I can't seem to find a 4 m/o feeding schedule that doesn't involve solids!

[strawberrycake]

I'm not looking to get ds in a feeding routine, simply check what 'normal' is as he's had a lot of feeding issues. Every routine I find though involves solids. Just surprised me.

Ds is now eating every 5/6 hours and less overall, I thought he'd eat MORE.

are you FF or BF?

In my very humble opinion, he should be eating more.

At 4 months i would expect him to be eating about every 4 hours. If FF then taking about 6-7 oz every 4 hours (7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm, 11pm)

BF babies seem to eat more often. My friend who was BF her 4 month old is working on every 3 hours.

we went from 3 hourly to 4 hourly feeds around 4 months - ds had 5 feeds a day at around 7, 11, 3, 7.15 and 1 in the middle of the night. He was also on the fastest flowing teat by then too.

Depends what you are feeding him with.

I BF every 3 hours up to 5 months and was told by a family member that it was ridiculous and should be at least 4 hourly. I felt like as she has 3 children and I am on my 1st that she must be right so I did. Big mistake. My milk supply dwindled, my period returned and DD did not gain weight and my let down failed even with pump,due to my anxiety. So then forced to bottle feed formula. Which is fine but I wanted to BF for a bit longer.

If FF 4 hourly fine but if BF, frequency is key.

Do what suits you best. Hope this helps.

Is he putting on weight? Even if slowly?

If he is, then whatever you're doing, you're doing it right!

at 4 months on formula I would expect 5-6 feeds a day, probably every 3.5 hours

eg

7am
10.30am
2pm
6pm
10pm

He's having big issues with food.

He's now on nutramigen for allergies, and I don't think it's working. Today apart from one huge feed he's pretty much refused. I don't think it's the taste for a number of reasons, he has eaten plenty on other days plus he will eat some huge feeds.

Today has been a joke food-wise, 15oz in 24 hours. Maybe you'll see why I have no idea of 'normal'. I love him but it's tiring offering food all day to be mainly refused. I'm probably torturing myself with trying to find a routine to aim for.

Seeker-he fails that test, no weight gain in 5 weeks.

i might get shot for suggesting this but if he is over 17 weeks then maybe talk to your pead about weaning.

hope it gets better for you.

Is his doctor concerned about his weight gain?

DS was FF and had 8oz every 4 hours at that age. Other FF babies I knew had more, others had less, so I am not sure if there is a "normal" although 15oz in 24 hours does seem low.

He's awaiting his next appt. with dietician, nearly 3 months after the last. They are way too far apart. His weight is a concern, but has dramatically tailed off after the last appt. The idea was this time to discuss higher calories in the milk, the review was meant to be after 4 weeks but despite them sayin this I can't get an appt. for 12 weeks after the last.

I'm reluctant to wean until allergy issues or whatever e;lse is resolved. Pead said she's see me to advise on weaning at 18 week, but he;ll be nearly 6 months when she next sees him.

strawberryshortcake that is terrible that you have been cast adrift like that by the NHS. Is there any way you could see a dietician privately for advice.

Milk is obviously the most calorific food he can ingest but if he cant or wont take it then f it were me i would look at introducing some low allergen foods for him to try.

The average baby needs 50 calories per pound of body weight per day. THere are roughly 20 calories per ounce of formula. If he is only taking 10 oz then he is only getting around 200 calories per day.

THe following are considered low allery foods according to Dr Google:
apples
applesauce
apricots
asparagus
bananas
barley
beets
carrots
lettuce
millet
oats
peaches
pears
plums
rice
squash
sweet potatoes
tapioca

i think that using just foods from that list you could up his calorie intake significantly. Also you can mix formula with just about everything which will help as well.

Hope you dont think i am trying to push you into weaning. it is obviously your choice entirely. Just offering my thoughts which you are free to completely ignore