe goes everywhere with me that she can. I have to travel some with my job and whenever possible she goes with me. If she can't then usually my husband or mom will squirrel-sit for me.

She should be opening her eyes any day now so that will change things a bit but an exciting anticipation.
http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/images/smilies/jump.giftion.:jump