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Parenting

Do I have a hungry boy?

44 replies

Reecex · 22/05/2018 12:20

Hi all.
My son is 13wks old and he's a monster. A few weeks ago he weighed in at 6kg!!!
Anyways, he was on 7oz 5x per day for around 2 weeks and he then started to become hungry before the 4 hour mark so this week we upped his feeds to 8oz. He has no problem with this and empties the whole bottle in around 10 minutes.
However, he still can't last the 4hours or longer through the day and I'm wondering what to do? They don't recommend hungry baby and obv I can't wean until 6mnths.
Has anyone had a baby like this and if do what did you find worked?
PS I should say he sleeps from around 8 til 8 the next morning with a dream feed at 11/12pm (again whole 8oz half asleep no problem) so he can last through the night but through the day he's not reaching even 4 hours.

OP posts:

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QueenOlives · 22/05/2018 12:21

Why do you have to make him wait 4 hrs ?

Namechangemum100 · 22/05/2018 12:22

Just feed him when he wants to be fed, babies just like adults feed when they are hungry, there's no reason to only feed after 4 hours and not before.

lulu12345 · 22/05/2018 12:23

Agree with PPs.. 4 hours is such an arbitrary time, feed him when he’s hungry!

MagicFajita · 22/05/2018 12:23

As a pp has said , he doesn't need to go four hours. My son (7 months) still eats every 3 hrs during the day.

It's all perfectly normal.

Pebblespony · 22/05/2018 12:24

My DD is a very 'substantial' child and a great eater but she's older than your boy and we only go 3 hrs.

rainbowdashflip · 22/05/2018 12:29

Eh? Why are you waiting 4 hours to feed him?

Reecex · 22/05/2018 12:32

Right so 😂 I do feed him when he's hungry however before he used to go 4/5 sometimes 6 hours without a feed. This has dramatically changed in the last 2/3 weeks and with the increase in milk when you would think he wouldn't be as hungry.
You (plural) have taken my post like I force him to wait 4 hours when I don't. I'm asking for advice from people who have dealt with this, i.e a baby becoming hungry faster even with an increase in feeds.

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Namechangemum100 · 22/05/2018 12:33

But babies change op, he used to wait 4 hour +...now he doesn't...so you just go with what he wants and what he is communicating to you.

Reecex · 22/05/2018 12:34

I used 4 hours as a length of time. Saying he doesn't even go 4 hours between feeds. NOT that I'm waiting 4 hours.

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Justmuddlingalong · 22/05/2018 12:35

He's growing, therefore hungrier.

lulu12345 · 22/05/2018 12:38

It might just be a temporary growth spurt and start to stretch out again. My daughter is 4 months and still feed every 2-3 hours. It will all change again soon when they go into solids.

MagicFajita · 22/05/2018 12:38

It could be a growth spurt op , either that or his routine is just changing at this point.

It sounds like you've got a great little feeding schedule there though.

CatMuffin · 22/05/2018 12:41

He might be thirsty. I often drink more often than every 4 hours

MagicFajita · 22/05/2018 12:42

I think the confusion op , was when you talked about the 3hr gaps as if you felt it was something you could fix or change.

People were just pointing out that it's not an actual problem and that babies can't read clocks

As I say , it sounds fine and normal.

coffeeforone · 22/05/2018 12:42

However, he still can't last the 4hours or longer through the day and I'm wondering what to do?

I don't think you need to do anything, other than feed him more frequently as he requires, my DS fed 5-7oz every 3 hours at 13 weeks. He couldn't go longer than 3 hours without milk. I'm not sure I'd expect a 3month old to last 4 hours.

rainbowdashflip · 22/05/2018 12:43

I used 4 hours as a length of time. Saying he doesn't even go 4 hours between feeds. NOT that I'm waiting 4 hours.

But that's ok. He doesn't have to go 4 hours between feeds.

Baby is hungry = Parent feeds baby.

lulu12345 · 22/05/2018 12:44

Also if you’re getting the same hot weather as I am it might be that he’s getting thirsty rather than hungry

Reecex · 22/05/2018 12:52

Considered he was thirsty especially since he smacks his lips together a lot more than usual.
He only has 5 feeds a day at 8oz and I think that's considered normal at that level of milk.
And as I said I do feed him when he's hungry was just trying to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong and he was getting enough milk and basically I wasn't starving him.
Thanks for the advice......

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triangulum · 22/05/2018 13:08

I have a really hungry 5month old. He's was on 6oz bottles at that age but every 2/3 hours. He can't manage 4 hours between feeds very often at all, he usually starts getting fussy at the 2.5 hour mark. I just feed him and keep an eye on his weight by weighing him every 2 weeks. He's been on the same percentile since birth so he's regulating himself well, somehow!

They always have fussy periods where they need more food, and times when they ask for less. Totally normal and you are fine to follow his lead.

I'd personally only worry about how much milk he was having if he was being sick a lot or was piling on the pounds and going up and up the percentiles. Otherwise I'd just go with it and let him get on with it :)

MollyDaydream · 22/05/2018 13:12

I'd give smaller amounts more frequently, it's fine for babies and small children to want to eat/drink every 2-3 hours, especially in hot weather. 8oz is a lot in one go though.

Reecex · 22/05/2018 13:22

I can't feed him less cos he screams when you take the bottle off him to even wind him! It's ridiculous

I have called my HV for some advice, probably better than on here anyway, as I have found out today. Thanks again guys.....

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rainbowdashflip · 22/05/2018 13:23

It's good that you are seeking advice from your HV, but I still don't see what the problem is. Your baby is hungry, you feed baby, it's a bit of an ongoing thing

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Pressuredrip · 22/05/2018 13:28

Perhaps he's feeding more for comfort beside he's teething.

ducking for cover incase advise is wrong

Reecex · 22/05/2018 13:57

Rainbowdashflip - you my friend are an arse
I'm not an idiot I know to feed my son when he's hungry hense why he's a monster. He's healthy, I don't need the likes of you to imply that I don't know how to care for my son when I've done a pretty good job so far.
There is no problem as you say I was purely asking if anyone has experienced a baby that has went up feeds and shorter time frames.
I don't know what your problem is but please refrain from passing judgement on my post.
I come on here for some advice and seem to get shit for it.
Maybe I'll refrain from posting on here if this is the response I get.
Thanks.

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Reecex · 22/05/2018 13:59

It could be comfort yes..
Maybe I'm just paranoid he's not getting enough or maybe he's just growing as other people have pointed out.
When his routine goes off a little of course I wonder why and if there's anything I'm doing wrong.
Maybe I'm just being a normal FTM and questioning every little different thing that happens to him.

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