Baby not finishing feeds

[ecxo]

I'm a recent new mum and am learning new things on the go, does anyone else's little one very rarely finish their bottle? She's a month and 5 days old and in that time she's maybe taken 4 full bottles. Every other feed she takes half or even less. Should I be worried?

[watermelonsugar99]

Is she gaining weight still? My little boy is 6 weeks and has just started doing the same, he's waking up hungry so I feed him and he'll only take 1 or 2oz then go back to sleep. He was on 4oz for the past week so no idea why he's not taking it properly. But as long as she's gaining weight she should be fine! Maybe mention it to the HV though? X

[bluebluezoo]

No :). Don’t “encourage” them to finish either.

Feed on demand. Babies have small stomachs and have no idea of quanitity or what they’re “supposed” to have. She’s stopping because she’s full :).

[ecxo]

@watermelonsugar99

Is she gaining weight still? My little boy is 6 weeks and has just started doing the same, he's waking up hungry so I feed him and he'll only take 1 or 2oz then go back to sleep. He was on 4oz for the past week so no idea why he's not taking it properly. But as long as she's gaining weight she should be fine! Maybe mention it to the HV though? X

Yeah, she is still growing (and fast, she's real heavy now!) but she just doesn't seem to want to finish bottles. I always make up 4oz and shell averagely take 2-3oz and those 4 occasions she did the full 4oz but sometimes she only manages 1oz. Just paranoid she isn't eating especially when she has a wee vomit!

[ecxo]

@bluebluezoo

No :). Don’t “encourage” them to finish either.

Feed on demand. Babies have small stomachs and have no idea of quanitity or what they’re “supposed” to have. She’s stopping because she’s full :).

This has eased my worry. Thank you! I'm just scared I'm doing something wrong and she won't gain weight or whatnot since she's not eating much! I definitely don't force it if she refuses as I don't want to make her vomit (she's already prone to a vomit now and again) I just worry something was wrong but this has helped me ease the panic. Thank you!!

[MarshmallowsOnToast]

Nothing to worry about!

My baby is 4 months and even now some days doesn't seem overly bothered with eating and doesn't finish bottles. Just wanting 2/3oz at a time.

Just seems sometimes they want little & often.

As long as your baby is producing lots of wet nappies & is gaining weight, it's all good.

[ShrimpingViolet]

Honestly no need to worry OP. My DD was a bloody nightmare for this when she was tiny. She's now nearly 18mo and eats really well.

Should also add she was on 90th centile born and she slowly dropped to around 50th over the first couple of months of her life, then she levelled out and stayed around there. Just found her 'natural' level and is perfectly healthy and happy.

Enjoy her

[ecxo]

@MarshmallowsOnToast

Nothing to worry about!

My baby is 4 months and even now some days doesn't seem overly bothered with eating and doesn't finish bottles. Just wanting 2/3oz at a time.

Just seems sometimes they want little & often.

As long as your baby is producing lots of wet nappies & is gaining weight, it's all good.

Brilliant! Thank you for sharing. I'm a massive worrier!

[ecxo]

@ShrimpingViolet

Honestly no need to worry OP. My DD was a bloody nightmare for this when she was tiny. She's now nearly 18mo and eats really well.

Should also add she was on 90th centile born and she slowly dropped to around 50th over the first couple of months of her life, then she levelled out and stayed around there. Just found her 'natural' level and is perfectly healthy and happy.

Enjoy her

Thank you so much!

[00100001]

As above.
She's happy and putting on weight, so feed on demand, they know when they're full, ignore the amounts on the packaging.
Just let her guide you.

[movingonup20]

Babies are best fed on demand, breastfed babies do this anyway but my friends were advised to make up 2-3 oz bottles and make a second if baby is hungry feeding on demand until 3 months then try to get more into a pattern, this was this year. Mine fed 14-16 times a day, sometimes more (breast)

[2andahalfpints]

Just let her take what she wants, if a baby always finishes a bottle I would go up an ounce to be sure they are full and so there is always some left

[ecxo]

@00100001 thank you! (Also just figured out how to reply and not have to quote hahaha!)

[ecxo]

@movingonup20 brilliant thank you! She is getting bottle fed (she was a NICU baby so I never got the chance to breastfeed) and I make up 4oz each time to be sure but she usually always takes at least 2oz! Thank you for your advice!

[ecxo]

@2andahalfpints brill! Thank you!

[mynameiscalypso]

I was once told that there should always be a bit of milk left in the bottle when you're feeding them - so if your baby was draining 4oz bottles regularly, you probably need to make bigger bottles. As it is, it sounds perfect for now!

[ecxo]

@mynameiscalypso ohh! I don't know why but my head was always like "must finish bottle or something is wrong" and I find myself getting stressed or worried when she leaves any but knowing what everyone's told me has eased my worry! Thank you!