New mum - is my baby having far too much formula ? help needed

[fizz63]

My little boy will be 5 weeks tomorrow. We are currently using Cow & Gate Formula (both comfort and No 1).

I am very concerned though that he is eating far too much. The instructions on the C&G packaging say not to give more than 6 feeds in 24 hours. However, my LO is often wanting feeding every 2 hours. Today for example he has already had 6 feeds in 12 hours, never mind in 24 hours! All of a sudden he starts screaming the place down and i can only assume its due to wanting feeding. I have checked his nappy etc so cant think what else could be causing the excessive crying - and he settles straight away as soon as i give him a bottle - so am i right to assume its hunger that is making him so distressed ? He does usually got for a 4 hour spell once during the day but all the other times are generally 2 hours / 2.5 hours.

I have had conflicting advice from my health visitors, one said to feed on demand as and when and ignore the advise on the C&G packaging and the other health visitor said not to feed him so often, make him go longer in between by giving him an 1oz or 2 of water.

This is my first baby so i am very confused about what to do next but the constant feeding is driving me mad - i am sure he should go longer between feeds that this. I am really worried that all this over feeding will do him harm.

your advice would be greatly appreciated girls !

 

[happygal]

is your little one putting weight on ok? if he is, i personally would carry on demand feeling him if you can(although in the warm weather i would also offer some cool boiled water a couple of times a day, thats what my health visitor told me to do with olivia) x

eta, olivia is 16 days old and she takes 3/4 oz every 2/3 hours and the health visitor has said thats ok x

 

[Nic1107]

It's quite normal for a little one to eat every couple of hours, especially if they eat smaller amounts. Little tummies don't hold much after all! Maybe if you add up the feeds it would equal the amount to feeding the amounts called for on the tin 6 times per day? If not don't worry about it; babies pretty much won't overeat and if he's not hungry he'll refuse the bottle.

 

[jen1604]

I agree with Nic,if he is having more than he needs he'll either just refuse it or sick it up back up.

Don't worry about health visitors,just do what feels right for you xxxx

 

[fizz63]

Hes actually have 4oz every time ... so feeding every 2 hours on that quantity is why i am concerned ...

 

[ellie27]

Hes actually have 4oz every time ... so feeding every 2 hours on that quantity is why i am concerned ...

I feed Anna when she is hungry and it sounds like thats what you are doing so keep going!

At just 5 weeks she was feeding every 2 hrs like your LO, but now is feeding nearer every 4 hours - she has set that herself.

If your LO is having 4 oz every 2 hours, how many feeds in a day??? About 10?? If so, then I would say 40oz is a huge amount for a 5wk old baby - the tub says 25oz a day.

At 5wks old Anna would take around 22 oz a day max, and even at almost 5 months she is now taking 25oz a day - but still gaining weight as she should.

Just carry on as you are and things should settle soon

 

[Mynx]

I agree with the others. Carry on demand feeding as this is the best way for him to get the milk he needs. He could be having a growth spurt, which might be why he's feeding so frequently All babies have different appetites. As Ellie27 said, things should settled down soon, especially if it's a growth spurt

 

[aimee-lou]

Carry on as you are hun. I kept a diary of what Earl was eating at this age as I was concerned he was eating too much......I later realised that he's just a starving little boy who is never full with hollow legs! lol.

At 5 weeks we were on 5oz every 2-3 hours. It was around this time that we settled into a 2.5hour feeding routine. At 6 weeks we went up to 6oz a bottle too!

Every baby has a different appetite, and only they can dictate that! Sounds like you've got a LO who eats well - one less thing to worry about

 

[blondeNklutzi]

Carry on as you are hun. I kept a diary of what Earl was eating at this age as I was concerned he was eating too much......I later realised that he's just a starving little boy who is never full with hollow legs! lol.

At 5 weeks we were on 5oz every 2-3 hours. It was around this time that we settled into a 2.5hour feeding routine. At 6 weeks we went up to 6oz a bottle too!

Every baby has a different appetite, and only they can dictate that! Sounds like you've got a LO who eats well - one less thing to worry about

Hollow legs! I think Mika has them too!

I really wouldn't worry too much about it. Mika's pediatrician was awed that he was taking nearly 8 oz at 8 weeks, but she said to just give him what he wants. I think that at 5 weeks Mika was still eating every 2 hours and typically about 5/6 oz! Like what has been said before though, it could very well be a growth spurt, there is one at about 4 weeks and another at about 6, so you could be hitting one late, or the other early.

Mika is a heavy boy (17 lbs at 3 months), but he is strong, he's very active for his age, and he knows if he is hungry much better than I do, so I don't really worry about it much.

 

[AimeeM]

Feed on demand. My lo is 3 months and still feeds every 3 hours 5oz. He can not take more than 5oz therfore needs more feeds in 24 hours. He weighs 15lbs at 3 months. I find the packet guides unrealistic.

If baby is hungry feed him, it could be very serious for their health not to.

 

[Trying4ababy]

My niece is 10 weeks and she has 6 oz. about 6-7 times a day.

 

[kayleigh&bump]

4oz every 2 hours seems good to me hun does your lo go any longer at night? at 5 weeks, my lo was on 6oz and sometimes taking as many as 9 bottles a day. He has now settled down to 6 x 7oz bottles a day xx

 

[ladyandbump]

I agree with carrying on the demand feeding - at this age they have little tummies and so the amount they take at each sitting may vary (my lo does anyway, varies between a quick 2oz to a milk guzzling 5oz!). Have you tried keeping a feed diary, by doing this I felt much happier that lo was having the average quantity for her age each day, although she may drink it over anything from 6-10 feeds per day depending on her mood, the temperature, whether we're out and about and she sleeps etc xx

 

[Mynx]

The feed diaries are a great idea, I've been keeping one for Evie since she was about 4 weeks old, and I still do now lol!

 

[Petite]

Abbey is 5 weeks today and on 5oz every four hours or so, sometimes she takes 7oz. She weighed 9lbs at birth and at four weeks weighed 10lb 14. The health visitor assures me that this is fine and to ignore the guidelines on the packaging. x