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Infant feeding

How many oz per day for my 8 mth old

9 replies

CartoonGirlfriend · 09/08/2006 15:13

Hi, Can someone give me an idea of what is acceptable for my 8month old to drink. She's never been easy to feed (she's bottle fed)and over the last three weeks I've really struggled to get her to take 12-15 oz per day. Sometimes she'll have 4.5 oz a feed and othertimes its difficult to get a single oz into her. She just pushes the bottle away and cries or chews on the teat. I've tried giving it to her in a cup but she doesn't want to know. I worry because she doesn't take any water or juice either. Suffering from anxiety due to this and have the recommended 20oz figure in my head which she rarely has. She's currently on 4 bottles a day although I've been waking her at about 10.30pm if she's had very little during the day. Advice or reassurance please???

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Iklboo · 09/08/2006 15:16

How weaned is she? If you know what I mean?
Ds is 9 months and has 2 x 6oz bottles a day, plus only about 4oz during the day, if we're lucky. Otherwise behaves exactly like your DD.
Spoke to HV yesterday (at weigh in) and she said that some babies just don't like to have lots of drinks, just like some people don't. As long as she's feeding well, her food is still a bit 'sloppy', her nappies are wet and don't smell strongly then she's fine. Also feed her foods made with water - like homemade soups, sugar-free jelly, yoghurts etc and it will be fine. Apparently

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hairymclary · 09/08/2006 15:18

does she eat well? and does she have dairy in other forms? ie, yoghurt, cheese etc? If so then I really wouldn't worry.
If she doesn't want milk then you can't force her, so sit back and take it easy. She knows what she wants.

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CartoonGirlfriend · 09/08/2006 15:21

Thank you.

She's on three meals a day, porridge or weetabix for breakfast, takes about half a weetabix (made v sloppy with milk. Lunch is veg or chicken etc (homemade) with a petit filous although she rarely eats a whole pot.Then for tea she'll have another meal, eats about three ice cubes or one annabel karmel cube (they're a lot bigger), followed by yoghurt or fruit. Sounds like your little one takes about the same amount as mine but in three bottles. What formula do you use?

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Iklboo · 09/08/2006 15:28

He's on the SMA red now. Loves his early morning "bottie" and his bed time bottie (we put about a half teaspoon of cocoa powder in it and he REALLY loves that). During the day he has either Cow & Gate juice or some water, but like I said, not much. Some days more than others.
Sounds like your DD is getting plenty of fluids in her food

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hairymclary · 09/08/2006 15:32

she sounds like she is doing just fine. I think when you bottle feed it's very easy to get hung up on how much they take. Just imagine if you were breastfeeding, you'd have no idea how much milk she was taking, you just have to go on what SHE wants not what the books tell you.
You're doing a great job, so please don't worry about it.

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CartoonGirlfriend · 09/08/2006 15:34

I hope so Iklboo. Time for a feed now so fingers crossed she'll have a good one.

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CartoonGirlfriend · 09/08/2006 15:37

Thanks hairymclary. I've often thought about that breastfeeding point and know exactly what you mean. I wanted to breastfeed but couldn't cope with the pain and wonder sometimes if I suffer with guilt about it. Silly I know but get so stressed. Trying to chill and the advice on here has helped. Much better than the books or HV. Thank You.

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Iklboo · 09/08/2006 15:41

If you've got the time to make a homemade soup its a really easy way to get fluids in - even as a snack.
Melt some butter in a pan, add 2 chopped carrots & saute for 5-6 minutes. Add 1/4 pint of water, pinch of mixed herbs & bring to boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 15 mins. Allow to cool & then blitz in a blender/hand blender until smooth & runny.
Warm up the soup, add a dollop of natural yoghurt if you like and give to your LO with fingers of bread.

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CartoonGirlfriend · 09/08/2006 15:58

Will defo try that soup. She's just had 4oz making 13oz so far today so with a few before bedtime I won't wake her later. Quite a good day today.

Any tips for a good cup for water or squash. I've tried a Avent Magic Cup and a Tommee Tippee travel cup with the flip up spout but she just plays with them.

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