Ages and Amounts of Formula

[Tinia]

Wow, ok thank you.. I had thought the answer is feed him more, but one of the health nurses told me not to give him 3oz at 4 weeks old as it would be too much. I did anyways as he wanted it! Momma knows best huh?

[* Paula *]

How have things gone today?

[Tinia]

Good, he's draining the 7oz bottle too.. slept till 6am last night which was a huge improvement from 3:30 the night before. He really seems to get hungry and cluster feed at 4 and 5:30/6:00. I'm pretty sure Tracy said to stop tanking them up at 6 (?) weeks so I don't know if that means I should be offering 8oz. We'll see how tonight goes as he's been taking 7oz bottles all day compared to a few yesterday. 

[* Paula *]

Fantastic news 

If the cluster feeding is working for you, I would stick with it.  When he starts to lose interest in it, you can then drop it.

Keep us posted on how you get on.

[Tinia]

Well, last night was a step backwards he woke up at 4am. We have been gradually reducing his amount there so he will eat more in the morning but I don't know if it will actually work. He has been eating more in the morning so that part is better. He sure likes to keep me on my toes... his sister STTN once and we didn't have a problem after that. He's given me a handful of STTN since 6 weeks so who knows.

We'll see what happens tonight.

[* Paula *]

Perhaps try and keep a log of what he takes during the day over a few days, and see which nights he sleeps through and you can try and see if there is a pattern.

[Tinia]

I will definately do that if he changes his current habits, he's given me a couple of really good nights with 6am wake ups. Another question for you... is it possible for a baby to move to a 4 hour eating schedule before 4 months? He hasn't seemed all that hungry at 3 hour intervals today, and seemingly eating every 4 hours. He doesn't seem sick at all, very happy. Maybe it's just some phase, but thought I'd ask.

Thanks!

[* Paula *]

Yes it is possible for a lo to move to a 4 hour eating routine before 4 months.  My DD moved to 4 hour EASY when she was 3 months old.  She has always been on the higher end of the A time, so this worked out well for us.

It can become a bit tricky when your lo is not doing 2 hours A time and feeding every 4 hours, but as long as you do not feed to sleep there is no problem.

Good luck, keep us posted on how you get on.

[Tinia]

Thanks for the advice! A time is not up to par so I will read some faq's on the EASY forums for trying to move him to more awake time.

btw, we are now at 8oz haha.. thanks again for all the help!

[* Paula *]

Fantastic news 

[HLS]

Hi everyone, i'm new to this.  My baby girl, Georgia, is 13 days old, she weighed 9lb3oz at birth (how i don't know)!!  She started just under 2 weeks ago on 2oz every 3.5 hours (my midwife recommended 3.5 - 4 hours), then within a day she went to 3oz.  I have put her on her first 4oz feed today (she weighed 9lb3.5oz 3 days ago) and she drank it all (she is now sleeping very deeply)!!  I understand they say you should feed your baby 2.5oz per lb that they weigh.  This means Georgia should be feeding 3.75oz per feed, which is obviously around the 4oz mark, so i think this is right.

Now she's on 4oz should i try and go for 4 hourly feeds instead of 3.5? 

So far she feeds around 6-7am, then at 3.5 hour intervals, usually has a feed at 4.30pm - 5.30pm, then 2 hours after she has her 1st cluster feed, which she only takes half her usual intake (which has been 1.5 ounces), then has a full 3oz feed at her 2nd cluster feed 2 hours after that, followed by a not so dream feed (as she wakes up) at 12.30am.  She then sleeps from 1am - 6am, so generally we are getting a block of 5 hours sleep.

Obviously Georgia is brand new, she feeds within 20-30 mins and is sleeping more than having an activity, plus having a dream feed later.  I put this late dream feed down to her newness and the fact she isn't having a feed in the middle of the night.

Does the above sound ok?

She is suffering colic in the early evenings, which is awful for her, poor lil babe, so that can throw her schedule a little.

Sorry if i've rambled in the wrong section, like i said, i'm new to this.

I guess i'm just looking for a little bit or reassurance.  Thanks ladies....Hayley :-)

[* Paula *]

Hi Hayley,

Welcome to the BW boards 

Sounds like your lo is doing fantastically, especially with that 5 hour block of sleep.

If your lo is happy with every 3.5 hours during the day and then cluster feeding in the early evening, I would stick to it.  Most lo's feed every 3 hours at this stage, so if your lo is happy, then I would not change it.

Look forward to seeing you round the boards 

[clairej]

Hiya

My LO started to feed every 4 hours himself when he was about 9 wks, having about 5 ounces each time. He's now 11wks but the last wk he's suddenly stopped feeding as well and may only take 3 ounces for a feed, the next feed may take 5 ounces. He's seems qute happy though and not unwell so I'm leaving it up to him. He also had his immunisation injections a wk ago so I'm wondering if this may have affected him or whether he should have got over them by now.

Claire.

[* Paula *]

Hiya Claire,

Some lo's do move over to 4 hourly feeding quite early.  My DD was the same, and fed much better at 4 hourly intervals than at 3 or 3.5.

If your lo has just had his jabs this could be affecting his feeding pattern, but would think that after a week, if he was bothered by them, he should be recovering now.

What size teat are you using?  Do you think that he may be ready for a faster flow teat?

[huby]

Hi
my daughter is just over 11lb, and only drinking 5oz every four hours - is that anywhere near enough? How can you tell when they've had enough or if you're feeding them enough and how often should I be feeding her?