To worry about what baby is eating

[worrywart33]

My baby is 5 and a half months old and still only taking roughly 4oz a formula per feed. I always offer 5 but it's rare that she'll drain a 5oz bottle. Other babies her age are on 7oz bottles now (which is also what guidelines suggest they should be taking at this point). She still feeds roughly every 3 hours during the day and wakes once during the night for a feed. She's putting on weight but is measuring small for her age and I guess I'm just a bit worried about the volume she's taking. I can't force her to take more milk though. HV didn't seem too concerned and said she's a little and often baby but is this normal? I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do.

Sounds like my baby at that age, he wasn't small but always took months before drinking more. Your baby seems content and full if she's just needing the one feed in the night. I presume she's not dropping down on the chart if the HV is happy?

He would also want to be fed every 2 and a half/ 3 hours during the day. I had to completely ignore what the milk tub would say 😅. It's just the way he was.

Some babies drink more, some drink less. With yours I would say it’s probably averaging out over the 24hrs. Most of the ones having bigger bottles likely aren’t drinking every 3 hours.

Thank you that's reassuring. No she isn't dropping down the chart but she is measuring smaller than average in weight and length. Maybe that's why she needs less though

My DS never took more than 3oz at a time. My mum was convinced I was a soft touch and she'd sort him out when she looked after him for a day, but even she admitted defeat! He's 3 now and still is a little and often child rather than someone that can put away a meal the size other children his age eat.

Ignore the tub, listen to your baby. Sounds like they are doing great :)

It's very old fashioned to push babies into a smaller number of larger feeds, and probably not very good for them really unless they are leaning that way themselves. Little and often is fine!