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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

I think my 4 week old DS is eating way too much, I really need help!

69 replies

SchrodingersMew · 25/10/2011 21:59

Hi there, my 4 week old eats what I think is a lot and the other night wouldn't settle at all and just wanted to keep eating.

He was born at 38+1 and weighed 6.1lb, he went down to 5'7lb the next week but has went up to 8,7lb in the past 2 weeks...

He takes about 160ml (so 6oz?) every 3 hours but the other night at one of his feeds took 260ml (9oz?) Shock I have mentioned to my health visitor and she told me if that's what he wants to take then just give him it or give him water in between, I tried the water earlier and he just kept choking so very reluctant to give him it.

This isn't normal is it?

OP posts:
PetisaPumpkinHead · 25/10/2011 23:09

Well I guess you could be right Rita - talk to your hv/gp OP.

AnxiousElephant · 25/10/2011 23:10

I would say he is probably fine. If he was a bit early he came out into the world with less fat than if he was born at 40 wks and then lost some weight, I believe it will settle when he reaches the centile he is supposed to be on.
Can I ask how tall you and DH are?

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 25/10/2011 23:14

No useful advice but my ds 11mo has never taken more than 7 oz. But I believe that babies do regulate their appetites very well. Have you ruled out wind/colic often babies with these eat more, but if not being sick lots i don't know ...

JenniferYellowHatsRedLingerie · 25/10/2011 23:19

Hi Schrodinger,
My DD is 8 weeks. At 4 weeks she was eating this much too - some CRAZY growth spurt. She took 13oz in two hours one day! She's now dropped to 25oz per day (some days less) and she's 13lb and still putting on 8oz per week. The HV and MW are quite happy with this; but I was really concerned that I was overfeeding her (and then stressing when she was dropping the amount she was eating). I'd say (I'm no expert!) if he wants it, feed him.
My HV says you can't overfeed them, they'll just be sick if they eat too much. But again, I'm no expert.

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 26/10/2011 00:15

Hi again. :)

Thanks everyone for the advice.

When I was pregnant they told me they expected him to be 8 and a half to over 9lbs, so I thought a bit maybe he's just catching up but it is worrying. Confused

He was fed less than an hour ago and took 5oz he has now woke up screaming for more, DP is currently trying to put him off a bit with his dummy with little success.

We use avent dummy's and the same brand of bottles, it's the only one he will even think about taking. :( We have went through umpteen brands.

Elephant I am only about 5'2 and DH is about 5'6.

Also, when the HV came today she said his mouth looked dry and he was red as a lobster so she thinks he's too warm his lips are also very dry and cracked, could this be a reason why he is drinking so much?

There really is nothing I can do about this. :( When we first got him home we were told all the sheets and blankets to wrap him in but it really is very warm in here. I don't have the heating on but downstairs must have (we're in a flat) we even have the window open and the HV commented on how warm it is.

We were told just to have him in his fleecy sleepsuit at night, no vest or blanket. I can't make him any cooler. :(

Sorry about the essay but also his pee is a bit yellow still and smelly. Confused I don't understand how this can be the case when he drinks so much! Confused

Thanks again everyone! Very stressed out just now.

OP posts:
LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 26/10/2011 00:23

Oh lovely. :(

Firstly, congratulations! It might be stressful, but you are doing really well.

It sounds to me like your HV is a bit stumped, so maybe time to go for a second opinion? It's clearly upsetting you, so just get through the night tonight the way you normally would, and book a GP appointment first thing. When you go, make it very clear that this is worrying you, so if they can't tell you anything firm, ask to be referred to someone who can.

Best of luck, it will all be fine and you are doing marvellously. :)

organiccarrotcake · 26/10/2011 00:23

Try to relax a bit if you can. If he is eating too much it's not going to do him any harm in the next few days at all, so you've got loads of time to deal with this.

You could just try a vest only at night if he's still too hot? Maybe the problem is that he's really warm. My DS2 is a very hot baby and he sleeps just in a nappy most of the time (although he's in our bed). He won't tolerate a blanket of any kind.

LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 26/10/2011 00:25

Ps. I'm not medically trained so please don't do this without a medical opinion, but could putting more water in his formula bottle be an interim solution? He's clearly thirsty...

HerdOfTinyElephants · 26/10/2011 00:28

If it's [b]really[/b] warm then you could do away with the fleecy sleepsuit and just have him in nappy and vest or even in just nappy (we have a warm top floor flat too and I've had to do that with all of mine at times -- in fact 8mo DD2 is happily sleeping in just a nappy at the moment.

