Can you overfeed a baby??

[Lakeygal]

Can a baby eat too much?
Our lad is 2 weeks and always seems hungry, he's 9lbs & seems to want feeding every 2-4 hours - 4-5oz most times esp over the last week which seems a lot in comparison to what it says on the Aptamil box...
When he's grizzling he's mostly sucking anything in sight and is always happy with a bottle. I've been feeding him on demand but worry about giving him too much, is that wrong?

 

[OmarsMum]

Hi hun. There is a growth spurt at 7-10 days & it's normal for ur Lo to ask for more. There is another one at 3 wks & at 6wks. U can never overfeed a baby. It will make him sick. If he's ok with what's he's taking, just give it to him. He's a big baby & I guess he needs more than smaller ones. The guidelines r only general & they dont work for each & every LO. Some take more some less. xx

 

[Lakeygal]

Oh cool, we'll keep going then, maybe he's just planning to be a rugby player when he grows up

 

[peanut56]

I'm glad you posted this thread, I've been wondering the same thing. I feel like my little girl is eating too much! I feed her when she's hungry though, I would never NOT feed her, but sometimes I've wondered if I was doing something wrong.

 

[MrsVenn]

My HV told me to ignore what the box says and go with the flow. Molly takes 7-8oz a feed and has 5-6 feeds a day. She's bang on her growth line but is a hungry baby. I don't think you can over feed them IMO..well I know I can't. Mols either pushes the bottle out with her tongue in disgust or just lets her mouth fall open and pushes the bottle away with her hand.

 

[AlwaysPraying]

You can over feed a formula baby but you have to put effort into it by really getting them to eat extra. If baby is eating when hungry then keep going with it!

 

[zzypeg]

hi..I would ignore the box too. although my DD is 5 1/2 weeks she is just over 9lb now and is eating exactly the same as your DS. 5-6 oz every 2-4 hours (usually 5oz every 3 but sometimes she is really hungry) so if you go by weight we are quite similar. don't worry. also if my dd takes too much she sicks up anyway. xxxx

 

[sam2eb]

My daughter is 3 weeks and is draining 6oz from her bottle every 4 hours. She was 9lb 6oz when she was born and the midwives told me it wud take more to fill her than a smaller baby. She isnt being sick after her feeds so im not worried that she is having too much.