How do you know when to up formula amount?

[BadassMom]

Hi girls!

My LO is 7 weeks, weighs 11 pounds and is 23 1/2 inchs long. He's already up to eating 4 ozs at a time every 3-4 hours even through the night. For the past few days it seems like he's not satisfied with only 4 ozs, and eats another oz or even two after his usual bottle! I'm hesitant to up the amount because that seems like a lot for such a young baby. So my questions are

How do you know when your baby needs their formula amount increased.

Do babies stop eating when their full or will they keep eating until they get sick?

How much do/did your babies eat at around 7 weeks?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Duejan2012]

I would up the amount hun. You cant really over feed a baby and if he isnt satified just up the amount. You know to up the amount if you lo just sucks down the formula and is still trying to suck after its gone. I dont think that4 oz is alot at all. My lo was eating 4 oz at 2 weeks and 6 by a month or so. It stayed the same from there just recently i uped it to 8 oz

EDIT: Babys will stop when they are full. I think i read somewhere too that if they do get alittle to much that is what they will "Spit up"

 

[megangrohl]

Give them whatever they want to eat so if you see your baby is guzzling the 4 oz give him more. They are growing, and they may need more milk. They can't really overeat. They stop eating when they aren't hungry anymore. At 7 weeks Lily was eating 4.5 oz at a time every 2.5 hours. Now she's eating 6 oz every 3 hours. Every baby is different.

 

[Boo44]

My LO is 7 weeks and also weighs 11lb and he has between 5-7 oz every 3 or 4 hours so 6 feeds in 24 hrs

You know to up the amount when they drain each bottle - you should get to the stage where there is always something left

The most my LO had had is 7oz so I offer him that every time and often he'll leave a bit but approx twice a day he takes the full lot xx

 

[Bex1408]

Hi my lo is also 7 weeks. She has 6 bottles in 24 hours and has 5oz each time. Every so often she will leave an ounce so I know she's full think I will have to up it to 6oz soon tho as she's starting to guzzle a whole bottle and moan a little bit. I'd rather offer more and know she's full. If baby is full they won't continue to drink xxx

 

[starstarstar]

We upped it when LO was draining each bottle and now she always leaves a little in the bottom. Babies will push the bottle out or spit up after if they've had too much so dont worry about over feeding

 

[Jox]

My lo is 4 wks and has been on 4 oz for at least week now.

When ur lo isn't happy after feed and ur having to give him more that's when u need to up it x

 

[BadassMom]

Thanks for all the replies ladies. I will def be upping his amount to 5 or 6 ozs from now on. I'm glad to hear that my LO isn't the only one eating so much

 

[shx]

We up amelias milk when she starts draining a bottle every time! Shes been on 6oz since about 5 weeks old and weve just had to up it to 7oz over the weekend. Shes drinking 7oz every 4 hours through the day, i asked the health visitor today if this was ok and she said to feed the baby however much she wanted as often as she wants so i would just try him on an extra oz!

 

[sequeena]

I always made an ounce more. If he drank 4oz I made 5oz. Once he drained 5oz I upped it to 6oz.

 

[ceejie]

I was told you should always make an ounce or two more, so that the baby has the option. You baby should never completely drain the bottle, there should always be a little bit left. Apparently babies simply cannot overfeed.

I know there are feeding guides, but there is no "right" amount for babies based on their age, all babies are different. At 7 weeks my DD was only taking 1.5oz or so. She is now 3.5 months and will still only take a maximum of 4oz at a time, a lot of the time she still only takes 2oz. But I have heard of other much younger babies taking much more. As long as your baby is healthy, alert and growing then there should be no reason to worry.

 

[lianne82]

My LO has just been upped to 6oz and was 7 weeks yesterday! I knew she needed more as she was draining each bottle and was going shorter length of time between feeds, she's now leaving some and going about 4 hours again!

 

[Mummythree]

4oz isnt too much for a 7wk old. my ds is 2days off 11weeks and been having 5-6oz since at least 7weeks if not before then.

 

[Arisa]

I would up the amount if i were you and go with the flow as the amount babies "should" be given is only a guide and not fact. LOL I tend to be the only mother who has a FF babty who WONt eat enough, she is not even taking 5oz yet and will be three months next week
but she is sleeping five to six hours a night now, from 6pm to 11pm then a feed and then right through to 5am-5:30 so as long as they are sleeping a good amount after a feed then they are getting enough but do give him more if he needs it