Formula feed q's...can't find much advice anywhere else...

[roz1982]

I have decided that bfeeding is not working for me, have done it for 6 weeks and have now decided to ff. I started ds on aptamil and he had no problems going onto formula or bottles. For past couple of days, day and night, ds has been feeding alt more often, every two to two and a half hours, sometimes less and just seems alot hungrier, but he rarely finishes a bottle, in fact he sometimes leaves 2 - 3 ounces of a 5 ounce bottle. He is on aptamil at the moment, do you think he needs a hungry baby formula, but if ths is the case why do you think he isn't finishing bottles? I would really appreciate some advice, can't really find any! X

Didn't mean to put hungry baby formula, would it be worth just trying a different formula?

I wouldn't bother with different formula if aptamil agreeing with him. Nor IMe
Did hungry baby formula make much difference. Sounds like your dc doing the usual milk all time at this age (dd was same- I remember thinking feeding guidelijnes are way off given how much she could shift). And if regularly jot finishing bottles then put a little less in so not wasting formula.

Dd did seem to settle into bigger bottles/longer spells between feeds by about 10/12 weeks .

it sounds like he is just having frequent small feeds? which for his age is normal :) my dd was the same, do what the above poster suggest and put less in the bottle, he will take bigger feeds when he is ready :) tho my dd never took more than 4oz a time she just liked smaller feeds, she is now 12mths and still generally has 4oz, tho will have 5oz in the morning when she wakes :)

things to consider:

1. he might be quite windy, I think FF babies get more wind than BF. their tummies fill up with wind so no space for milk, then once the wind passes they are hungry again. So wind frequently(at least once during the feed and again straight after).
2. The bottle lets milk out much faster than a nipple. so baby gets lots of milk fast, thinks he's full when he's not. So if you are not already using the slowest flow teat, do so.
3. How often were you BFing? Obviously you don't know what volume he was taking, so don't get hung up on quantity. I think at 6 weeks we were giving 4 oz and bottles were not being finished.
4. At the moment he is still a new born, so I wouldn't worry too much about manipulating quantity and timings.

oh yes maybe stop and wind halfway through if baby seems a bit fussy, and experiemnt with different teats as sprinkles has said.

6wks is very young and wha tyou describe sounds normal :)

Hi, roz1982

The feeding pattern that you describe is absolutely normal for a baby of his age. I'm wondering, if you felt that BFing wasn't working for you, whether you were trying to feed him at longer intervals? This could make a significant impact on your milk supply, you see.

I would absolutely expect him to be feeding this frequently - or even more often than this. I would also expect him to take 3-4 oz at most really with this number of feeds.

How would you feel about trying to feed as often as he's asking (see Kellymom for feeding cues (same for FF as BFing) www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/hunger-cues.html) and making a smaller bottle each time? This would follow his biological expectations more closely and probably make him happier, and life easier for you.

Thanks very much for responses feel much more reassured. Think I will definitely take above advice and make up smaller feeds for more often. Thanks ladies.