Is my baby feeding too much? - C&G Comfort

[Jayneypops]

Hi,

We changed our LO onto Cow and Gate Comfort formula from the Infant formula 1, as she was suffering badly with wind. She is still a bit windy and gets tummy ache so we're using Infacol (which helps her bring the wind up).

Our MW recommended 4oz each feed and said she should sleep for around 4 hours inbetween feeds, however, our LO feeds every 2 hours during the day and roughly every 2 or 3 hours through the night. She doesnt always finish a full 4oz but always has between 3 and 4oz (so roughly 35oz per day give or take)

Is this too much?

We thought about trying her on the Cow and Gate formula for hungrier babies, but are reluctant due to her tummy/wind troubles.

 

[Ashlee B x]

My LO was havin around 25+ oz on cow n gate 1 n had bad wind we've since put her on hungry baby but started off on last feed n night feed then went ful time on it after a week n she barely had any wind we don't even use infacol anymore. She now has 3-4oz every 3 hours in the day and goes all night now do has around 20-24 oz a day n weight gain is completely average HTH x

 

[summer rain]

Cow and gate comfort is made already partially digested so it is easier to digest; but like breastmilk this may mean babies need feeding more often; and some babies are the opposite on the comfort milk because it is slightly thicker they get filled up more easily and take less than the recommended amount per day. I really would not worry at all; your midwife is being very old fashioned saying a baby so young should go 4 hours between feeds- this is not realistic and is too long for many babies. I definitely would not switch to hungry baby as it is casein based (the 'cheesy' part of the milk) and could make any wind and digestion problems much much worse, also it is really designed for when babies get close to weaning onto solids and are taking 9 or 10oz at a feeding; not for a newborn who is taking the usual amount per feed but just feeding slightly more often xx

 

[VeryHopeful]

4 oz. each feeding? That seems like a lot to me? My Ped yelled at me for giving LO 3 oz. so now he's down to 2 oz. every 2 hours

 

[x Michelle x]

4 oz. each feeding? That seems like a lot to me? My Ped yelled at me for giving LO 3 oz. so now he's down to 2 oz. every 2 hours

Really? My LO has 8oz every 3-4 hours! He is a hungry boy! I can't imagine the screams I'd get if I tried to feed him less!

 

[Jayneypops]

Thanks for the replies! It seems there's quite some variation between babies
Suppose it's to be expected as they are all little individuals. As long as I'm not over feeding her or making her worse then I'm happy to feed her on demand however much she wants, I just worry that she may be feeding so often for comfort which then makes her tummy worse in the long run?
I didn't realise that some babies feed more often on the comfort formula ( I had only heard of babies being fuller longer) so hopefully that explains our LOs appetite!

 

[Ashlee B x]

2 oz every 2 hours, sod that lol your LO seems like she is Doin just fine. I started on hungry baby milk at 5-6 weeks btw n Shes now 9 weeks and not has any problems at all infect I just have to sit her after a feed in within 2-10 seconds she's burped : it's down to personal choice Hun n this is wot was best for us x

 

[emsie_123]

Aptimil hungry baby is a godsend! It made my baby relieve gas so quickly AND she isnt hungry after 3 hours, it's great!

 

[bumpwanted]

Hun my lo was on comfort aptamil and fed ever 2hrs I changed to cow and gate 1 and I saw a difference instantly he now goes every 4hrs!
Maybe get a few cartons and try in for 24hrs x

 

[Jayneypops]

She was on the cow and gate 1 formula originally and it gave her trapped wind
She did go a little longer on it but wasn't worth the crying and frustration....

 

[lozzy21]

Baby's tummys are tiny! They are only the size of a walnut at 8 weeks old. There were days where my LO would go 4 hours between a feed and then the next day she would want feeding every 2. Baby's are like adults, some times you want a big meal and can wait a while for the next meal and some times you only want a snack and then want something else an hour or two later.

Hungry baby milk was designed for baby's wanting 8oz every two hours. It fills them for longer so overall they have less calories which isent good for a baby so young who is still growing rapidly.

 

[Ashlee B x]

Actually it's not designed for baby's havin 8 oz every 2 hours. I asked my health visitor about it n she said its jus for baby's around 3 months as that when then have a growth spurt n altho still drink the same amount they want something more filling but as I was already using it she said its fine but be prepared to possibly wean a little earlier but it's perfectly safe to use now n it does say on the box from birth! It's a god send for is I do recommend it x

 

[x Michelle x]

My LO is on Aptamil comfort too, sometimes it's a feed every 3 hours but he has been known to randomly go 7 hours at night! That's fine by me, I'd feed him every hour during the day if it means a good sleep

 

[summer rain]

Actually it's not designed for baby's havin 8 oz every 2 hours. I asked my health visitor about it n she said its jus for baby's around 3 months as that when then have a growth spurt n altho still drink the same amount they want something more filling but as I was already using it she said its fine but be prepared to possibly wean a little earlier but it's perfectly safe to use now n it does say on the box from birth! It's a god send for is I do recommend it x

Actually the manufacturers websites all say on their description of the hungry baby milk that it's designed to delay weaning onto solids, so Lozzy is correct. I believe the manufacturers know better what their product is designed for than HVs xx

 

[lozzy21]

Just because your HV said it doesent make it true, how can baby's want something more filling when all they know is milk? If a baby is having a growth spurt then they need more milk for the extra calories because their growth is about to do a jump.

 

[Ashlee B x]

Sorry ladies but I'm agreeing with my hv. My son was on hungry baby at 3 weeks as normal mill didn't satisfy him I also gave him baby rice at 8 weeks! So if I feel my child isn't satisfied on normal milk then I'll give them something more fillin. It's just how we do things n it's workin for us

You said how can baby's need something when all they no is milk, how is this any different to a 6 month old when starting to wean compared to a 2 month who's hungry?? Babies develop at different rates x

 

[lozzy21]

If a baby isent satisfied on milk it's because they want more milk, not solid food. They don't know what solid food is untill they start weaning. All they know before weaning is "oh my mam puts that to her mouth, I'm going to do the same" and when they realise it tastes nice so they do it again and then then realise it stops them feeling hungry. They dont know that a lump of cheese is going to stop them feeling hungry untill they eat some?!

 

[Ashlee B x]

Yeah I do agree but my boy was hungry n milk Wudnt satisfy him for long. By 6 months e was fully weaned n eatin a full roast by himself (blw) if this LO shows the same signs of not bein satisfied I'll wean her early too

I still agree that op shud go ahead onto hungry baby it Wudnt say from birth if it wasn't suitable for them x

 

[summer rain]

Its completely normal for a 3 week old to feed every 2-3 hours around the clock, its NOT a sign of them being excessively hungry at all! If the comfort milk is working OP then stick with it; it can often be hard to find a formula that suits your baby so the fact you have is great. A lot of people unfortunately have very unrealistic ideas about how a newborn should behave xx

 

[Jayneypops]

Thanks for the replies. I understand that every 2-3 hours is normal, but I was under the impression they should have maybe 3 or 4oz per feed? Today my 3 week old has had roughly 6oz every 2 hours- can that be normal too? I guess it CAN vary this much from baby to baby?