Formula fed 6 week old 4oz every 2 hrs

[Nat888]

6 week old has for the past 2 weeks been wanting q feed every 2 hrs - downing 4oz easily. I know 6 weeks is a major growth spurt but it seems like a lot. He was 5 11 at birth and a quick diy weigh today puts him at about 9 pounds.

He does have tongue tie which is being corrected in 2 weeks but he's formula fed. Doctor was useless and said sounds normal - but my doctor has also said she doesn't usually treat babies so that's great... it seems to have gone on too long for a growth spurt?

He doesn't throw up but does have spit up a lot...He has possible silent reflux.

I know the range of normal is huge but it seems like a lot. He is fussy but again put that down to the 6 week peak of fussiness. Not sure if it's something else and I should ask my doctor to investigate further or go with it...
.im terrified of over feeding him and making him unwell

The last time I spoke to my HV she kept going on about over feeding but he literally wants it .. and what do I do starve him or make him wait an hour. I try everything before feeding (all the usual nappy tired cuddle etc) but it's the feed he wants

If he's draining the bottle then you'd normally add an extra ounce to it

You can't overfeed. If baby wants milk, give it.

See this is what I thought but my HV just keeps going on and on about over feeding. We pace feed so it's not like I'm just letting it flow down his throat without breaking for burps every oz or so

Just give the milk, he obviously needs it. Make the bottles an oz bigger and see what happens

Also it is utterly exhausting feeding every 2 hrs. I'll go with it if needs must but I just cant seem to satisfy the boy! I'm going to add an extra oz but the HV has put me into a right state thinking I'm over feeding. It's all she talks about with regards to bottle feeds. Unfortunately I can't breast feed

My HV was the opposite, well the community one as mine never got in touch!

She said "if they need it, give it" babies know when they're full, they wouldn't drink it if they didn't want it. I never heard anyone mention overfeeding though. And I have one healthy child who still knows when they've had enough.

Add the extra oz and I think he'll be able to go longer than 2 hours :)

This is I think the real drawback of formula - getting hung up on numbers. My EBF babies didn't go 2 hits between feeds til at least six months and it never crossed my mind that I might be overfeeding them.

Just listen to your baby, OP, you're doing everything right.

Thank you - i needed to hear that. Its so hard when they are telling me constantly about over feeding and the oz per kg shit they "should be having" each day. Sends me into total paranoia/worry. He is taking it and not throwing it up so as you all say he obviously needs it.

Going to put the extra oz in the bottle and try not to stress about what the HV keeps saying :)

Oh balls to HV! You can't over feed a baby. Just put them up an ounce and see how they do. I did this with my DS. They let you know when they want more.

My son was like this. I've actually just checked back in my diary notes as I used to write down when he had eaten and how much, and by 4 weeks, he was on 5oz bottles every 3 hours. But at 3 weeks, he was taking 4oz every 2 hours so the extra oz helped stretch him out. We also put him on to hungry baby milk which then stretch him another 30-60 minutes further. It takes a little longer to break down the casein protein in hungry baby milk, so helps to keep them fuller for longer.

Quick update - put 5oz in this morning and he had about 10ml over 4oz. He slept for 3 hrs and woke up less of a grumpy A hole he usually does. Literally just wants that little bit more it seems.

Thanks for the replies all- made me feel so much better.

Just quickly came in to say that if he is spitting up a fair bit every time and seems uncomfortable after a feed then it could be silent reflux as you say

I switched to anti reflux milk and it made a massive difference to a happier baby.

But sounds like you're totally on top of it all regardless!!

Yeah that is my next step to give the anti reflux formula a try if things don't improve with the tongue tie division :)

My baby sounds very similar, 7 weeks old yesterday and we make his formula up to 5oz during the day and 4oz for night feeds as that's all he wants in the night. He was born 5lb 3oz, dropped to 4lb 8oz due to quite severe jaundice, and was 10lb exactly last Tuesday (6 weeks and 3 days). He goes almost exactly 2 and a half hours between feeds every time, occasionally 3 hours overnight

Keep doing what you're doing as long as baby seems happy with it and is growing well. Baby won't overeat at this age, they're just catching up 😁

Sorry to highjack the thread but was just wondering how to tell the difference between spitting up due to silent reflux or due to taking too much milk? I’m not worried about the overall volume of milk my 4 week old is drinking but an worrying that she spits up a lot, especially after larger feeds. We are not forcing it and only feeding more when she seems hungry. She has also put on a lot of weight between week 2 and now but I think that’s normal - she was born at. 3.04 kg, dropped a bit initially but is now ~3.6 kg.

Not an expert but my little one has had a lot of other symptoms of silent reflux. He gets wheezy, congesty, uncomfortable after feeds, arches back, excess hiccups etc. I would say if its just spit up it may not be reflux. Spit up is incredibly common and if your little one isn't uncomfortable with the spit up it maybe common for her or she has just had a bit too much.

Saying that, my boys symptoms started around 4 weeks. I would keep an eye on it

Although he seems a lot more settled qt the moment , doesn't seem to have bothered him as much the last few days - except not liking sleeping on his back. Ironically I was told to give smaller more frequent feeds but he has seemed better having the bigger feeds...

Thanks! I would say she seems uncomfortable and cries during or after feeds sometimes but not every time. She also gets the hiccups frequently so not really sure whether this is within the normal range or could indicate reflux.

Hmm.. could be. Babies have such a wide range of normal! As a start feed her upright (if you don't already) like sat up, burp like every few oz, and keep her upright for 15 mins after the feed That's supposed to help them if it is reflux. Keep an eye on it and if it gets worse /more frequent give your GP a call.

That would be my advice xx