3 weeks old, always hungry, what do I do?

**sparkleymum** · 12-04-2008 23:14

Myles will be 4 weeks old on Wednesday. he dirinks big bottles for his age, he is over 10 lbs now and drinks
7am.............150mls (seems happy after this bottle)
10am............120mls (seems happy after this bottles)
2pm..............120mls (seems happy after this bottle)
5pm...............100mls (not happy after this one)
then has a bath and after that at approx
6.15pm...........100mls (not happy after this bottle usually cries till 8.30pm)
10.30pm..........150mls (goes straight to sleep after this bottle)
3am.................120mls (goes straight to sleep after this bottle)

So he is drinking ALOT of milk mut is totally unsatisfied at the 5pm / 6.15 feeding. I am trying to do the contented baby routine but this timeing isn't working for him. Should I just give one big bottle? In total in that hour and a half he is getting 200mls, that is a mammoth feed just split by the bath. I dont know if he is mega hungry, he is routing and does appear very hungry or if he is just in a bad routine cause I keep lifteing him and trying to settle him in my arms cause he is so upset at this time. I cannot feed a baby his age any more can I?

**punkbaby** · 12-04-2008 23:18

I cant say what he should be drinking ( i have bf all mine at that age

) but to me it sounds like the witching hour all babies have this and well times of the day vary but generally i found it was at the end of the day with my lot . Mine had it anywhere from 4 hours to 1 hour where they werent hungry they just wanted cuddle and comforting then they were hungry then they werent etc it really is a testing time but it does pass eventually

This is what it sounds like to me anyway but hopefully someone else can shed some light on what he should be having, good luck and congrats on your little man

**justmum** · 12-04-2008 23:22

I wouldn't worry about what he should be having. If it were me, I would make up a bigger bottle for the 2 feeds he isn't happy after and let him have what he wants at those feeds.

**Hollywood** · 12-04-2008 23:31

Hi, sorry, I'm a breastfeeder but had to stick my nose in here. I agree with Punkbaby, sounds like witching hour to me. I read somewhere once that it peaks at about 6 weeks of age (their crying).

We went through it with DS and some nights we eliminated all possible reasons for him to cry and fuss, but he would cry for ages. So one of us would just retreat to the bedroom with him and cuddle him so that at least he was getting physical contact with someone.

If it is witching hour it will pass pretty soon, and get less in a few weeks or so. All the best

**gizmoduckus** · 12-04-2008 23:39

How much does it say to give him on the side of the can of formula?

Does he drink everything in his bottle? Or does he drink only part of it and is still unsatisfied?

**bubs_and_us** · 12-04-2008 23:42

my initial thought would be the witching hour. my DS used to just cry and cry - we thought he was hungry, but turned out he was just unsettled and wanted hugs. it does pass though

**sparkleymum** · 13-04-2008 09:00

Thanks for all the replies.
Yes he drinks the whole bottle. He's drinking a bit more than the tin says for 2 weeks to 2 months age group.
I didn't know about this witching hour, emm, could be that alright.
Thanks

**delirium** · 13-04-2008 09:09

Yep to the witching hour thing. Infact we call it that in our household too

Between about 4.30 and 6.30pm both our kids are unsettled and grouchy. I think they are tired and had enough for the day.

As for how much he's drinking, I wouldn't worry. He's actually eating great for a 3 week old, at that age both my kids would only have 60-80mls in a sitting as their tummies are so small at that age. Just as with bf babies, bottle fed bubbas vary widely in how much they drink.

Could he be overtired? I know my boy is absolutely terrible when he gets overtired

Maybe by the 10.30pm bottle he's just really tired that's why he settles with that one??

**~Temet Nosce~** · 13-04-2008 09:26

shes 3 weeks old and feeding 3-4 hourly around the clock, sonds perfectly normal to me

the 5pm grumpy thing is usually a sign of colic, becuase thats when it bothers them the most from the build up of wind during the day. Try giving her some gripe water or brauers (sp?) or some infacol wind drops in her bottles.

**Kittylou** · 13-04-2008 09:42

Defnitely sounds like the witching hour to me. My DD was unsettled for that same period until she was about 8 weeks old. It gradually decreased to 5-7pm and now (at 5 months) she's pretty good, just a bit clingy between 5-6pm-ish.