Eating enough?

[tasha41]

Elyse is now 7 weeks old and still a pokey eater.

She has yet to take a full 4oz all at once at a feed without having a nap halfway through and me really coaxing her to finish her bottle.

My friend said this is because she's not eating until she's "full" it's her eating until she is content, because she knows I'll feed her whenever she decides she wants a little bit more and cries. It's true, I am feeding her 'on demand', and I don't mind not having strict feeding schedule, but it would be nice if she would take the bottle and not fart around about it, lol. And I am of course worried because some newborns take the same amount at a feed as she does!

She is content,
Doesn't seem unhealthy,
She's on the small side but has been gaining weight.

Should I let her continue like this for a bit or what can I do to get her to take the whole bottle?

 

[babymama]

I'm not sure that there is anything you can do for her to take more. She knows how much she needs and if she's only eating until content then I guess that's how it is. I would just stick to it, better than forcing her to eat more and then it might make her sick.

I can't believe Elyse is 7 weeks already! wow time flies!

 

[polo_princess]

At 7 weeks Brooke was still feeding on demand, i think its still a little young to try getting them into a feeding routine.

I would carry on as you are and she will soon develop her own eating pattern and it'll work itself out

 

[pinkmac85]

I also was just feeding on demand so anywhere from every 2 1/2-5 hrs but evetually leeanne got herself into a routine. she was eating smaller amounts more often but that all changed the one day she had a massive 6 1/2 hr nap (I know I shouldnt have let her nap that long but she was up for 2 days straight) and it then kick started her routine. If she wants more she will let you know

 

[helen1234]

rhys was a snacker still is and is only on 4-5oz bottles now, he can go and hour and drink a whole bottle then 4 hrs and only drink a few ounce a tad annoying cos he wastes milk and demands feeding in ridiculous times like in shopping queue lol.
hv told me some babies take months to get into a routine and will graze through the day. if she's full then she wont drink anymore no matter what you do and same as if she's hungry i doubt she'll settle.
rhys is quite a sucky baby and he has an art of sucking 15 mins faffing around he hardly drinks half ounce lol.
she gaining and growing dont worry
xx

 

[BlackBerry25]

Helena snacked up until 4 months, only eating 4 ounces at a time. And she is BIG

 

[mommyof3co]

Casen wouldn't take a full 4oz all the time until 11mo....he just didn't eat that much at a time, though when he started solids that kid could put the food away haha. If she's growing and content I would just let her eat how she wants.

 

[nataliecn]

I think as long as she's gaining weight, and her doctor doesn't seem to think there's a problem with her weight gain, it shouldn't matter.

i'm on the opposite end... grady is a little piggie, and at 4 1/2 weeks, we just had to go buy bigger bottles because most feeds 4oz just doesn't do it for him!

 

[rachylouise87]

leo only takes 4oz at most and hes 3 months hes just not a big eater. he grazes all day and snacks hes still on demand feeding because we tried a routine and he didnt like it. he chooses when he eats not me because he will fuss and cry and push the bottle away

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Is Elyse 7 weeks? Or 17 weeks? Either way I think it's fine, as you said, she doesn't seem unhealthy, so go on that. I guess like adults, some babies are bigger eaters than others. Ruby is 13 weeks and takes anything from 4 and 8oz...

 

[Laura--x]

This is an old thread!

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

oh! Doh