4mo old... how much milk.. is DR wrong?

[Cinderella]

I know there's a lot of these threads but I'm really struggling to find an answer that fits Max!

Feeding on demand does not work with Max, we've tried repeatedly to feed on demand but he just gorges himself, aggravates his reflux massively and has huge choking episodes which get quite scary (he can 'demand' over 45oz in a day). He seems to do a lot better on a set routine but after an overnight stay at the hospital for reflux issues the Paediatrician said we were over feeding him (he was on 5-6oz every 3 and a half hours) and that for his age and weight (3mo2wks and 16.8 lbs) he should be on 3-4oz every 3-4 hours. This just seems like such a small amount. He's on 4oz every 3hrs at the moment, which is 28oz in a 24hr period. It just seems crazy that that's the amount he officially should be on when he was having that as a newborn, and now he's nearly 4 months!

He's in a routine now, so does ok on the amount, but he has to have it on the dot or he screams like we're starving him, also, he's having 3 feeds in the night and I don't see how we're ever going to get rid of them if he's only having 18oz during the day. I could really do with dropping 1-2 of the night feeds as I go back to work in 6 wks and am only getting about 4-5 hrs of sleep a night, on a good night! Any words of wisdom or experience appreciated! Sleep deprivation is making me crazy!

 

[aimee-lou]

This is my opinion only and some people may not agree but you need to feed him if he's hungry.

24oz in 24hrs may be the norm but what is a 'normal baby'? Earl is 2.5 months and weighs 15.5lb. He's on 6-7 7oz bottles a day and eats on average 40oz per day. He's a big baby and is growing fast and needs the calories. If you have him in a good routine then stick with that as it obviously works for you all.

As for dropping the night feeds, I've always been told that they will drop them eventually. However, I've previously tried dreamfeeding with Earl and it does work and may keep him more settled and sleep for longer. Just an idea.

I hope this settles down but in my opinion, work it the way that makes you all happiest. I'm afraid I don't have any experience with reflux though so sorry I can't help with that.

 

[lovescrisps]

my lo weighs 15lb and has approx 28oz a day(4 x 7oz). she dropped her night feeds at 6 weeks old. i have been told to try give my daughter more milk as they say she is not getting enough. i think each baby is different and we no best how much our baby needs. if i try give my baby more milk she just brings it up and gets stomach ache.

 

[Scally]

My LO is 16lb and is on 8oz every 4 hours during the day. The HV said it was a normal amount for a baby her weight

 

[louise1302]

i think the doctor is talking out his ass sorry, what is normal?? every baby is different for example my lo and my friends lo are exactly the same age barr 7 day he was 8 lbs 2 she was 6 lb 4 she drank far less milk than him and she put on weight faster, all babies are individual and their needs differ

Hes waking in the night because hes not satisfied with what hes having during the day, id try upping his feeds to satisfy him but obvs not to the point where his reflux issues get bad. also has the doctor not offered you thickener for his feeds to help with the reflux

how is his weight gain since you dropped his milk down, it seems a small amount hes drinking for a 4 month old

hope something is sorted for you soon xx

 

[sleeping bubs]

my little one is 4months and weighs 10lb 15oz on nurtriprem2 and little so has a smaller amount of feeds he has 5bottles (3-4hrs between) a day up to 5oz a bottle on average he has 20oz a day, he is putting on weight slowly but hv said he is getting enough. He doesn't wake up during the night sleeps between 8 and 10hrs at night.

Every baby is different they know how much they want and when they want it

 

[littlekitten8]

James is 3 months old and is taking 5-6oz every 3-4 hours during the day and then sleeps from 8.30pm til 5.30am. 3-4oz seems like a very small amount for a baby his age.

 

[pheobe]

Niall is 7 weeks and can easily take 40 odd oz's in a day, my advice....ignore the doctors they play with your mind...best piece of advice ever...no one knows your baby like you do!

xxx

 

[faille]

Violet was having roughly 5x6oz bottles at 4months (every 4hrs), one of which was a dreamfeed.

I always thought we shouldn't go by age for amount of milk and it should be measured by weight? (Although I can't remember the way to calculate it, sorry).

Although, I really don't know how different it is for babies with reflux. I assume it's better for them to have little and often rather than big feeds every 4hrs..?

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Ruby was on 9oz every 4hours in the day at that age. (last feed was a dreamfeed at about 10.30pm, she slept til 7amish)

As Faille says, little and often is probably better for reflux babies (and all babies really, little and often is a more healthy way of eating full stop.)

 

[Callie1000]

Freya is 16 weeks and weighs 14lbs. She has a 6-7oz bottle roughly every 3 hours. She has 6 feeds in a day and sleeps from around 8pm til 8am at night. I give her a dream feed at 11pm.