Advice Please

[OmarsMum]

I have a problem with feeding. Unless he's really starving, Omar doesnt show any signs of hunger! I like feeding on demand, but I think he's not having enough. He's a big baby. His weight is 16 lbs & he's 66-67 cm. The maximum he takes is 28 oz per day. He's on anti reflux formula which is really filling. Today one hr after his night feed I gave him extra 4 oz (he didnt show any signs of hunger), & I was surprised when he drained the bottle!

He sleeps through for 12-13 hrs without feeds, & naps well & can go upto 6 hrs during the daytime without a feed.

I just want to knw how much babies of his age & size take per day.. I'm sure if I up his feeds, he will take the extra. Should I schedule his feeds instead of feeding on demand?

 

[blahblahblah]

Dylan will quite happily go ages without a feed too. He sleeps through the night, but isn't desperate even when we get up in the morning. He has cow and gate comfort formula, which is quite filling I think. He won't take bottles more frequently than 4 hourly, so I give him four bottles per day, 8am, 12, 4 and 7.30-8 for bed. He usually has 9oz bottles. HV says I should try to get an extra feed in (to make 5 per day), but he's not interested.

I always understood it that you shouldn't let an unweaned baby go longer than 4 hours in the daytime without a feed, not sure if that's true though. But 6 hours seems too long IMO. So, I think that in your situation I would be scheduling the feeds.

 

[aimee-lou]

At about Omar's age, Earl started to go longer (around 4 hours) between feeds. Beofre this he had been every 2.5 hours without fail. I tend to not let him go more than 4 hours now, but sometimes he will show no signs of hunger, then suddenly it's like it'll sneak up on him and he'll be screaming.

I think 4 hours is long enough between feeds. As far as I know children are supposed to eat every 3-4 hours with snacks, meals etc so makes sense that they should do this with their feeds too. I would try him every 4 or so hours during the day - leave him to sleep at night - and obviously if he's hungry then feed him, but you may find that his apetite has shallowed off a little as they start to want to follow an adult feeding pattern of 3 meals a day (around 4 months this starts to happen).

 

[aimee-lou]

Dylan will quite happily go ages without a feed too. He sleeps through the night, but isn't desperate even when we get up in the morning. He has cow and gate comfort formula, which is quite filling I think. He won't take bottles more frequently than 4 hourly, so I give him four bottles per day, 8am, 12, 4 and 7.30-8 for bed. He usually has 9oz bottles. HV says I should try to get an extra feed in (to make 5 per day), but he's not interested.

I always understood it that you shouldn't let an unweaned baby go longer than 4 hours in the daytime without a feed, not sure if that's true though. But 6 hours seems too long IMO. So, I think that in your situation I would be scheduling the feeds.

4 feeds at 9oz each = 36oz - absolutely fine for a baby under 6 months!! Why do you need another feed? Unless she meant to spread out the feeds so he's not taking 9oz at a time? Earl is on 6 x 7oz bottles (4, 8, 12, 4, 7, 11) = 35oz plus 2 meals a day of solids. As far as I know you're aiming for 30oz avg prior to weaning/ under 6m, 20oz avg after weaning/ over 6m.

 

[OmarsMum]

aimee-lou how much should I give Omar per day? He just started recently to take 28 oz per day. He was only managing 25 oz earlier. as I mentioned he's 16 lbs 67 cms. He doesnt show any signs of weaning so I will only stick to formula for the time being.

 

[RachB1983]

Hi Hun, i would go with a rough pattern of about 3-4 hrs now i wouldnt worry about how much per day he is taking aslong as his weight gain is fine then no worries if he had 4 x 8oz bottles say 8,12,4,8 he would be having 32oz a day 5 x 6 bottles 30oz, let him decide how much he wants my lo is varying day to day! i was in a panic that he hadnt had his daily amount!!! i just let him have what he wants now!! As long as lo is settled and satisfied i wouldnt worry xxxxxx

 

[OmarsMum]

