Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Hungry baby?

15 replies

Packergator · 14/09/2015 18:24

My 3 week old is always ravenous!

He is formula fed (currently using Aptamil powder) and he is taking anything from 5-7(!)oz at least 8 times per day. He will happily down a 7oz bottle and even continue to root around like he wants more! On the formula tub it says that this is what a 12wk old should be having! He was 8lb 11 at birth and is now around 10lbs.

He's been getting tummy cramps lately and I assumed that these were wind/colic, however he always winds really well during/after feeds (both ends !). He tends to do one MASSIVE poo per day and I've noticed that he always seems relieved and less grouchy following this. Also, beforehand his tummy is hard and swollen whereas afterwards it is soft and squishy. Could it be the sheer volume of formula he's consuming that's making him uncomfortable? It's a massive amount to be giving him as his tummy is still so tiny, but he's constantly hungry! Would switching to a hungry baby formula help? I will speak with the HV on Thurs and ask his opinion, but wanted to get the benefit of some MN experience!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CultureSucksDownWords · 14/09/2015 18:34

My understanding was that "hungry baby" formula was aimed at babies nearer to weaning age, to try and slow down their digestion to avoid early weaning.

Is your baby following a centile line roughly? Could you try more frequent slightly smaller feeds? 3 hrs between feeds (if that's right with 8 feeds in 24hrs) could be too infrequent at that age.

KitKat1985 · 14/09/2015 20:18

Is he definitely hungry and not thirsty? Just wondering are you using the right amount of water / formula ratio (I.E, not heaping the spoons) as that could be making him constipated / thirsty which might explain some of your issues?

Snossidge · 14/09/2015 20:24

Does he have a dummy?

Babies need to comfort suck, he's probably rooting to suckle. If babies aren't breastfed they need dummies. Do you have the slowest teat too?

A 10lb baby should have roughly 25oz of milk a day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old 3-6 months old Babies & sleep Families

Original poster

Packergator · 14/09/2015 20:28

Yep, we have a dummy (relented on day 2!) plus slow flow teats.

Definitely making up formula right; using perfect prep machine and using box scraper thing to even off scoops.

He's 75th centile for head/weight and 91st for length/height, so he will be a strapping lad one day!

My mum keeps harping on about water but HV said not to give it...may try tomorrow.

Thanks for the advice!

OP posts:

FattyNinjaOwl · 14/09/2015 20:31

My DS is 6 weeks and has been on hungry formula since about 3 weeks. (Just over) he was on a 6 oz bottle every 2 hours. Even now on hungry milk he has 7 oz every 3/4 hours but he doesn't have problems with poo.
If your baby is already constipated, then hungry formula could make him worse as its stodgier to fill them up more (fwiw, my DS was 10lb 10 at birth)

CultureSucksDownWords · 14/09/2015 20:31

I wouldn't give water at all to such a tiny baby, it's not necessary and there are dangers around giving a small baby too much water. ????What do you think about offering a smaller amount more frequently?

CultureSucksDownWords · 14/09/2015 20:32

Sorry, don't know where all those ???? came from!

BertieBotts · 14/09/2015 20:34

If HV said no to water then I wouldn't give water.

Have you tried smaller bottles more frequently? And you could try different brands. Different babies react differently so it might be that Aptamil doesn't agree with him for some reason. 8 times doesn't seem that many feeds for a 3 week old (8 in 24 hours?) I thought it was more like 10-12 feeds in 24h at that age.

BertieBotts · 14/09/2015 20:36

It might be better to post on the Infant Feeding topic BTW as posters there tend to be clued up on the latest advice and guidelines :) I seem to remember reading that the guideline amounts on the box are very hit and miss so not to worry about them too much. They say that you should formula feed on demand now too so smaller, more frequent feeds fit in with that as well.

Doublebubblebubble · 14/09/2015 20:38

. I used to babysit for my friends ff son and he was "ravenous" but as soon as he had some water he was fine. I bf and my hv (6 years ago nearly now) told me not to worry about water as bm is water+food where as formula was just food.... god how much do things change....

CultureSucksDownWords · 14/09/2015 20:41

That was an odd thing for your HV to say, double, as formula is mainly water, as is very obvious if you've ever made it up from powder!

fredandme123 · 14/09/2015 20:46

Excessive weight gain would be the best indicator of it being an issue. Fred has jumped a few centiles in his short little life and i have two theory's on in.
Firstly his dad was a GIANT baby so genetics will play a part.
Secondly he has pretty bad reflux and comfort drinks milk to soothe a sore throat.
The hospital and HV both said to me you can't put a baby on a diet so just a case of feeding him when he is hungry for now. Fred's record was about 48oz in a day. HB milk didn't really do much other than give him tummy ache I wouldn't recommend bothering.
The sh*test part of it all... Drinking that much milk is a 24 hour job ... Think he is aiming for 100th centile!!

BertieBotts · 14/09/2015 21:00

Or you can also ask MNHQ to move the thread if you don't want to repost :) Just hit report on your own thread and send them a message.

ffffffedup · 14/09/2015 21:19

I wouldn't give water personally he'll fill up on it and it has no nutritional benefit to him whatsoever. The hungry baby milk can be used from birth and is generally a bit thicker than the 1st milk making them fuller. He does seem to be taking a lot for his age but like you said he's a bigger baby. If he's happy and your happy then don't change anything.

Original poster

Packergator · 14/09/2015 23:24

My mum said that my siblings and I were all very greedy babies (and we're all pretty 'strapping' now!), so maybe he's just following the family way!?

I did look for a 'feeding' topic but couldn't find it! Thanks for the tip; I'll get it moved. I blame new baby brain (and lack of sleep!)

Re: the water thing...it does seem to be a topic that 'excites' people slightly. My mum also stands by the 'it was good enough for you lot 30 years ago!' argument, but there must be a good reason the HV said not to give it, so I'd rather not take that path for now. Although I do take the point about formula being made with water!

I'm reluctant to change to anything which may make his tummy worse. I don't think he is constipated; we've had two full, pooey nappies today and apparently 1-2 per day is normal (lots of very wet nappies too).

I'm just very conscious that I don't want to overfeed him. I've struggled with my weight in adulthood so want to set him on the right path, not make him a little fatty from the off!

Will speak with HV on Thurs and see what he suggests.

OP posts:

Flip