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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Bottle feeding timing help

31 replies

Lwat86 · 20/01/2019 17:07

Hi all

My son is nearly 7 weeks and exclusively bottle fed. I go by the side of the aptamil container regarding feeding times, so 5oz feeds 5 times a day. He's usually ok with this but he screams constantly every night between around 7 until I feed him at 10 and I'm wondering if it's actually hunger?? Should I try to give him a 4oz bottle at maybe 5pm, followed by a 2oz at 7.30ish then another 4oz at about 10pm instead or do you think that may mess up his routine a bit? I don't want him getting confused and thinking I'm not feeding him when he gets a measly 2oz bottle haha!

OP posts:
Bobfossil2 · 20/01/2019 17:09

If he screams he’s probably hungry! If he’s hungry at 7 why not give him a bottle then?

Bobfossil2 · 20/01/2019 17:09

I don’t think I’d give him just 2oz unless you think he would be ok with that. Might just upset him?

popcorndiva · 20/01/2019 17:10

The side is just a guide as some babies want less, some more. Is she finishing every bottle? And still looking for more? That usually is an indicator or maybe he just needs more bottles. We did 6 bottles and he slept through from 10pm till 8pm.

SoyDora · 20/01/2019 17:11

If he screams, give him another bottle. The people who wrote the guidelines on the side of the formula box (and they are just guidelines) have never met your baby. Not all babies have the same requirements.

popcorndiva · 20/01/2019 17:12

We fed baby on demand no strict timings worked out to around every 2 -3 hours at that age.

Thesearmsofmine · 20/01/2019 17:12

Don’t go by the box. Feed on demand. At 7 weeks most babies need more than 5 bottles a day.

Original poster
Lwat86 · 20/01/2019 17:13

He takes a bottle around half 8am then 12.30/1pm so I couldn't leave him until 7. I'd need to feed him again about 4 or 5 then give a smaller amount 2/3hrs later so I'm not overfeeding him, I just think he might get upset if I start giving him smaller feeds even though it adds up to the same amount overall.

OP posts:
SoyDora · 20/01/2019 17:13

I thought it was recommended that both BF and FF babies are fed on demand?

BrokenLink · 20/01/2019 17:14

Please do not feed your baby by the guide on the tin. It does not account for the fact that babies come in different sizes. A baby near the bottom line of the centile chart will drink a lot less milk than one near the top.

The NHS advice is to make up a feed that is 1oz bigger than your baby will normally drink. Offer this in response to the baby's cues. If your baby is crying it is definitely worth trying a feed. Some babies like lots of small feeds as they are easier to digest.

Have your baby weighed monthly to check they are growing appropriately.

Thesearmsofmine · 20/01/2019 17:14

You need to feed him when he is hungry and not be so set on controlling his feeds.

Original poster
Lwat86 · 20/01/2019 17:17

Oh he's definitely getting enough, he's a wee chunky monkey at 10lb 13oz! I feel stupid even writing the post to be honest it's just that generally he's ok during the day and through the night with a good 4 and a half hours between feeds it's just that wee period in the evening he's inconsolable and I'm not sure if attempting to alter timings is the thing to do!

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 20/01/2019 17:17

OP you have posted before and been told to offer more milk. I think you may need to speak to your Waltham visitor tbh.

SoyDora · 20/01/2019 17:18

Why don’t you just try giving him an extra bottle and see how it goes?

Thesearmsofmine · 20/01/2019 17:18

health*

Tiptopj · 20/01/2019 17:18

Hi, It could be hunger causing the crying so definitely worth trying him on a bit more milk but a lot of babies have "witching hours" in the evening where they just go nuts and cry and cry when nothing is actually wrong. My son did this from around 3 months- you could almost set your watch by him, 7pm on the dot the crying started and nothing we did could sooth him. I think it's just all the excitement of the day catcgubg up with them. Also, don't pay to much attention to the box- it's just a guide so if it is hunger and he needs a larger or extra bottle just go with it x

Bobbiepin · 20/01/2019 17:19

ALL babies that young should be fed on demand, be it bf or ff. Feed your baby, please.

dementedpixie · 20/01/2019 17:20

At that age mine fed every 3 hours or so and therefore had more than 5 feeds a day. You are allowed to give more than the box says as its a guideline and all babies are different. Try feeding a smaller amount more often. 2-3 hourly is pretty normal at that age. 4 hours is less usual

Original poster
Lwat86 · 20/01/2019 17:21

Thesearmsofmine - yes I've posted before but I wasn't totally bottle feeding at the time and it was all new. I only came on here for a little advice to see how other people work their bottle feeds having never done it before. I have spoken to my HV and have found them of little use - I can't just feed him on demand as he'd be massively overweight.

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 20/01/2019 17:24

No he wouldn’t. Feeding on demand is what is recommended.

Bobbiepin · 20/01/2019 17:24

He's not a puppy, he will stop when he's full and he's growing all the time. They have massive growth spurts where they'll grow a couple of cm in a week. They need the calories.

SoyDora · 20/01/2019 17:24

I can't just feed him on demand as he'd be massively overweight

But the advice from healthcare professionals is to feed on demand?
My EBF DD2 was 12lbs 13oz at her 6 week check. She put on nearly 1lb a week for her first 6 weeks. Totally not an issue for the HV and completely normal weight at 3.5.

SoyDora · 20/01/2019 17:27

Actually a bit shocked that you’ve not tried offering another bottle yet, when he’s been screaming every night. It’s the first thing I’d try.

dementedpixie · 20/01/2019 17:30

Why can't you feed on demand? Your alternative is starving your hungry baby. Is that what you want?

Bobfossil2 · 20/01/2019 17:33

He would not be massively overweight if you fed on demand! He would stop when he is full, honest! My 13 week old is fed on demand and is following the curve in her red book and is not ‘overweight’

He takes a bottle around half 8am then 12.30/1pm so I couldn't leave him until 7

I didn’t mean leave him until 7, sorry. I meant that you should give him a full bottle when he is hungry and he will have what he needs.

Bobfossil2 · 20/01/2019 17:36

From the nhs website:

Newborn babies need quite small amounts of formula to start with. By the end of their first week, most will need around 150 to 200ml per kilo of their weight a day until they're 6 months old. This amount will vary from baby to baby.
Although most babies settle into a feeding pattern eventually, they vary in how often they want to feed and how much they want to drink.
Feed your baby when they show signs that they want it. Babies tend to feed little and often, so they may not finish their bottle. Having a big feed doesn't mean your baby will go longer between feeds.

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