Hi Hun, i would go with a rough pattern of about 3-4 hrs now i wouldnt worry about how much per day he is taking aslong as his weight gain is fine then no worries if he had 4 x 8oz bottles say 8,12,4,8 he would be having 32oz a day 5 x 6 bottles 30oz, let him decide how much he wants my lo is varying day to day! i was in a panic that he hadnt had his daily amount!!! i just let him have what he wants now!! As long as lo is settled and satisfied i wouldnt worry xxxxxx

I was surprised when he drained the extra bottle tonight. He was ready to sleep, but was sucking too hard on the dummy to settle him self, & just gave it a try. If I didnt give him the bottle he wouldnt mind! I knw my baby, he cherish his sleep, & loves to play & can really go for long hrs without a feed

I cant fit 5 bottles in his schedule, I'm struggling with the 4 Will up his feeds tom. & see how it goes. I think this anti reflux formula is soo filling as it's too thick. Will also try moving to teat 3.

 

[RachB1983]

Hi Hun, i would go with a rough pattern of about 3-4 hrs now i wouldnt worry about how much per day he is taking aslong as his weight gain is fine then no worries if he had 4 x 8oz bottles say 8,12,4,8 he would be having 32oz a day 5 x 6 bottles 30oz, let him decide how much he wants my lo is varying day to day! i was in a panic that he hadnt had his daily amount!!! i just let him have what he wants now!! As long as lo is settled and satisfied i wouldnt worry xxxxxx

I was surprised when he drained the extra bottle tonight. He was ready to sleep, but was sucking too hard on the dummy to settle him self, & just gave it a try. If I didnt give him the bottle he wouldnt mind! I knw my baby, he cherish his sleep, & loves to play & can really go for long hrs without a feed

I cant fit 5 bottles in his schedule, I'm struggling with the 4 Will up his feeds tom. & see how it goes. I think this anti reflux formula is soo filling as it's too thick. Will also try moving to teat 3.

hi hun, how much is he taking per feed? he is obviously happy and settled with what he is having if he wasn't gaining weight then i'd worry! you have a contented baby enjoy him!! xxxxxxxx

 

[OmarsMum]

hi hun, how much is he taking per feed? he is obviously happy and settled with what he is having if he wasn't gaining weight then i'd worry! you have a contented baby enjoy him!! xxxxxxxx

Only 7 oz, & we only started 3 days back. He was only taking 5-6 oz per feed. Now he'a taking 28 oz in 24 hrs. He's 16 lbs. I read on another thread that I should multiply his weight by 2.5 to knw the amount he needs. So according to that he should take 40 oz! Acoording to the tin he should take 32 oz.

 

[RachB1983]

hi hun, how much is he taking per feed? he is obviously happy and settled with what he is having if he wasn't gaining weight then i'd worry! you have a contented baby enjoy him!! xxxxxxxx

Only 7 oz, & we only started 3 days back. He was only taking 5-6 oz per feed. Now he'a taking 28 oz in 24 hrs. He's 16 lbs. I read on another thread that I should multiply his weight by 2.5 to knw the amount he needs. So according to that he should take 40 oz! Acoording to the tin he should take 32 oz.

You've probably heard this before! all babies are different i'd be surprised if a baby took the recommended amount everyday without fail, i'd give him a week see how he goes 28oz maybe all he wants and needs, also if he has reflux meds maybe that makes up the missing 4oz if you know what i mean, xxxxxxxx

 

[aimee-lou]

All 'guidelines' are just that. As rach said, as long as he's gappy and gaining weight you needn't worry. Just realised I did my maths wrong...Earls on 42oz a day not 35oz...whoops. But, if he's taking 28 that's fine as he's obviously thriving

 

[Mynx]

aimee-lou how much should I give Omar per day? He just started recently to take 28 oz per day. He was only managing 25 oz earlier. as I mentioned he's 16 lbs 67 cms. He doesnt show any signs of weaning so I will only stick to formula for the time being.

Hey hun, Evie is much the same. She used to take well over 30 oz per day but for the last month has only been taking 24-28 which got me worried. Thing is, she's still putting on weight at the rate of the 75th percentile so the HV isnt worried. Her intake has started to creep up again so I'm hoping she'll get to the magic 30oz per day again