Constantly feeding for 2 and a half months

[Suzanne87]

Hello, my baby is 4 and a half months old, formula fed and for the past 2 and a half months has been constantly feeding. When I say constantly feeding, I mean he will have 120ml then 30mins/an hour/an hour and a half later have 60ml. It's not always the same amount. Sometimes he'll have it in dribs and drabs. He is also temperature sensitive and will not have cold or cooled bottles. I feel like he is constantly feeding all the time. He's quite a substantial weight at around 8.2kg, but is following his line on the growth chart. Is this normal and something that he will possibly grow out of? I'm so frustrated because I feel I can't go out of the house just incase he wants to feed!

Have you tried getting a teat with a bigger hole?

Be careful not to keep a bottle for more than an hour after baby starts feeding. If there's any left after an hour, you need to throw it away.

Are you letting him get hungry enough? If you are saying you feel like you cant leave the house in case he wants a feed, perhaps you are jumping in and giving him a bottle before he really wants one. Maybe wait half an hour and try distracting him with toys etc. so that he's not 'snacking'. Obviously dont starve him if he's hungry - what cues is he giving to make you give him a bottle?

Are you practising paced feeding? Some people don't know what this approach means so look it up if you've never heard of it but basically is he getting a chance to know he's full? Are you learning other ways to settle him? Do you know his hunger cues versus pain, trapped wind, wanting change of scene etc?

Can he drink more than 120mls in one feed? Do you have any other feeding problems? Some babies are fussy around temperature my baby prefers his bottles on the cold side. Iv had quite a few issues with my now 4month. He drinks 120mls every 2-3 hours and takes around 20mins. You could try offering your baby a 150ml bottle give him a good amount of time say 30mins of offering it to him looking for signs he doesn’t want anymore then take it away. Say he then wakes/cry’s 1hour late, wait 15mins and distract, over the course of a few days (you judge) add an extra 15mins until he can go an extra 30mins then 45mins until you reach 2-3hours offer him as much as he wants in those bottle feeds. I know it’s super exhausting I used to feed my little one 1oz an hour cause he couldn’t drink any more in one feed due to reflux and used this method. Hope that makes sense but the only way is to stretch those feeds. Things will get better role on weaning!

Also definitely try to get out even if it’s for a small walk close by to begin with. It may help distract him for that but longer babies do tend to go that bit longer when out and about. I know you said he’s temperature sensitive there are loads of gadgets you can buy to make the bottle the right temp while out and about. Try getting to a baby ground or stay and play session if you don’t already.