Amount of Formula

[mrscotton]

Just after so reassurance that im doing the right thing as first time mum.

My little boy is just over 5 weeks old and has been having 4oz of formula every 4-5 hours (4 hours day & 5 hours overnight) since 05th April however he had dropped his nights down to 4 hours sometimes less. He always drains the bottles of every drop he can have before we take it away so he doesnt start sucking air. He only brings up the tiniest bit of milk when burping and thats very occasionally so he keeps 99% of the milk down on every feed. He was 8lb 11oz at his last weigh-in which was 5th April.

I am thinking of increasing it to 5oz to see if he is more settled with that. Obviously would only give him what he wants & will drop it down if he starts to bring alot of milk back up.

I am just questioning myself on whether thats too much per feed for 5 week old? The SMA tin says he should be on 4oz but obviously every baby is different so just looking for some reassurance that upping his bottles is the right thing to do.

What it says on the tin is just a rough guideline. My DD is 11 months now and has been on 6oz for a couple months so I can’t really remember the exact oz’s that she had earlier on.

However we were always in front of the suggestion chart on the box and we just upped her amount when it seemed like she wanted more. Of course if he doesn’t seem to finish the bottle then just go back to what you were on previously. I remember we had our DD on 7oz and she never finished it so went back to 6oz’s instead. It’s all trial and error tbh!

2 bottle fed babies here and I always took draining bottles as my cue to add an extra ounce going forwards. The box is just a guide and babies self regulate so you don’t really need to worry about over feeding.

Follow your baby, not the tin. You can’t really overfeed as long as you are following his cues. If he’s full he’ll turn his head/spit it back out etc. some babies up their bottles quicker, some stay feeding ‘little and often’ as long as you are feeding responsively and following his lead, you’ll be fine. I know there is so much conflicting advice - it dizzying at times!

The amount on the bottle is complete rubbish. My friend followed it and her baby was starving. She was told to nearly double it and her baby was so much happier.

If your baby is draining every bottle then up the ounces. If they're full they'll stop eating.

For the record the NHS reccomends 200ml per kg per day. At 8lbs 11oz he should be drink 780ml a day. If he's feeding every four hours exactly and having 4oz a time he's only having 708ml a day so you're actually underfeeding him atm.

But my little one still ate way over the NHS guidance and is following her percentile exactly.

Thank you all. Its so confusing sometimes but just want to make sure he is full & content.

Ill try giving him bigger bottles and see how he goes. He is being weighed again on the 26th so hopefully will see how much he is putting on.