14 Weeks - how much formula?! 🤔

[RWK29]

Baby was exclusively breastfed until 11 weeks then unfortunately had to stop due to issues with reflux and breast refusal. Combination fed for a week (expressed breast milk & formula) in order to then transition him to formula.

14 weeks old. Last weighed at 12 weeks and was 12lb 13.5oz. At 10 weeks had dropped to 25th centile from 50th because of the feeding issues we were having. By 12 weeks he was half way back up to his 50th centile so was gaining weight well.

Really struggling with formula feeding!! It was far easier just putting him on the boob 😅 Started off following the guide on the box as I had no idea at all about quantity. It tells me 30oz in 24 hours. He’s taking 6 bottles in 24 hours (7am, 11am, 2/3pm, 6/7pm, 10/11pm then 2am) so started with 5oz bottles which he was content with for some feeds but not others. Upped to 6oz (so 36oz in 24h) but this week he’s still super grumpy between feeds 😓

Have tried smaller bottles more often too but he was not impressed!

Not sure if it’s the start of a growth spurt or what’s going on! Health visitor is no longer allowed to do home visits due to covid restrictions so he won’t be weighed again until 8months 😳 spoke to her on the phone and she says “feed on demand - he should tell you when he’s full but you need to be careful not to over feed a formula fed baby” 🙄🙄

Can anyone give any advice? Does this seem a normal amount of formula? Or too much/too little? Upping it to 7oz seems like a lot when he’s taking 6 bottles a day 😳

Might have to try feeding him little less more often so you still give him the same amount but split over 3 hours instead of four - so he doesn't get hungry

@Fredsgirl19 tried that for a day and he was SO grumpy 😳 maybe need to give it a try for longer and see how he gets on 🙈

Is he medicated for the reflux? The reflux might be making him uncomfortable. Could also be wind since drinking from a bottle tends to give more wind.

@Vicky1989x He’s on gaviscon for the reflux and has had wind issues since a few weeks old so he’s on gripe water for that too. The gripe water has worked wonders! Gaviscon seems to be doing the trick with the reflux. That’s the main reason we moved to bottles...he wouldn’t take the gaviscon out of a syringe 😓 started off trying to exclusively express but I just couldn’t keep up with the demand and it was really struggling with it mentally so decided to move to formula.

He is still a little big sicky after some feeds when he brings up his wind but no more than a normal baby would be.

I have been reading online about some babies being fussy/unsettled/sicky on Aptamil which is what I’ve been trying him on. Maybe I should try a different formula and see how he gets on 🤔

Try again with the three hours but don't make life harder for yourself. I think max 36oz in 24 hrs for under 6 months is guidelines.
Could try hungry baby formula?
My prem baby with sensitive tummy does well on cow and gate but have heard HIPP organic is very gentle on tummy.

@Fredsgirl19 I’ve heard the same about HIPP organic. I’ll try again with the 3hours for a few days and see how he goes then maybe try a new formula if he’s still fussy!

@RWK29 it could be the formula, I’ve heard similar about Aptamil. My baby is on SMA but I’ve tried them all and found this was the best for her reflux. Hipp Organic is very thin imo and it made her 10 times worse - she was bringing up every feed. But every baby is different.

He could also still be getting used to formula, I think it can take up to 2 weeks for them to adjust.

@Vicky1989x ohhh I’ll bear that in mind about hipp organic then!! Definitely don’t want anything that’s going to make his reflux worse!

@RWK29 Every baby is different so he might be fine on Hipp!

I also found the gaviscon less effective in larger volume bottles 🤷🏼‍♀️

I ve been giving my 13 week old 7oz bottles for a few weeks, the HV had no concerns about it, he's on that high a percentile he gets very hungry if we tried to give him any less.
You could consider trying anti reflux formula? But it is possible he could be going through a growth spurt and does need to eat more.

My ds is now 26 weeks but since day 1, he feeds every 2 hours. He has reflux controlled by Gaviscon. Nowadays, he takes 5oz (and two 6oz in the evening /night) but around 12 weeks, he took 4oz.
He's my fourth and none of the others ever fed like this but then they didn't have reflux. I think that the constant feeding keeps his reflux down! He's on Hipp Organic.

@1990shopefulftm how many 7oz bottles is your little one having in 24 hours? I think it’s definitely a growth spurt. He’s clingy and just wants to nap on me so I’m just giving lots of cuddles. He has his second vaccinations this week too so it should make for an interesting few days 😅😅
I’m going to try him on a different formula. He’s always been a gassy boy but grip water made him loads better when we were breastfeeding but he’s been getting increasingly more gassy again since being on aptamil formula.

@RWK29 he has 6 bottles most days, occasionally he ll have 5 then want an extra 4/5 Oz at some point.
It takes a few days for switching formula to kick in and since he ll have the rotavirus vaccine soon I d give it some time to see what happens when you try a new milk.

@THNG5 mine just doesn’t seem interested in feeding any more often than he is at the moment 🤔 occasionally he’ll want his bottle 30-40 minutes early but never wants another during the day if this happens 🤷🏻‍♀️

@1990shopefulftm That’s good to know! My HV is lovely but she doesn’t seem to like giving advice on quantities of milk 🤷🏻‍♀️ Yeah I’ll definitely give it a few days to see the effects of a new formula! He was great after his first vaccinations...just a little sleepy and cuddly so hoping this time will be the same 🤞🏼