Is there a maximum amount of formula...

[Excited85]

... Babies should have in a day? My dd is 16 weeks and has been on formula for four of those. She started out just taking 4/5ozs maybe every 4 hours then has gradually increased to 7 which she has been taking for around 2 weeks. She used to spread out her feed at night so there was just one with 6 or so hours either side however has recently reverted back to every 4 hours through the night meaning she's having upto 6 lots of 7oz in 24 hours. This seems to be much more than is recommended on the side of the formula so just wanted to make sure she isn't having too much and if she is what to do about it? Thanks

[anothernumberone]

My mum always said 32ounces a day was what it was in her day but dd had reflux and posseted an awful lot and went up to 40 ounces and I was a bit freaked. The recommended feeds are on the side of the tin and I went by that where possible. There is the potential to overload on sodium so if you do get too much formula it can be a problem.

[LST]

If she's drinking it she needs it. Pay no attention to what it says on the box. DS1 was having about 8 bottles of 8 oz at one point. DS2 is at the moment 4 weeks old and is getting through 8 bottles if 6 oz in a 24 hour period, give or take... Don't worry

[Excited85]

Thank you. I'd read 32oz maximum somewhere another but wasn't sure how true that was - she is definitely exceeding that at the minute. LST glad to hear it hasn't caused yours any problems, guess I'll just have to carry on as like you say she does need it and screams if we take the bottle away before she's done.

[TheScience]

The recommended amounts are based on weight - as a general rule you can multiply your baby's weight in lbs by 2.5 to get an idea of the number of oz milk they need in a day.

So, a 10lb baby is likely to want about 25oz in 24 hours. A 16lb baby (which is about average weight for a 6 month old) might have 40oz before starting solids.

[purplemurple1]

I was told 150 to 200 ml per kilo of body weight as a rough guide but sometimes they will take more or leas for a few days so to consider it over a week rather than day by day.

Mine took over 500 ml in one sitting at that age - very strange.

[Mamabear12]

Wow, how can some babies drink so much and others not? My son struggles to drink 4oz! Usually it's 2oz at a time and when we are lucky 4oz (with a little break). Wish he would drink more! He is almost four months. Not sure why he doesn't drink more. I give him pumped breastmilk and sometimes formula.

[TheScience]

Breastfed babies usually take less volume of milk than formula fed babies, as breastmilk composition changes as the baby gets older whereas of course formula is always the same. The average breastmilk intake for a baby under 6 months is about 25oz a day, so 6-8 feeds of 3-4oz is pretty normal.

[RegainingUnconsciousness]

16 weeks, you say? Back to waking every 4 hours, eh? Sounds like the dreaded 4 month sleep regression!

Sorry, I know nothing about formula. If she's hungry, feed her. Good luck, I hope she's back to sleeping longer soon!