how often do you ff?

[icklekid]

So ds was doing really well on formula feeding every 3h almost like clockwork then at 3 1/2 months he would start crying when finished bottle so we increased from 6oz to 7oz bottles. Since then its been a nightmare. At first I carried on trying to feed every 3h but he would cry and refuse to feed. Anyway hes 4 1/2 months now and I still haven't cracked it. Not sure if part of it is him getting distracted. Sometimes he cries when first try and give it to him then 30sec later he devours the bottle so must be hungry! He often leaves 2-3oz which he will have 1/2h later.

Anyway what I'm interested in is how often do your ff babies feed?I saw on another thread about how someone was only just going 4h which made me wonder if I was trying to regularly. He normally has 5 bottles a day and is putting on weight fine but it's just all a bit stressful! Having had problems bf at 8 weeks I get quite emotional and stressed about feeding and starting to dread it! Any advice really welcome! Thanks

[icklekid]

Sorry just realised should have said at moment II'm trying every 4h unless he shows hunger cues before. ..

[purplemurple1]

I just followed the baby whisperer schedule from the noob site, I think it does change around 4 months. From your post I would just wait for his hunger cues for the next few days and create your own schedule from there.

It could also be time to change your teat size, when to do that depends on the type if bottle you are using.

[screamathon]

Ds is 3.5 months and has about 4 oz every 2 hours during the day. I suspect we're in the minority though. I did read somewhere that their overall intake doesn't really increase as they get older, but the the feeds get bigger and fewer. I wouldn't stress about what is normal as long as he is eating. My situation is definitely not normal!

[icklekid]

Thanks purple looks like about every 4h should be right. If only ds read about how much sleep/ mummy time I should be getting then life would be much easier!

[nyldn]

could it be teething pain? I am going through something similar with my 3.5 mo DS and i really think it's early teething discomfort.

[SquirrelledAway]

Try enlarging the hole in the teat?

[purplemurple1]

Check if you should be going up a teat size as the bigger size has a bigger hole when mine started fussing with feeds that was the problem.

[Redtractorwontsleep]

Hi, my LO 16weeks old, he takes 8oz every 5hours normally but some days this differs. This afternoon he had 5oz then 4oz 2 hours later. I went up a teat size last week. I wait for him to show hunger signs rather than trying him every 4hours.

[Hobby2014]

16 weeks old has 5 x 9oz in 24 hours. Usually 4 hours apart and will sleep for a decent time at night. I feed when he wants and it's usually a similar pattern each day. 5am, 9am, 1pm, 5pm, 9pm

[stargirl1701]

DD1 fed more frequently in the evenings than during the day. She had a 4 hour gap between the first and next bottle but was having a bottle every hour or so between 7pm and 11pm. She took about 3/4 ounces until 9 months when she started taking 5/6. She then started dropping milk feeds.

[icklekid]

Thanks for replying. I do want to leave him and wait for hunger cues but there must come a point that is too long? Yesterday he fed at 4.30 then refused until I got him to sleep at 10.30 and then fed him whilst drowsy -6h is a long time for a 5month old to go surely???!

[icklekid]

Oh and had wondered about teat size but not meant to go up to next size until 6 months...

[purplemurple1]

I'd try the next size teat most people I know changed earlier than the manufacturer said to.
Mine was sleeping through the night by 5 months so def doing at least one gap of 8 to 9 hrs between feeds. So once a day I think is fine, make the most of it and have a sleep!

[ilovepowerhoop]

The age given on the pack is just a guide so you can change to it when you feel the time is right. My ds was on the 6+month ones before 6 months too

[Hobby2014]

My HV told me to ignore the ages on the teats.

[icklekid]

Thanks ladies will get some bigger teats and give them a go. I waited for hunger cues today and it was stress free so going to not worry about times and wait for ds to tell me he's ready!

[Want2bSupermum]

I would try a couple of things. DD was fussy in general and I ended up feeding her 5min before her 4hr scheduled feed. It worked well!

DS threw everything up but we stuck with a 3 hr schedule for a very long time and it worked well. He also did better when his milk was a little above room temp while DD liked it room temp and would never drink it warm.