How Many Feeds?

[mytwolilprinces]

I just started bottle feeding my almost 4 week old. I'm giving him the Karicare starter formula - the tin says he should have 6 bottles of 100ml - which would work out to be 1 feed every 4 hours. However, he is waking up after 3 hours absolutley starving. I've tried giving him the next amount up ( 150mls ) but he only drinks the 100mls - so it seems a waste making up the extra formula as he doesn't drink it and it doesn't make him hold out for the whole 4 hours. So basically he is having 8 bottles rather than the recommended 6!

Has anyone else had this sort of thing happen? I haven't taken him to the clinic to be weighed but I'm worried he will put on too much weight, he seems to be fine and although he's filled out a bit, he certainly doesn't look like he's getting fat.

The 3 hourly feeds are wearing me out a bit and I find it hard to keep up with the sterilising etc when the feeds are so many and so frequent.

Any advice on making him cut down to the recommended amount for his age or should I just let him feed as often as he likes?

[whatwasithinking]

Sorry JRsmum my suggestion is to let him go.

Both mine were like that - it doesn't last forever - maybe he's having a growth spurt - which feeding is the main "symptom".

Should be fine but if concerned see your MHCN.

[Irish Dad]

If my babies are hungry I feed them, my daughter a big round baby but shes a happy smiley one :)

[Baby Girl]

I would let him feed as often as he likes. If he was still bf he would be feeding at least 8 times a day. The guidelines on the tin are simply that - guidelines. If he is hungry feed him...

As for keeping up with sterilising, try getting at least 10 - 12 bottles and do whatever he has used before you go to bed each night and you will always have enough for the night/next day and even if you don't get to do them before you go to bed then at least you have a couple of spare ones so you can do the used ones in the morning but he still has a clean bottle ready to go when he wakes for his next couple of feeds.

I have 2 sets of 6 tommee tippee bottles (about $6 or $7 a set from BigW from memory) and I use the Puk teats (about $8 - $9 a pair - I had some from when DD1 was little so I was lucky they didn't break the bank!!) . Now I am down to only having to do 5-6 bottles a day as DD1 is drinking less formula and DD2 is off her bed bottle completely...yippee.

I have found that it is all about organisation when you bottle feed. Good Luck.

[mytwolilprinces]

Thanks, I also feel that I should feed him whenever he is hungry but I've had some "advice" from a few people ( ie, my MIL ) and she says that I'm over feeding him. I also bottle fed my 1st son and the HCN told me only to give him 4 hourly feeds, I think it was just luck that he was happy to feed 4 hourly.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'm using the NUK bottle and teats - which I used for my 1st son and find them to be ok, looks like I'll just have to buy a few more bottles to keep up with my hungry little boy!

[strawb]

I've had some "advice" from a few people ( ie, my MIL ) and she says that I'm over feeding him.

I wouldnt worry about what others say. I have found that older people are more accustomed to feeding their babies every 4 hours. I cant imagine letting my baby cry, hungry while I wait for the clock to tick!

Never rely on instructions on a tin, they are a guide. Trust yourself and your baby!

[Baby Girl]

Thanks, I also feel that I should feed him whenever he is hungry but I've had some "advice" from a few people ( ie, my MIL ) and she says that I'm over feeding him. I also bottle fed my 1st son and the HCN told me only to give him 4 hourly feeds, I think it was just luck that he was happy to feed 4 hourly.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'm using the NUK bottle and teats - which I used for my 1st son and find them to be ok, looks like I'll just have to buy a few more bottles to keep up with my hungry little boy!Babies will not overfeed. They simply won't drink anymore if they are not hungry. But in the same sense they will not settle if they are still hungry.

Sounds like you are onto a good thing - I liked the nuk teats too. Hopefully a few more bottles should help to keep up with his demand ;)

Have fun :p

[reAllytee]

Like the others id say feed him when he is hungry as schmell said they dont over feed its not possible. Trust me i tried feeding my bubs a little extra one day when he was a newborn to have it vomitted back at me should have trusted him saying no more thanx mum :o He now clamps his mouth shut when he has had enough milk or food.
Sometimes the oldies have the best intentions but arent always in the know IYKWIM :p
Invest in some more bottles you can even buy cheapies from BigW & swap the teats with those bubs likes i did this as i also had a bub who liked to feed every 2 to 3hrs when growing. Then i would wash all the bottles of a nite & sterilise before going to bed & have the next lot ready in the fridge for bubs nite feed & the following morning

[JenNT]

my little man..4 months, won't drink a whole bottle either.He drinks 60-100mls at a time, has a rest (typical male) then wants more 30 mins later. I make up the bottles, feed him and put it in the fridge to give to him when he wants more.They say not to but after 3 kids it works and im not wasting formula.I only keep premade formula for 24 hrs. At the end of the day he is drinking his 'quota' on the tin so i'm not overly worried.Just have lots of bottles sterilised.:D

[veve]

Like the others id say feed him when he is hungry as schmell said they dont over feed its not possible. Trust me i tried feeding my bubs a little extra one day when he was a newborn to have it vomitted back at me should have trusted him saying no more thanx mum :o

LOL - every mum must do this at least ONCE :)

the guidelines on the tin are just guidelines AND the info on the back of the tin is in reference to AGE not WEIGHT - my man is 8 weeks old ... and yet weighs olmost 6 1/2 kgs - biggish for his age... so he eats MORE ... Jack has just started to have 200mls at a feed..

listen to your munchkin... (not your MIL :p ) - he only has a little tummy.. and can only fit so much in at a time!!!

note- if your MIL gives you too much grief... just make up a little fib... tell her that the CHN TOLD you to feed him at 3 hour intervals... that she looked him over and you discussed it with her :D your MIL will never know

xxx

[mytwolilprinces]

LOL - every mum must do this at least ONCE :)


note- if your MIL gives you too much grief... just make up a little fib... tell her that the CHN TOLD you to feed him at 3 hour intervals... that she looked him over and you discussed it with her :D your MIL will never know

xxx

Ha ha, that's great - I actually used this tatic with my first son - my MIL was always telling me what to do, so I just basically used the HCN as my backup constantly ( even though she was an oldie too and was not much use to me at all - she was like a broken record - 4 hourly feeds, 1 hr play, then sleep for at least 2 hrs blah blah blah).

I'm pleased to report that last night I actually had a break from the 3 hourly feeds and he slept for 5 hours! He's back on his 3 hourly feeds today but if he keeps up the 5 hour sleeps at night he can feed whenever he wants during the day!!!!

[funnyfarm]

I would feed him when he wants it. I used to worry about this with my daughter and try to hold her out to the four hour mark. She is now 19 months old and still having 4 bottles a day (CN recommends i cut her down to 2). Now looking back i realise she was just a thirsty little girl.

I was going to say that maybe his day feeds might be closer and he might start going longer at night and it sounds like that is what happened last night. It is tough in the first couple of months. I felt like i was forever sitting down feeding my daughter but it becomes quicker and less demanding as they get older.

Good luck

Janet