Questions for those of you using hungry baby formula

[kayleigh&bump]

I know this is the wrong section to post this in really, but thought I might get more replies here, hope you dont mind

My lo is 4 weeks old and is a pretty big baby (12lb 6oz). He takes 6oz every 3 hours max, sometimes going only 2. My health visitor advised me today to switch over the hungry baby stuff, which I have done, as he is just taking more and more, and she was concerned that im not getting enough sleep at night. Soooooo, He had his 1st feed of the new stuff at 3 oclock, and I was expecting him to only take around 4oz and then be full up (the HV advised me to only offer him 5oz if 6oz is what he usually takes). But he took the full 6oz. Then around 5 oclock, he woke up and started screaming for food. I managed to string him out until 5.40, when he had another full 6oz. Then after this, he still wasnt satisfied and wouldnt settle so I had to give him another ounce.

Does this sound normal? I was expecting him to be full up on this new stuff, not taking the same amound and then STILL hungry!! Does it take a while for them to get used to it or something? Also, for those of you that have used it, did it increase the amount of time between feeds, or did it just reduce the amount they were taking?

 

[Nickij]

Maybe he is having a growth spurt? he does sound like he is taking alot for a 4 weeks old.

Just to warn you though about the hungry baby - even though its suitable from birth they don't usually advise babys to go on it until they are 4 months or more, this is because its alot harder to digest and can make them consipated.

Jack has two out of five bottles a day that are hungry baby and its makes his poo ALOT thicker. he does seem to last slightly longer in between feeds now though. He is on the apitmal one.

 

[anothersquish]

Sorry I dont use it but I dont understand the HV advise at all!!! Seems backwards to me! Id have thought that offering him 4-5 oz more often of his normal milk...ie offering 4 oz every 2 hours and giving extra if hes still hungry. I dont see the point of offering LESS milk LESS often just because its for "hungrier" babies, all that milk is is thicker so its harder to digest, it doesnt actually have any benefit for them and can cause digestive issues in small babies (as niki was saying it can make them constipated for a start)

 

[kayleigh&bump]

Sorry I dont use it but I dont understand the HV advise at all!!! Seems backwards to me! Id have thought that offering him 4-5 oz more often of his normal milk...ie offering 4 oz every 2 hours and giving extra if hes still hungry. I dont see the point of offering LESS milk LESS often just because its for "hungrier" babies, all that milk is is thicker so its harder to digest, it doesnt actually have any benefit for them and can cause digestive issues in small babies (as niki was saying it can make them constipated for a start)

It would be impossible to offer him less and more often of the normal milk. Up until 2 days ago, he was on 5oz but for 3 days we had a nightmare with him as he was still screaming for food after the 5oz, but i was reluctant to up it to 6oz. In the end, I had to as he just would not settle and he was getting himself REALLY overtired, which was making him scream even more! He just will not sleep unless his tummy is full, which was causing us even more problems.

The reason the hv wanted to put him on hungry baby is cos he feeds quite often, and cos hes on quite a big volume of milk, she wanted to try and make him go longer (presumably cos the hungry baby milk is meant to fill them up for longer).

I was also worried about constipation cos Ive heard thats one of the down sides of using it. The HV said that they dont usually put babies on it till at least 6-8 weeks, but cos hes taking so much so often, he needed to be going longer in between feeds, and that if he does get constipated theres things they can do to help. Im also offering him small amounts of water during the day at her advice, which I think can help with constipation.

I dunno really, just taking her advice cos im hoping she knows what shes talking about!

 

[Mize1982]

I know this is the wrong section to post this in really, but thought I might get more replies here, hope you dont mind

My lo is 4 weeks old and is a pretty big baby (12lb 6oz). He takes 6oz every 3 hours max, sometimes going only 2. My health visitor advised me today to switch over the hungry baby stuff, which I have done, as he is just taking more and more, and she was concerned that im not getting enough sleep at night. Soooooo, He had his 1st feed of the new stuff at 3 oclock, and I was expecting him to only take around 4oz and then be full up (the HV advised me to only offer him 5oz if 6oz is what he usually takes). But he took the full 6oz. Then around 5 oclock, he woke up and started screaming for food. I managed to string him out until 5.40, when he had another full 6oz. Then after this, he still wasnt satisfied and wouldnt settle so I had to give him another ounce.

Does this sound normal? I was expecting him to be full up on this new stuff, not taking the same amound and then STILL hungry!! Does it take a while for them to get used to it or something? Also, for those of you that have used it, did it increase the amount of time between feeds, or did it just reduce the amount they were taking?

I actually put Mya on this on monday for a month she was drinking 6 oz and screaming within 2 hours for more.

I also assumed she would only want 4 oz's but no she wanted the full 6oz, it took a couple of days but she is now going for nearing 4 hours before wanting another feed, and also when she wakes in the morning (she sleeps thru) she isnt screaming blue murder for her bottle, which she used to.

I will warn you tho Mya has got a bit of constipation from the change over atm, so maybe be prepared for that just incase it happens too.

hope your lo starts to enjoy their milk xxx

 

[Vici]

Imi was eating loads at 4 weeks hun, sometimes 8 oz and going 3 hours. We only switched over to hungry baby at about 5 months and it made no differenmce at all - same amount and same time distance! I only swapped because she was having 10oz and i couldn't fit it all in one bottle! I think at 3 hourly feed at 4 weeks is perfectly normal so not sure where your HV is coming from

 

[kirmal12]

I'm having the same sort of problems, Myles is 5 weeks tomorrow and just started draining 5 ozs every 2-3 hours, but for the first time he went 4 hours last night!. We use the cartons of Aptamil, i tried to put him on to the "make up" formula last week and that made him constipated, bad tempered and colicky so no way am i going to try the hungry baby formula yet!!.

I'm happy just to go with the flow now, he is happy and content, if he wants food he can have it, I'm not stressing about it. When he is little older i may have to try and sort his sleeping out as i need a little more!!

 

[smiley44]

My little boy is a big baby. He was feeding every 1.5 hrs for a time settling to every 2!! I was advised by the HV to put him on the hungrier milk. It made no difference. He drank just the same and as often. He ended up constipated even after giving water. Doctor advised to take him off the hungrier milk as it so heavy based. I just had to carry on with the normal and wait it out. Think he just did alot more growing than other babies. He is 16 weeks now nearly 20lb and feeds 8 or 9 oz every 2 hours but luckily sleeps through the night. Some babies just need more milk! You could maybe try him on another brand of milk??

 

[Kte]

Chloe is on HB and has been for a while. She doesn't take less / didn't take less that her previous formula. Tbh I can't fully remember but I think the times did spread out a bit but not at first. At first it just stopped her going into another bottle, I then went from 180ml down to 120ml by her lead and then evetually worked back up again.

Her bum was fine but as ppl say about constipation, it's something to watch out for. (She was more consitpated on normal formula!)

At the end of the day, if your baby is hugry feed him, don't reduce it like HV has said!

Hope the food helps and things settle for you