Aptamil Hungry Baby - 4 weeks

[HazelM26]

My DS has been on Aptamil since 2 weeks old because he was on SMA from birth but was sick every single time. Hes on Aptamil Hungry baby but he's ALWAYS hungry! He rarely goes 4 hours without a feed, i'm feeding him 4-5 oz nearly every 2-3 hours! The guidelines say every 4 hours so I know this is bad.
He doesn't stop crying until he gets fed and is constantly sucking his fingers, he won't take any notice in dummys i've tried a million times but he cries.
I'm hardly having any sleep at night as he's always hungry!

I've read up Aptamil hungry baby formula is very bad and now i'm wary of giving him that formula. I'm looking for opinions and advice on what to do?

[kimlo]

I dont think dd2 has ever gone more than 3 hours with out eating, and shes 6 now.

To be honest that amount sounds normal for his age so I would just feed him when hes hungry.

[icklekid]

Feed on demand not on a schedule especially when he is so tiny. If you don't want to use aptamil hungry baby could you try cow and gate or normal aptamil? Speak to your health visitor if your concerned he is putting on too much weight but honestly I would stop timing him and feed when he is hungry!

[Jesabel]

He's only 4 weeks, so of course he can't last 4 hours between feeds! His stomach is tiny

The guidelines on the tubs are just guidelines. You are still supposed to feed on demand. Try a smaller feed every 3 hours and keep persevering with different styles of dummy.

How much does he weigh?

[HazelM26]

I feed him as much as he wants to be fed, it just worries me if theres a chance the HV will think i'm over feeding him. He was born on the 2nd as 6lbs 1oz and the last time he got weighed was on the 23rd of dec, which was 7lb 5oz.
My health visitor is coming to see me on the 18th so I have no idea what he weighs at the moment

[Artandco]

I would move back to I regular stage 1 aptimal tbh as it's easier to digest. Feed 4oz every 2 hrs or more if needed. Their stomachs are so small it's better to have little but often than force a large bottle down and make them wait

Mine never ever went 4hrs between feeds. As an adult do you go 4 hrs between a drink?

[Doje]

Definitely use normal Aptamil, not hungry baby stuff, and feed him as much as he wants whenever he wants it. It's easy to get hung up on quantities when you're formula feeding (I know, because I did with DS1! - tears and everything if he had a not hungry day...) but remember if you are BFeeding you wouldn't know how much he was getting.

DS2 is 3 months old and still eating every three hours. I'm grateful too, as rightly or wrongly I think the more he gets his calories during the day, the easier it is to sleep through the night!

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

Mine is 6 months and still feeds every 2-3 hours day and night! Do you go 4 hours without food/drink? It's completely normal for them to feed often at 4 weeks.

[Trooperslane]

Hungry baby milk is bollocks and you can't over feed them at this age.

Just more normal stuff and as much as he wants.

[acupofteafortwoormore]

2 to 3 hours between feeds is normal as is periods of needing it before 2hrs and a longer stretch of 4hrs.

Don't worry about swapping to hungry baby milk & don't worry about over feeding. If they have too much they will be sick - babies are amazing at self regulating what they take.

A good little thing which I think is baby whisperer is Eat (feed) Activity (not much at 4 weeks, but little awake time, nappy change, wash, dressing all counts) then sleep then it repeats - rather then thinking of hours or ounces so when baby wakes feed, then activity then they sleep then eat - repeat!

I have 3 children & all very different babies - first always hungry every 2hrs what felt forever - night & day - still gets very hungry as a child- number 2 fed like clockwork every 3hrs & at night till 6 months - number 3 is currently 11weeks & goes between 2&3 hours in the day but has had no night feeds for weeks. (Not meant as a boast just showing they are all different)

Enjoy your newborn - do you Burb then offer some more milk at the feed? Maybe you think he/she has finished but actually just having a little pause/burb then still hungry?

[HazelM26]

This is my first baby so i'm new to all of this, I burp him half way through and then again at the end, he always finishes his feed right until the last drop. Maybe I need to consider upping his feeds to see the amount he would actually like as sometimes like an hour later he is hungry again.

[MaidrinRua]

My DS is 19 weeks old and takes 4-5oz (aptamil first milk or ebm) every 2.5-3 hours, he won't take a bigger feed than 5oz, and that's fine by me.
A 4 week old has tiny stomach and needs to feed frequently.

How about keeping two flasks, one with hot boiled water (to put in first) and one with cooled boiled water (to put in second and cool it down) so you can always quickly make up a feed when he is ready for it? Much easier way to do it.

[Focusfocus]

There is no such thing as an overweight baby?

[PennyHasNoSurname]

Up the quantity of milk and offer it every three hours at most at that age, if not every 2.5. A four week old really shouldnt be expected to go four hours between feeds in the daytime.

[thisismypassword]

That sounds normal. Where are you getting your information from?? IMO being on hungry baby milk at 4 weeks is way too young. Babies have been known to drop centile lines on this formula as it fills them up but has no extra nutrients/calories.

[thisismypassword]

I realise I sounded a bit harsh I'm my post! Sorry and I think you're doing a fine job. It's hard being a FTm -- I remember all the doubts!!

[Luckystar1]

Just to correct something said above (and this is not in response to the OP), there IS such thing as an overweight baby and the advice is that you can't overfeed a BREASTFED baby.

[DangerMouth]

You can't overfeed a ff baby either as they'll vomit if they've taken too much.

[Luckystar1]

Hmm not sure I necessarily agree with that. Even small amounts, like persuading them to finish a bottle here and there is overfeeding, which can directly contribute to childhood obesity (note I said 'can' not 'will') as natural portion control is being overridden. This just doesn't happen with breastfed babies as you have no idea how much they've had so you just have to wing it.

[hownottofuckup]

You can overfeed a baby, they have tiny stomachs and needs small amounts regularly.
It would be unusual for a 4 wk old to go 4 hours between feeds, trying to keep him topped up with hungry baby formula at this stage doesn't sound good tbh.
I agree with PP, revert to regular formula and feed him more often.
I was told that the amounts they put on the packaging are an over estimation of what a young baby should be able to take in one go (isn't their stomach about the size of a walnut?) and you shouldn't encourage them to have that much in one go.
Little and often is the key at this age.