Help wanted: baby only taking half bottle feeds

[Missus2ndwife]

Hi all,

I have an 11 day old being FF. He's mostly a great feeder but the last two days he's only drinking half a bottle, then wants another 1.5hs later.

How do I get back to taking a full bottle every 3hrs?

Thanks

[katandkits]

I don't think you can! You can't make a full up baby fit more milk in, they just sick it back up. His tummy will get bigger soon and perhaps then he will go longer. Does he drift off to sleep mid feed? If so you could change his nappy and then try to give him a second go on the bottle. Most newborns need to feed more often than three hourly regardless of the type of milk. 10 days to 2 weeks is a growth spurts time too

[divingoffthebalcony]

A full bottle at only 11 days? How many ounces is that?

I remember starting at 2oz, then gradually increasing the amount if DD still seemed hungry. No way was she drinking full bottles until she was a few months old.

[DoughnutSelfie]

Yes agree with Kat

It's ever so easy to override a baby's appetite, by doing the 'twist' or following their face with the teat as they turn away. Follow your baby's cues and stop when he tells you he's had enough. This almost-constant feeding doesn't last long.

Congratulations! Sniff his head for me, please. Awwww.

[Missus2ndwife]

Thanks for coming back to me.

He's having 3ozs which the MW says is the right amount.

I do the whole undress, change nappy thing which mostly works.
This morning he had a good 3oz feed at 10.30am and then needed another 1.5 Oz at 12.15pm

It just seems strange that he was drinking 3oz every 3hrs but now has changed 'routine'. Oh well, the joys of being a FTM

Ps have his nestled on my chest, with his head under my chin and he smells divine

[DoughnutSelfie]

Oh how lovely thank you for sniffing him for me. Yummy. xx

[DoughnutSelfie]

Ps get your feet up!!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Mine is doing the same at 9 days old - three days of 3oz every 3 hours and last night and today its been bits of bottles here there and everywhere!

He tends to sleep when being pushed outside in the buggy so could you wrap him up 2 hrs after a feed and go for a long walk?Might help.him go to the 3hr mark and subsequently take more?

[bete2]

I think somehow we expect FF babies to feed regularly and BF babies to feed as and when but I think in the first few weeks they all do funny things, get into a pattern for a couple of days and then change again. As long as he is content, settled post feed and gaining weight then I would absolutely agree with above advice and feed as per his cues. Congratulations and enjoy!

[Missus2ndwife]

ThinkIveBeenHacked - it's nice to know someone else is going through similar. I get there are no rules but MW seemed to think bubba was being a monkey with his feeding
I'd love to take him for a long walk - but only bought baby grows so am waiting for some cardies / outdoorsy stuffy to arrive.

Bête - he's definitely content & his weight is good, so I must be doing something right

[katandkits]

If he finishes a 3oz bottle and that doesn't keep him going for 2 or more hours perhaps he needs 4oz bottles now? He might not drink 4oz every time but if he is finishing a 3oz bottle it it worth seeing if he wants more. In any case it changes so much from day to day at that stage.

[divingoffthebalcony]

Oh thank god, I thought you were trying to force 8oz at a time into his tiny stomach

[Missus2ndwife]

Haha diving I'm a feeder in real life but even I'm not that bad lol

[BertieBotts]

They say to feed on demand with FF now as well so I'd follow his lead. You can space feeds out a bit more as he gets bigger. I'm a bit suspect of any midwife who thinks a baby is "playing you" - they really can't at that age. Just enjoy the extra snuggles and excuse to put your feet up

[MrsNutsandBolts]

Take him out for a walk in a baby grow- if you want to go out for a walk) As long as he's wrapped up warm in a blanket or two and has a hat on no-one will know it's only a baby grow. My DCs have spent their first couple of weeks in baby grows. They look so cosy and are so easy (my babies wriggle)

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

The current advice is to feed on demand even with FF babies so I wouldn't try to force any sort of feeding routine at this stage. They change so much in the first few weeks, you think you've got a pattern then everything changes. My FF baby didn't go longer than 2.5 hours without a feed until she started eating a decent amount of food at 8 months! She was always a little and often girl. Just go with the flow for now .