Amount of milk per feed

mrscotton · 2022-07-08T21:25:01+00:00

Hi, my LO is 4 months old tomorrow and has been formula fed since birth. He has been on 6oz of milk now for 6 weeks but seems to have got to the point where its not fully satisfying him anymore. We often have to put dummy in afterwards and goes 5 hours max between feeds even overnight. He literally drains the bottles and would suck air if we let him and is hardly sick. He has 5 bottles a day and got into quite a good routine timewise. I have just changed his teats to medium flow but everywhere i check (SMA tins & online) it states that babies should have 6oz per feed between 4-6months old. I know this is only a guide but just wanting some reassurance that im doing the right thing as a FTM. He was last weighed just over two weeks ago, was 14lb 1oz and is just below the 50th centile line (been following that line since birth). I am thinking of increasing his feeds to 7oz and seeing whether he drinks it all or whether he starts to be more sicky. Do you think thats the right thing to do?

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/07/2022 23:13

You're right, it's only a guide

If he's draining the bottles I'd definitely increase the bottle by an ounce. There should always be a bit left in the bottle so that you know they've had enough.

The guide is roughly 2.5 floz per pound in weight which is 35 floz so he's having about 5 floz less than the recommended amount each day.

I'd just up each bottle by 1 oz abs if he still drains it up each one by a further ounce

Pr1ncessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 08/07/2022 23:14

Yes that's probably fine.
My little chonker has been on 7oz since 4 months old. Not all babies have the same metabolism. Some need more than the "recommended amount".
If your babies cries at the end of the bottle or is hungry less than 3 hours after, then it's probably ok to increase the amount he gets at each feed.

PritiPatelsMaker · 09/07/2022 13:04

How are things today @mrscotton?

Have you tried upping the feeds?

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 09/07/2022 13:06

As much as he wants. Babies should never drain a bottle but always be allowed to stop when they have had enough.

Original poster

mrscotton · 09/07/2022 14:18

I had already made bottles so going to be increasing them later. Im just concerned as a previous poster said about him being hungry after 3 hours or less but hes not. He will happily go between 4-5hrs.

He has a good routine and has bottles at 9.30pm, between 2.30-3.30am, between 7-8am, 12pm & between 4-5pm. He does drain each bottle though. I have just changed his teats to medium flow teats, should i wait to increase his bottles until he got use to those teats or just increase it straight away?

He is 4months today and now stays awake for approx 2-2.5hrs between feeds during the day and sleeps from 10.30pm until 7-8am apart from an hour for his overnight bottle.

OP posts:

PritiPatelsMaker · 09/07/2022 15:45

As he's getting less than the recommend amount for his weight, I'd start giving him more today

Pr1ncessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 09/07/2022 20:36

mrscotton · 09/07/2022 14:18

I had already made bottles so going to be increasing them later. Im just concerned as a previous poster said about him being hungry after 3 hours or less but hes not. He will happily go between 4-5hrs.

He has a good routine and has bottles at 9.30pm, between 2.30-3.30am, between 7-8am, 12pm & between 4-5pm. He does drain each bottle though. I have just changed his teats to medium flow teats, should i wait to increase his bottles until he got use to those teats or just increase it straight away?

He is 4months today and now stays awake for approx 2-2.5hrs between feeds during the day and sleeps from 10.30pm until 7-8am apart from an hour for his overnight bottle.

My baby sleeps 12 hours at night so he rarely goes over 3h during the day. Yours is still waking up for a night feed so it's normal he should go longer during the day. He is getting the same amount over a 24h period.

Original poster

mrscotton · 09/07/2022 21:20

Im just making more so ive increased them now (been out today). Should he still be having 5 bottles a day at 7oz?

OP posts:

Original poster

mrscotton · 09/07/2022 21:20

Ahh that makes sense. How old is your baby?

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Pr1ncessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 09/07/2022 23:24

mrscotton · 09/07/2022 21:20

Ahh that makes sense. How old is your baby?

He is 5 months old now. Been on 7oz bottle (5 per day) since he was 4 months old.

He typically has the first one between 8 or 9 am (whenever he wakes up) and the last one around 8 or 9pm. He sleeps through the night so all his feeding are between 8am and 9pm.
But since yours still has a night feeding it seems logical that he would go longer between feeds during the day...

Original poster

mrscotton · 10/07/2022 08:44

Thank you for replying.

As he sleeps all night, im guessing hes awake quite a bit during the day. Does he ask for milk every time or do you give it to him knowing he needs 5 bottles within his day?

My husband is a lorry driver so i do all the night feeds during the week so would love for LO to sleep a bit longer overnight.

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Pr1ncessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 10/07/2022 21:26

mrscotton · 10/07/2022 08:44

Thank you for replying.

As he sleeps all night, im guessing hes awake quite a bit during the day. Does he ask for milk every time or do you give it to him knowing he needs 5 bottles within his day?

My husband is a lorry driver so i do all the night feeds during the week so would love for LO to sleep a bit longer overnight.

