How do you know whether to increase amt of ff, or give 'hungry baby' formula?

[cat811]

I think lo is going through a growth spurt, and needs more-what is the difference between upping his feed, and getting the hungry baby stuff instead? Which is better to do? He's 6 weeks, and has 5 (sometimes 6) fl oz at the 2 night feeds where he has formula.

I;d offer him more of his usual formula.
We tried ds on hungry baby stuff and he was really constipated, poor love.
See how it goes - you can always try the hungry stuff later if you want.

at 6 weeks old, he is most likely having a growth spurt

hungry baby milk will possibly give him horrendous stomach ache, it is heavier and takes longer to digest, and therefore fills them up longer

it is milk for babies who are draining a 9 oz bottle every hour or two and are too young for solids

at 6 weeks old, he needs as much milk as he wants when he wants... is he breastfeeding in the day? offer an extra ounce in the bottle if he is draining every single one

sounds like he is growing, and that is perfectly normal and to be expected

I'd give more of the normal formula and would only change to hungry baby milk if he was drinking every last drop of an 8oz bottle at each feed and screaming for more.

Hi there, just found this (extract from web review for Aptamil Hungry Baby formula. Page listed at bottom):

"The protein in hungry baby milks is casein-based, as opposed to the more usual whey-based protein in first formulas. Casein protein molecules are larger than whey molecules and form curds in the baby's stomach, which leads to them being satisfied with less milk or gives them a feeling of fullness for longer. Please be aware that this extended digestion time can lead to some digestive discomfort or even constipation.

You are not recommended to give your baby casein-based formulas before six to eight weeks in age because it is harder to digest and can therefore put baby's renal system under pressure (which can lead to dehydration), but whether you do use it before this age or not is up to you as it says on the packaging that it is suitable from birth. Speak to your midwife or health visitor if you have any concerns."
www.ciao.co.uk/Aptimil_baby_formula_milk__Review_5577970

Seems that it's better to up the milk though, unless the baby's sytem can't cope with the extra fluid.

More feed - other stuff will stop him feeling hungry but wont give more nutrition.

Feed on demand....

cat I think mosr people here missed that your were mainly bfing. You need to offer more bf in the days.

Hungrier baby milk is not suitable yet and increasing the formula intake will reduce your bfing, undermine it and possibly ruin it.

Keep up dialogue with tiktok on your other thread, but also I'd seriously recommend calling one of the bfing helplines here

We all feel like we don't have enough milk during a growth spurt, particularly in the evenings, but your body catches up with baby's demands. Are you feeding on demand?

Oh yes - get him on that boob as much as you like. Always feel like you haven;t got enough during growth spurt but the more you feed the more milk will come.

Apologies about increasing formular -didn;t realise you were breast feeding.

Have you considered expressing to add to bottles?

Thanks starlight-I did ring the NCt bf line, but the counsellor there (who was very nice) just kept sayign what a shame it was that I'd been pushed into giving some ff when he wasn't gaining, and basically said there wasnt much hope for continuing to bf now that he ws used to a bottle.
I am feeding if he wants it, but he will sometimes go for hours if asleep, and not seem hungry -also, if I wait til he wants it, I wonder if he is sometime sos hungry that that is what makes him upset and struggle to feed

cat I'm not trained in bf advice. I don't know the details of how you got where you are or the details of your conversation, but based on everything you have written here and on your other thread bf IS possible to resume.

It's up to you what you do, but given the effort put in so far I'm assuming you DO want to bf if possible. I'd strongly recommend phoning another helpline. Like in every job, there are bfcs that are more experienced than others.

In the meantime offer a feed everytime he opens his eyes, fidgets in his sleep, mutters, cries etc.