4 1/2 months only eating 3-50oz per feed

[mumtosam]

Hi, my Lo is 18 weeks and I have switched from breast to formula feeding over the past 3 weeks. I am just a bit worried as he only takes anywhere between 3 and 5 oz per feed and I have read/heard that he should be taking more at each feed. He feeds every 3 hours ( 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm) and also has 2 feeds in the night. I try to give him a bit more at each feed but he refuses and gets very upset even after I have winded him and given him aa little break. He always starts off feeding really well and seems hungry at each feed. He is also generally very happy during the day but doesn't sleep that well at night. I should also say that he is gaining weight ( 4oz last week)

Anyone else experienced this? Or can anyone offer me any advice? Thanks

 

[mumtosam]

Just noticed I put 3-50 oz per feed in title! Obviously I meant 3-5oz!!

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Don't worry. I think breastfed babies have a smaller capacity for milk so he won't drink like a baby who has been FF for a long time. My friend's 5 month old is both FF and BF and he only takes about 100ml of formula in one sitting which I believe is about 4oz. You may find he starts taking more, so maybe put 6oz in the bottle in case one day he wants more or has a growth spurt.

Remember that formula is more filling than breastmilk so he will need less to feel full. When I switched from EBM to formula my HV said formula compared to breastmilk is like us eating a really big dinner and it kind of just sitting there in our stomachs.

 

[mumtosam]

Oh thanks, that explains a lot! He was exclusively breastfed for nearly four months so I suppose he will be used to small amounts at a time. I just worry because I feel so guilty about stopping breastfeeding but it just became so hard. I tend to make up 6oz bottles so perhaps he will take more eventually. He had 5oz this morning.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

4 months is fantastic.Please try and feel proud not guilty! My Lo wouldn't stay on the breast so I never got started. Formula is fine. As we know, happy mum = happy baby.

 

[kirsten1985]

Even if he only has 3oz per feed, 7 feeds is 21oz. My baby is 18.5 weeks and has nearly always been FF and takes around 28oz a day. That's not a huge difference, some babies just eat more than others. Don't worry!

 

[maccy]

My LO is exactly the same hun. She is nearly four months and I stopped bf two weeks ago, she has the same feeding pattern as your LO but only wakes once at night. I have been concerned too, as friends that ff their babies seem to take about 6-7oz each feed. But my lo is gaining too and is satisfied with the 3-4oz so I figure everything must be fine. I wish she'd take more cause then I think she would go longer at night but she just doesn't want it so I have to stick it out a bit longer.

 

[mumtosam]

Yeah know what you mean. I wish Sam would take more during the day as he doesn't sleep well. He has started waking at 2.30-3am and will not go back to sleep for ages! It is absolutely exhausting. Not sure if its because he is not eating enough or if he just doesn't need much sleep. Unfortunatley, I need lots of sleep!!

 

[lolatombola]

mines the same too. she is 20 weeks and i stopped bf'ing a week ago. she has between 4-6 oz each feed, but is gaining weight fine- 8oz last week! she was waking for two feeds in the night but a friend suggested giving her hungry baby formula for her last feed and since doing this she has had her first two nights sleeping through! possibly coincedence but a fab feeling after 20 weeks of at least two night feeds!

 

[mumtosam]

Does she still only take 4-6oz of the hungry baby formula? I had never thought of doing that! Does Aptamil do hungry baby formula?

 

[lolatombola]

yes i use the aptamil hungry baby formula and she only has 4-6oz of that too. honestly, i dont know if there is logic behind it, but you get that you try anything people suggest to you dont you?! and as it seems to have helped i am gong to stick doing that! i found the worst thing with ava wasnt how often she waking, but how long she took to settle again afterwards, it was just exhausting for a while. why do you think sam doesnt go back down afterwards? ava had refluxy type problems, and just seemed uncomfortable a lot of the time, in the end we took her to an oestopath and she came on really well with that. hope it gets easier for you soon! X