He takes several short naps during the day, but he rarely sleeps more than 30mn at a time during the day. (Not a great napper...)
I try to keep him more or less on a schedule with a bottle when he wakes up (between 8 and 9am) then at 12pm, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm.
He also gets cereal (baby oatmeal) around 10am, a vegetable puree around 7.30pm and occasionally some mashed banana or applesauce around 2pm if he woke up early and is ahead on the feeding schedule.
(I kind of use solid foods as a delay tactic otherwise he would want to be fed every other hour! )
Anyway, this works well for my baby, but every baby is different. Some eat more, some eat less. I think the best way is to follow your baby's cues. If he seems hungry when he finishes a bottle, add an extra oz and see if he will drink it consistently. He he does then he probably needs it!

bogoblin · 10/07/2022 21:51

Trust your baby! He won't eat more than he doesn't want - we knew we were offering enough when he was leaving a bit leftover. If he seems hungry, offer him some more, if he doesn't finish it, that's OK too. All babies are different and the guides really are just guides. Mine used to eat more when he was having a growth spurt as well!

JLQ1020 · 10/07/2022 21:56

The tins are just a recommendation my LG has days where she will drain 5 oz each bottle and other days she feels snack and has 2 or 3 oz each time.

If your baby is draining his bottle I would up it. Don't forget try paced feeding where you stop half way and burp then start again.

Your baby is drinking lots more than my baby and she is a month older but is gaining weight nicely.

Original poster

mrscotton · 11/07/2022 16:15

So we increased his bottle yesterday to 7oz per feed, 5 feeds a day but he is still draining them, he is sick a little during the feeds but not massive amount and not on all feeds.

We burp him after every ounce and we have been doing that since he was born. Is this a good idea or shall we burp less often?

He has never left any of his bottle, always takes the same amount every feed. He may leave a dribble in the bottle but never a great amount. He seems more settled after each feed now.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

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JLQ1020 · 11/07/2022 20:28

Changing the teat is a good idea to the medium flow.

If he seems more content means he was still hungry. Keep doing exactly what you are doing the paced feeding, stopping to burp etc. If he still seems hungry try another oz and if u hit 8 oz and he is still hungry then I'd consider moving him it hungry baby formula which is a bit thicker so helps baby feel fuller. ( consult with HV first)

Have you tried feeding him a bit more often every 3 hours or so? U might find he is just hungry sooner?

JLQ1020 · 11/07/2022 20:29

Oh and I'd burp less often maybe half way through then again at the end I think every oz is a bit much now at his age, but again u know ur baby best.

PritiPatelsMaker · 11/07/2022 20:49

I'd burp half way through and at the end as well and I'd also try an extra ounce at the next feed.

Original poster

mrscotton · 11/07/2022 22:15

He seems happier on the medium teat so thats good.

He tends to have a bottle then will stay awake for 2 hours then has a sleep until just before his next bottle if we are at home. Wouldn’t he wake up if he was hungry earlier? Plus if we feed every 3 hours, he will be having more bottles a day as he still has night feeds. Also concerned its too much of a jump from 6oz to 8oz in such sort time.

My HV has said she wont be seeing us again until he is 10 months but i can call her and ask about the hungry baby formula, i am sure my nephew was on that when he was little.

My husband is currently feeding him and burping him less and it seems to be going okay, had one bit of sick (mouthful at the most) so will continue with that and see how he goes. It can take 30 mins to feed him with burping after every ounce.

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PritiPatelsMaker · 11/07/2022 22:22

Are you worried about the jump to 8floz because you're worried about the guidelines on the box?

He really should be having 2.5 floz per pound in weight per day.

Original poster

mrscotton · 11/07/2022 22:43

No, its more that im worried it will upset his little belly having such a big increase in milk every feed in such a short period of time (it would be increasing the bottle again after 2 days).

I’ve just worked out he is having 35oz a day (7oz by 5 feeds) and 2.5oz for 14lb is also 35oz so he is on the right amount i guess. I suppose it wont hurt to see if he would take an 8oz bottle tomorrow as we are home all day if he is sick.

I do tend to overthink & worry about stuff so much, not just about LO but general everyday stuff. I just want to do my best by him so second guess every decision i make when it comes to him & his wellbeing.

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PritiPatelsMaker · 11/07/2022 22:48

It definitely won't hurt to try him with an extra ounce. You can always knock it down again but as other posters have said, babies should always have some left in the bottle, they shouldn't finish a feed wanting more.

If you find yourself double guessing everything and have anxiety, are you getting any help for this?

JLQ1020 · 12/07/2022 13:36

mrscotton · 11/07/2022 22:15

He seems happier on the medium teat so thats good.

He tends to have a bottle then will stay awake for 2 hours then has a sleep until just before his next bottle if we are at home. Wouldn’t he wake up if he was hungry earlier? Plus if we feed every 3 hours, he will be having more bottles a day as he still has night feeds. Also concerned its too much of a jump from 6oz to 8oz in such sort time.

My HV has said she wont be seeing us again until he is 10 months but i can call her and ask about the hungry baby formula, i am sure my nephew was on that when he was little.

My husband is currently feeding him and burping him less and it seems to be going okay, had one bit of sick (mouthful at the most) so will continue with that and see how he goes. It can take 30 mins to feed him with burping after every ounce.

Then you have the timings right if he was hungry he would wake you are right.

I think upping from 6 to 8 is OK he might not even take the 8 but maybe consider the hungry baby formula.

Once u start weaning he will gradually take less milk.

JLQ1020 · 12/07/2022 13:37

35 oz a day sounds absolutely fine, think about it as adults done adults are naturally hungrier than others.

PritiPatelsMaker · 12/07/2022 16:37

Please consult your HV before considering Hungry baby milk. He's been having 5floz less than recommended until recently.

Giving hungry baby milk will keep him fillet for longer whilst providing no additional nutritional, so there a risk that he'll take less formula than recommend again.

This really is a time for provided the calories he needs