Feeding too often??

[Caitlin's Mum]

My 9 week old boy is still waking at night for feeds every two hours. He only drinks about 80ml each time. This happens during the day as well. He is a very big boy (6.8kgs) so probably needs to feed often. Has anyone else had a baby that wants to feed this often?

[rynosmum]

Mine was a big boy too and fed every 2 hours during the day but less at night. Even now at just over a year, he drinks 1 - 1.24 litres per day (of milk - he also drinks more water).

For your sanity, you may need to try and stretch him out to more sleep time at night. Can you settle him for maybe another hour just with cuddles or does he specifically want a feed ?

[jaydensmum]

Hi, I wouldnt worry about feeding your little one too much. Babies eats lots when they are that age because they're growing. Babies only take in what they can fit in. If your bub is dribbling out the sides or turns away, it generally says that they've had enough. I dont think its a concern just yet, but if your ever worried about anything just talk to your nurses at your local clinic or local doctor.
I hope that helps.

jaydensmum. :)

[bubbles28]

Hi there, WOW your baby is a big boy! My son is 7 1/2 mths and weighs the same. Mind you my son is very little for his age.
My son fed every 2 hrs up untill he was about 3mths then it went to 4hrs at night but still 2 hourly during the day.
Some babies have smaller stomachs and can't take as much milk therefore need to feed more often.
Maybe try at the night feeds to change his nappy and re-settle him to bed without a feed and see how he goes. It's all about trial and error.
Best of luck ;)

[LittleBoysRock]

I have an 8.5 week old baby who is now 5.5kgs. So also a fairly big boy. I was using the wrong sized teat on His Bottle and he was feeding about 50-80mls per feed but lots of feeds per day. I asked the CHN as she suggestes using a bigger teat (Avent bottles, went from size 1 to size 2).

He now has approx 120-150mls per feed and almost sleeps through the night. Normally waking once.


This might be worth a shot. Goodluck :D

[Caitlin's Mum]

Thanks. I'll try changing the teat size. Although he drinks really really fast which is why I still use the slower ones. I'll give it a try and perhaps it will make him slow down a bit. He's a little guts! :D

[mama26]

Hi Everyone,

I have an 8 week old baby and in the last week he has been taking in 70-80ml at some feeds and then 120-150ml at others...I am so glade to hear that other babies are doing the same as I started to worry that he might've not been well. He also seems to be awake more throughout the day and feed closer and less ml than the night!!

Cheers

[Caitlin's Mum]

Sounds exactly like my bub was. He is now 13 weeks and still only has 80-100mls but he seems to be stretching them out a bit longer now. He's even better at night time too. He has reflux though and apparently they want to feed more often because it helps with their pain. His medication has just been increased so he is now a much happier baby. :)

[Horseymum]

Hi Caitlin's mum and everyone!

Your situation is completely normal! My little boy was feeding every two hours day and night up until he was 4 and half months old. He has reflux and I think this did play a big part in his feeding habits but I think some babies just prefer to eat little and often. The breaking point came when I was so sleep deprived I wasn't coping very well with everything and was becoming quite depressed. In the end I just had to enforce 3 hourly feeds and that helped a little bit. He is now 5 and half months old and feeds every 3 and half hours during day. Although I have now stopped feeding him throughout the night he gets his last feed at about 9.30pm and then an early morning feed at about 3.00am. He still wakes up every two hours during the night but I resettle him at these times.

I feel that you should follow your intuition about how much to feed your baby - she will let you know! We tend to be so obsessed with getting them on to a schedule that suits us not them and getting them to "sleep through the night" we tend to forget that they are still really little at that age and need to be given what they want. As they get a little older you will know when it is time to get a bit more rigid with the feeding....good luck!