worried about over feeding 5 week old

[Nicola27]

hi all

i'm seeking a bit of advice about feeding my 5 week old baby as I think he's demanding too much. In a typical day this week he has been having as much as 8 bottles a day and 5 oz in each - I know from the guidelines and from what I've read online that this is way too much but I can't not feed him when he's hungry!

He never spits any of it back up so I know he's not just suckling for comfort and when he's screaming I do try and see if anything else is the matter before "giving in" and making him a bottle. During the day he has been only getting to 2 hours before crying for a feed, and then at night he goes longer (between 5 and 6 hours).

Please if anyone can relate or give me any advice I'd be grateful. I have asked the HV and she says just feed him whatever he wants.

 

[buzzy]

Maybe he's just having a growth spurt? Babies are not greedy like us adults and they will not continue to drink more milk if they are full up. In my experience, if he's asking for more, then give it to him. I would only be worried if he wasn't accepting milk and not willing to drink.

 

[Jendra]

If he's hungry, he's hungry. Babies don't eat for complex reasons like adults do (hunger, bordom, sadness, socially. etc), they eat only for hunger.
My son had to be FF from the first week and was taking in 4 oz a time! But he was born 9lbs, 13oz. Is your baby big?

 

[SparkleUK]

Exact same happening to me and my LO.
She is 5 weeks on Tuesday and cluster feeding. Rarely goes more than 2 hours without a bottle and between 6-10pm can take 11-12oz!!! Her tummy becomes huge! But hv says is fine. As long as they aren't vomiting.
My friend was feeding on demand and her hv said they were over feeding but the baby was screaming constantly coz her tummy was too stretched and she was vomiting all the time.
If baby takes bottle then give it to them, they are obviously hungry!

 

[Nicola27]

thanks for the replies - he has calmed down a little now and is even leaving a little bit of milk in the bottle. He must have been having a growth spurt.

Jendra he was quite a big baby = 8lb 2oz. At 3 weeks old he was 10lb 9oz.