Need to encourage baby to drink more - formula fed

[Bearcubmumma]

Hi all, I just need some advice on ways to encourage 4month ds to drink more formula, he currently has 4 x 8oz bottles, sometimes only takes 5-6oz, sometimes takes the whole 8, I am worried the times he only takes 5-6oz he will not get enough to sustain good weight gain, he has a bottle at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm. I have tried to dream feed but he just goes into melt down if he wakes up and doesn't drink any. He stirs in the night looking for his dummy, I have tried to feed him earlier 4-5am, he only has approx 2oz because he is still tired.
i must add he suffered when newborn with silent reflux and still has gavison in his bottles.

[Penfold007]

Has a medical professional said there are concerns re your baby's weight and progress? You can't and shouldn't force feed a baby, if he's content he's feeding adequately.

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

If he was BF you'd have no idea how much he was taking, so just relax! As long as he's gaining weight and the HV/GP have no concerns, he's fine.

[Bearcubmumma]

No, he has had slow but steady weight gain and is a happy and healthy little boy, I just wanted to know if I was doing anything wrong and needed to change anything, I.e less milk at each feed to try and squeeze a 5th feed in? All I hear from hv is he should be having 2.5oz to every lb, and he isn't.

[Ycoitsid]

I really wouldn't obsess about getting weight on him unless he is malnourished in the proper sense. Weight obsession can lead to a whole heap of issues in the future.

He will find his own percentile and it probably won't be the one he was born on to. Bigger isn't better

[Bearcubmumma]

Mrsleigh, you are right, I wouldn't have a clue, maybe I am over thinking this, first time mum anxiety.