Do you know the actual temperature in your flat?

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 26/10/2011 00:30

Loopy Thanks. :)
The HV had a DP with her today! She didn't even ake a comment on it. Confused (Mind you this GP also tried to say that DS has eczema on his bum when it is quite clearly nappy rash Hmm)

Organic he shivers if he's just in a nappy or vest but anything more than that and he is drenched in sweat. Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 26/10/2011 00:33

Loopy I use cartons of formula so I don't mix it with water. Confused

Herd I don't know the temperature in the flat, I had one of those baby bedroom thermometers that normally said it was between 18-22 degrees. It's storage heters in all the flats here so it gets warmer as the night goes on, I want to strangle my downstairs neighbours! No one needs their heater up as high as they must have it!

OP posts:
Maryz · 26/10/2011 00:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 26/10/2011 00:50

Maryz I have switched to cotton wool now. :) The wipes seemed to cold, they just made him scream.

I know it will probably all be fine I guess I'm just getting a bit paranoid I am doing something wrong now.

I think I might try the sleeping bag and vest. :) I'm a bit unsure of them as the last time I put him in one he sweat straight through the thing!

OP posts:
LapsedPacifist · 26/10/2011 00:55

Just keep him happy and feed him what he needs for the time being Smile

He is so VERY young. It REALLY doesn't matter about centiles or how big other family members were/are.

REALLY!

Make sure he has enough bottles to keep him happy.

Nothing else matters! He is only 4 weels old!! Grin

LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 26/10/2011 00:57

Why a fleecy sleepsuit? Do you have a cotton one, with a sheet if he's a little chilly?

Again, disclaimer for not knowing, but you could add boiled water to the bottle of cartoned formula perhaps?

Also bear in mind that you are probably very tired and hormonal. Was the HV/GP (I presume you mean GP not DP?!) worried? If not, then you should try not to be. Hard, I know.

tiktok · 26/10/2011 10:14

Not a good idea to add water to formula :( :( ....unless of course someone medically trained who has seen and examined the baby thinks it's needed.

OP, your baby is four weeks old so anything that's happening now could change! I do agree that the amount of formula he is taking is massive and it's good your HV is being kept informed. Most babies who have these unusual behaviours/intakes/weight gain are absolutely fine, and it's all just part of their own unique needs, and nothing needs to be done as it all resolves itself. But a few babies do need some sort of 'management' and this would be what a good HV might be watching out for....without hitting the panic button as your baby is still v. young.

LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 26/10/2011 12:10

Sorry for the poor advice. I was hoping Tiktok would come on and help. :)

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 26/10/2011 13:36

Loopy Don't be silly, any help is appreciated! Thank you. :)

Thanks again everyone for the help. :) He sat up most of the night last night eating and then throwing up and just doing that in circles. I tried the water again but he started choking again, finally got him to sleep after 6:30am after he peed my bed! Hmm :(

Until less than a week ago he slept through most nights or only woke for 20 minutes a night. :(

OP posts:
TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 26/10/2011 16:51

Just a thought, could it be silent reflux?

itspeanutbutterjellytime · 26/10/2011 17:09

Good thought lainey

I would suggest using powder if you can. Make up your bottles in advance; if he's starting to overfeed, i would water it down. So say he fed at midday; if he screamed for a feed before 3pm, give him a watered down feed.

You could also use colief; we did because DS had problems digesting milk which later led onto a lactose intolerance.

If all else fails; I'd rather have a hungry baby. My DS struggled to take more than 2-3oz a time until he was quite old. It's horrible. He still skips whole meals now with no bother regularly and I just wish he was more enthusiastic.

531800000008 · 26/10/2011 17:15

Please don't water down a feed unless with medical supervision

itspeanutbutterjellytime · 26/10/2011 18:40

Well obv check with your hv but if he's getting the right amount of milk for his weight, I bet she's say it's fine to water down extra feeds if she's already recommended water! It's only if they're not gaining weight you'd need to worry.

Worth trying hungry baby milk? The stage 2 stuff?

PosiesOfPoison · 26/10/2011 18:45

Erm, what about something like diabetes? That can give a child an insatiable appetite. As for FF it's not like a breast that can reduce in quantity, we've all been there when it feels like the flow is slow or breast is empty.

itspeanutbutterjellytime · 26/10/2011 18:51

POP I didn't know that! Shock

PosiesOfPoison · 26/10/2011 18:56

I ONLY know that anecdotally.