Really big bottles?

[malin100]

My 4 month old has been on 8oz bottles for a while. She goes through phases where she'll have 8oz (occasionally more) or like now she's not been finishing most bottles in a day, maybe only 2 are finished (but she does have a cold so might just be off her food). She's very big for her age.

Most of my bottles go up to 8oz and some go to 9oz. Is it likely she'll continue to 9oz and beyond? I don't want to be making up two bottles each time. They're Dr Brown bottles and a faff to wash. I've done lots of searching and have found one type of bottle going to 11oz. Wondering if it's worth investing in a couple if it's inevitable that she'll need 9+? They're on sale just now so that's why I'm asking really. I have spent a lot on bottles as she didn't get on with Tommee Tippee then getting all the Dr Browns ones was expensive. Don't want to waste money but equally don't want to miss the discount if it's highly likely I'll need them.

By the way, she's not eating a huge amount overall in case that's relevant. Just few, but big, bottles.

[TheTroutofNoCraic]

How many feeds of this size does she usually take in 24 hours?

[malin100]

Mostly 4, sometimes 5

[malin100]

But usually if she has 5 then a few of them will only be about 6oz

[girlelephant]

Following as similar concern. My DS is currently taking 8oz each feed

[BumpGoesBumpety]

I used to make two up, but feed out of one and pour milk from one into the other if she needed more... But I used to make up and leave in the fridge for use (for 4 hours) so we always had milk ready to go.

[TheTroutofNoCraic]

Have you tried smaller, more frequent feeds or switching back to a slower flow teat? It's just that's an awful lot of milk to take on in one sitting.

[malin100]

Her feeds have stayed at the same frequency for a while now, it's just that she dropped having night feeds most of the time. I think the box suggests 7oz at this age but she is well above the weight it states for this age and has always been drinking more than the box says, so it doesn't seem unreasonable for her to be on 8oz. I just wonder if babies tend to plateau or if she'll continue upwards from here.

[Artandco]

4 feeds in 24hrs seems tiny, even if 8oz. That's only one feed every 6hrs

I would drop to 6oz and feed at least every 2.5-3hrs from 7/8am to 10pm. Around 7feeds a day

[malin100]

She has the feeds at approx 8.30am, 12pm, 3.30pm and 6.30pm, so every 3-3.5 hours. She's in bed roughly 7.30pm-8am (has bath then rest of bottle after last feed). When she has 5 it's either that she got up earlier, stayed up later or (more commonly, especially when ill) woke up for one during the night.

For what it's worth, for ages she was having up to 8/9 feeds a day when others were having 6 and HV and everyone told me to make sure she drinks a full, bigger bottle less frequently as she was 'snacking'. I didn't change much other than making big bottles that she could take or leave (instead of smaller ones then topping up if she wanted more) but she naturally moved onto bigger, less frequent bottles. It's confusing to now be told to go back to smaller, more frequent bottles. I'm not disregarding your advice, and thank you for it, but just to make you aware what I've been told before. The whole baby feeding thing is a minefield.

Other mums I know with babies born the same week are mostly making 7oz bottles but they are still doing one night feed every day.

Does their appetite just keep increasing, or plateau, anyone know? Obviously her milk intake will decrease after solids, that just seems like a while before she'll be having a decent amount of solids though.

[Lules]

I had the same thing. Mine plateaued. I think he may have started having slightly more frequent feeds but definitely didn't drink more at one go - I guess because of the size of his stomach. And then he started on solids anyway.

[OfDragonsDeep]

My DS was the same, at 4 months he was having 4 9oz bottles a day between 7 and 7 (he never woke for a feed after 6 weeks). I mentioned it to the HV, who referred us to the GP.

The GP checked him over and spoke with the paediatrician at the hospital and advised that we start to wean him (he was exactly 5 months by this point), he took to food really well and soon cut back the milk. He is also a big baby, 91st for weight and 99th for length and head circumference.

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

She'll decrease her milk feeds gradually when she starts weaning, so I'd carry on as you are.

[lorelairoryemily]

My ds was like that, I'd have to make up a second bottle and he'd have an ounce or two, and I used to wonder if I'd always need two bottles!! he's almost 11 months now and he takes 7 out of the 8 oz 3 times a day and about 4/5 oz 3 times. I used to wonder how I'd fill him but it didn't last long!

[Artandco]

Of - again 9oz x4 is few bottles. Even if only feeding 7am-7pm, others will be having 7oz but every 2 hrs so 6bottles.

9oz x4 = 36oz in 24
7x6 = 42oz

They don't need weaning. They just need more milk. But 9-10-11oz at once is way too much, so need more bottles

[OfDragonsDeep]

We tried to give him milk more often, but he didn't take it well hence the visit to the HV and GP for their advice, which was to start weaning. I was more than happy to follow their guidance, I had to take him for regular weight checks which went back to the hospital & he was signed off after 3 months. The GP surgery were really helpful to us.

[sundaysunday]

I would ask your HV for advice- if you have a good one who's advice you trust. My son was taking 9oz bottles at 4.5 months, 5 feeds (then increased to 6) a day. And he was under 50th centile. My HV advised beginning weaning when he got to 5 months and it worked for us in stabilising his milk intake. I wasn't planning to start weaning 'early' but he was ready in other ways too. Every baby is different and what is right for one baby is different from what is right for your baby.

[malin100]

Thanks. I see my HV next week so will ask their advice. I suspect they'll suggest early weaning here too since she's so big.

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

My DS was also massive (still is at 2yo) but he didn't need early weaning. Don't feel pressured into it if you don't want to/don't feel she's ready. Milk is just fine for now.

[malin100]

Thanks peace. I don't feel she's ready now, not sure, she might be in a few weeks. Did he have bigger bottles?

[peasandquiet]

I remember thinking the exact same at a similar time to you. Babies tend to 'top out' around this stage so will settle on 4-5 bottles at 7-9oz until weaning and then they will drop volume and or frequency between 6-12 months when they will likely be down to 2 milk feeds (if they have taken to food) don't think you need to buy bigger bottles.

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

I breastfed him but he had occasional bottles. We used the TT 9oz bottles but I can't remember what he was drinking at 4m, I'm afraid. I think the advice upthread to give more frequent, smaller feeds is sound.