Formula feeding Mamas. Advise or help please

[ExcitingTimes2023]

Hi. So I EBF my first, but decided the best decision for my whole family was to formula feed my second child. He is now 10 weeks old. So far he is tracking bang on the 25% centile line,and wet and dirty nappies seam ok.

Basically I’m struggling to get him to eat more then 2oz sometimes 3oz at a time. He will have 4oz at a push but that is very rare and it takes the full hour the bottle is good for. He can easily go 4/5 hours between his 2oz feeds aswell. But sometime wants a feed an hour later. I will say he also has 2 small breastfeeds in 24 hours, just for the antibodies and to get him to sleep when he won’t settle (hoping to stop these at some point though).

Everything I have read says he should be taking much more the this. Eg the NHS website says he should take around 150ml/kg daily which would be around 750ml (25oz) but I would say we get 15oz give or take in 24 hours. The formula box says he should be having 5oz 5/6 times a day.

obviously I’m not going to force him to drink as that would be distressing for everyone. GP, HV and infant feeding team have all said to trust the baby. He will take what he needs and if thats just 2oz them let him take it. But I just can’t shake the feeling he isn’t getting enough. Anyone had this or similar before? Or any advice for a worried mum?

I have switched bottles from tommee tippee to mam as he wasn’t getting a good latch on the tippee. Also have tried to size 2 teets but he just wasn’t ready for them as he was chocking.

My DD is like this. She’s now 16 weeks and doesn’t always clear a bottle we waste so much formula as I always prepare the recommend amount on the box.

The box is a guideline.

Now I let her have what she wants and if she shows any signs of wanting milk earlier then the next feed I give it to her. As long as they are putting on weight there is nothing to worry about.

We also did breast feeds if is was fussy but dropped that now.

@Yellowaveo59 so is you little one just taking small feeds like 2/3oz?

We waste so much aswell. I was worried it was reflux but GP and infant feeding team said unlikely. It’s not like he is having really frequent feeds to make up for it. He sometimes does but also goes long stretches without. He doesn’t sleep well either x

Is he gaining weight? Happy in himself? Wet nappies? In which case, he is eating what he needs! Forcing more or becoming stressed will lead to aversions which is the last thing you want. In Rowena Bennett's book on bottle feeding aversions (on Amazon - definitely worth a read!), she talks about this exact point - trying to meet guidelines when the baby doesn't need/want that much leads to aversions. Also, bottles should be left with a bit over - so you know they've had as much as they want.

My LO now 10 months has never had more then 700-800 ml in a day (that was growth spurt at 5 months)

She would often just have a lot of 1-2oz a time. Bit of a snacker.

She is small but continuously gained so HV said not to worry. She has taken much better to weaning and food. But she is definitely a snacker.

Mine went through a snacky phase when she would only take small feeds. I think it’s fine as long as plenty of wet nappies and they are following their percentile line. The formula box recommendations can be way off, especially for newborns. Just make up a bit more than they normally drink rather than the amount on the packet. I used readymade formula until she was regularly drinking 4oz (minimum amount for perfect prep) or you can make more and divide it half and keep the rest in the fridge for the next feed.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. I've formula fed two babies and my first rarely drank more than 700ml a day until she was 5/6 months, my current one has had 800-1000ml a day since 3 months. They are all so different. If you've had him checked by a GP etc and they're happy, he's gaining weight, I would just continue to give him what he seems to want and disregard the 5/6 feeds a day thing, sometimes you just need to fit in extra feeds to get them to take a little more. I think my current DD was still having 10 feeds a day at 10 weeks.

Both of mine have definitely gone through phases of not wanting much as well, he will maybe go into a growth spurt soon and start drinking loads. .

I hear you about the teats- cannot get my 5mo to move up to size 3 teats for the life of me! I keep trying every week but they seem to make her vomit 😬 and I've noticed that she goes through phases of drinking slowly, and then drinking quickly again so it's not always the teat that causes this.

Also- I guess it's possible he's making up quite a lot of the extra he needs from breast milk? But I'm sure you'll have a vague idea of how much he's getting there.

Sounds like you're doing a great job!