How often to formula feed 4 month old

[Hopefulhoney6]

I’m about to start giving up breastfeeding 4 month old baby & switch to formula.

He has never really given huge hunger cues/cried for food so ever since birth I have just fed him every three hours (7/10/1/4/7) to make sure he gets enough and then on demand in the night. His last feed of the day is a bottle of formula (180ml, although he doesn’t always take it all). This last week or so he has started sleeping through, so no feed between 7-7.

When I switch to formula should I keep feeding every three hours? I’m keen to switch to every four to help with nap schedules etc but I’m worried that if he’s sleeping through he won’t get enough - ie only four feeds in 24h whereas everywhere says 5 feeds? He’s about 7kg.

I’ve always liked breastfeeding as I know he’ll just take what he needs, with formula I’m worried about over / under feeding. (am giving up breastfeeding for medical reasons as advised by a doctor so can’t continue).

I'd start with your usual timings and see how you get on. You can always adjust the timings in the future especially when you start to introduce solid foods.

Agree with demented. Just go with your usual timings for now

I stopped breastfeeding at 10 months due to medical reasons and I replaced each feed with a bottle. She would have a long breastfeed before bed so I replaced this with an 8oz bottle and the rest of the feeds with 5oz bottles. It fitted our routine so we stuck adjusting it when she dropped to 1 nap at 13 months and she started eating (at long last!). She stayed on formula until 2, between 20 and 24 months we weaned her down the amounts. It took until this age to eat enough to sustain herself without formula

I would probably do at least a week following the routine from breastfeeding then maybe start tinkering with timing. Either way their feeding routines will probably evolve over the coming months anyway!

Thanks all!!

Hi. It's very likely that he'll go a bit longer between feeds when you give him formula.

He'll develop his own pattern anyway, but stick to his cues for now and then you can start having longer gaps between feeds.

In about eight weeks you'll introduce food, which will change everything all over again.

Good luck!