Baby (11 weeks) only four feeds a day

[newmum234]

My LO has recently started sleeping from around 8pm to 6.30am. But it means that he’s only getting four feeds a day, at about 6.30am, 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm. He will drink between 180-200ml at each feed.

I’m just a bit concerned because everything I’ve read says a baby should be having at least five feeds a day at this age.

He has been gaining weight steadily since birth and the HV has been happy. But he hasn’t been weighed for two weeks and this is quite a recent development. I’ve no idea when he will next get weighed with the Covid situation.

If I did want to fit in another feed I could wake him at 10.30pm, but I don’t like to wake a sleeping baby ideally.

What do you think?

Does he want more food? There's no way my DS would have gone 4 hours without food at that age during the day - more like 2 hours - but all babies are different. I always followed my baby's lead as to when he wanted food, I'm a great believer in their ability to self regulate.

It sounds like your LO is getting enough volume of feed per day. And as long as you’re getting plenty of wet nappies each day, I wouldn’t worry.

Although my LO didn’t sleep as much As yours each night, it would still often be 4am before he wanted feeding again. you might find you get sleep regression soon, so will end up feeding in the night to get them back to sleep.

I get my baby weighed when we go for vaccinations, so you could ask if they could do this next time

Maybe try a dream feed if youre worried.

They do go through phases of wanting more or less.

Morning

My LO is 13 weeks and is also having 4 feeds a day. She's having about 28oz in total. If your baby was hungry they would wake up in the night needing another feed.

Please don't get hung up on guidelines too much, all babies are different and do things at a different pace. Xx

He was on about 900-950ml a day and five feeds until quite recently (and seemed to be going through a growth spurt at the time) but has dropped back down again. I follow his lead on feeding and this seems to be what he wants. But if I could fit in one more feed at least he’d be back up to around 900-950 again? Maybe I’ll see how it goes this week - like you say he will probably change his habits again soon!

Thanks @84claire84

I think I’m still hung up on the midwives advice that you must feed a newborn every 3-4 hours - then I remember he’s quite a way past that newborn stage now!

My DD2 slept through the night at 7 weeks and dropped to 4 feeds, just couldn’t get any more into her, she was healthy and happy. Follow your instincts.

It seems little, but if he is having 200ml per feed thats a fair bit over the day.
My baby is the same age, he is breastfed most of the time, but if he does take a bottle he will only drink 60-80ml at a time Max. He eats roughly every 2 hours during the day, and wakes 1-2 times overnight (9-7am)

The side of the HIpp baby formula box recommends 5-6 feeds per day at this age, but thats based on the feeds being 120-150ml, not 180-200ml at a time.

Given the volume of the feeds I think that's fine. Is he napping normally during the day too, generally seem happy?

My baby got herself into a 4 hour feed schedule pretty early and would have bottles at 7am 11am 3pm and 7pm like clockwork until she was fully weaned. She was never a bottle drainer and didn't have the 'recommended' amount but she maintained her centile. All babies are different and pretty much regulate their own food intake (unless they have a health issue). She took to solids very well though.

Take this in the nicest possible way - stop worrying and try and enjoy your baby (or at least some aspects of what is a pretty relentless job!). Are you getting support for yourself in real life?

Yes, he’s napping and is lively and happy when awake.

I just can’t believe that a tiny baby can accommodate 200mls of milk into their stomach in one go - they don’t seem big enough! I have to give him that amount each feed though as if I don’t, he will drain the bottle and cry for more.

I know this is a late response but I've just seen your post and wondered if you carried on with only the 4 feeds as my baby is now doing the same. He is drinking 200ml four times a day and sleeping through the night and is 11 weeks. Not sure whether I should be attempting to get another feed in him but that would mean waking him.