Is my baby getting enough food?

Question

My baby is only 3 wks old and it seems like she is never full. She is on Lactose Intolerant formula and has been waking up every 2 hours to eat and she normally eats around 3oz. Since she is on formula she is only suppsosed to eat every 3 hours. I have tried reducing the amount she eats since she is eating every 2 hours but she she remains hungry. Is anyone having or have had this problem.

Answer 1

even formula fed infants can eat every 2 hours its normal because they have small stomachs!

if your baby is wetting at least 8 diapers a day she is eating enough

feed on demand make sure you are correctly mixing the formula (it is a common mistake) and don't give any solids (including cereal and baby foods) before 6 months of age and it is impossable for your baby to over or under eat!

Answer 2

Don't try to reduce the amount your baby eats. At that age, if they are wanting to eat more it is because they need it for their growing little bodies. They eat because they are hungry, not for some of the other reasons ppl eat as they get older. Let her eat until she is comfortably full, not bloated and you might be suprised. I suspect she won't wake up as often.

I believe in feeding on demand. I wouldn't withhold food if my child was hungry just because someone told me he should only eat every three hours.

When I was an infant, I didn't like the formula and I wouldn't eat it unless I was very hungry. The doctor told my mother I couldn't taste so it could not be that I didn't like the formula. I almost starved myself. At six months, I weighed less than 12 lbs. My folks ran out of formula (stores around here weren't open all night way back then) so they gave me cows milk. I drank an entire bottle - something that had never happened before.

My point is trust your instincts, just because the current medcal wisdoms says that a + b = x doesn't make it so.

Thirty years ago asprin was commonly given to infants, now it is a huge no-no. Things change.

Oh and inspite of some well meaning advice here, you really shouldn't introduce solids or baby rice until she is at least six months old. Particularly, if you or your spouse have a family history of allergies.

Answer 3

This is normal for a three week old infant. They usually wake up every two hours to eat. Every baby is different, so she might need to be fed more at each feeding. I'm wondering where you got the info that she should only eat every three hours? You should actually let her eat whenever she is hungry. This is how she will grow and gain weight normally. If you are reducing the amount she eats, this explains why she keeps wanting to eat more frequently. Please let her feed until she is satisfied.

Talk to your pediatrician as soon as possible. Let them know your baby remains hungry after feeding. They will probably tell you to go ahead and let her eat until she's full. You will know she's full because she will finally turn her head away from the bottle. Make sure to burp her to prevent gas build-up.

Answer 4

I would advise to keep feeding her if she's hungry. She may be going through a growth spurt, which is common in newborns around 3 and 6 weeks. Don't forget that she will most likely DOUBLE her birth weight within the first 6 months. My doaughter was breastfed, but she nursed every 1 1/2 to 2 hours at first too. Just keep feeding her if she's hungry. She will probably even out in a few days. If not, call the peditrician. As long as she is wetting at least 10 to 12 diapers a day, and "pooping" 6 to 8 (maybe sligthly less if formula fed) then I am sure she is fine. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 5

Every baby is different. I would allow her to eat as much as she wants at any given feeding. Everyone talks about 3 ounces or 4 ounces ever so many hours, but your child is not going to do that at this age. Make a 4 ounce bottle, let her eat as much as she likes.

The important thing is that she is satisfied after feedings. Feed your child as soon as she wakes up, then play and then put her down to go to sleep by patting her belly (lightly) or her back and shush her.

This way, you will know when she is hungry, since she eats when she wakes.

Answer 6

Both of my boys were like this...seemed hungry more often then then standard "3 hours". I remember days when it seemed we were giving them bottles every two hours, sometimes every hour and a half (rarely, but it did happen). It could be that she's not really hungry...she just wants to be comforted, and that's the only way babies that young can comfort themselves...the sucking reflex. Do you use a pacifier? I don't suggest them (both of mine use one, and we're getting ready to wean them off of them...pray for me, LOL), but if it helps temporarily, you might want to try.

FYI--both of my boys were (are, actually) big, sturdy boys...in 90-95th percentile for everything...length, weight, head circumference) but they're not "fat", just solid, so I don't think feeding them more often affected them negatively at all.

I found this at www.brightbeginnings.com:

The amount of formula/milk that a baby drinks increases gradually over the first 4 to 6 months of life. During the first few weeks, a baby may take as little as 14 to 16 ounces per day. Typically, intakes increase to 30 to 40 ounces over the first 6 months. Larger babies may actually need more than 40 ounces to maintain a normal growth pattern. In healthy babies, appetite is the best guide for determining feeding volume. Over the first few weeks, parents will learn their baby’s signals of hunger and satiety. When these are followed, an appropriate amount of formula/milk will be given to meet the baby’s energy and growth needs. Parents will find that each baby is an individual. Feeding routines that work for one baby may not work for another.

Answer 7

If your baby is waking up every 2 hours she should be fed every 2 hours. Not every single baby is exactly alike. They all have their own schedules for feeding and believe me, they only take what they need at this time. If your baby wakes up and wants to eat every 2 hours, feed her every 2 hours.
Also, It would be helpful to know how big your baby is and does she spit up a lot? Do you burp her well during her feedings. She could be getting an air bubble taking up space in her little belly making her hungry quicker.
Babies are so precious. Handle her with care. You would be surprised how fast these little bundles grow up.

Answer 8

There's no such thing as supposed to when it comes to children. The 2-3 hour estimate is given as a guide and not a rule. Any good nurse would tell you that. It's tough but you have to take your que from your baby he/she will let you know when he or she is full meanwhile feed as long as he/she will eat. Sounds like your baby has a healthy appetite and since infants go for checkups a lot during the first year. your doctor will definitely let you know if he/she is concerned about the baby's weight gain

Answer 9

I have two boys, they are now 8 and 4. My first son ate every 2 hours while nursing and I had to switch him to formula because I couldn't keep up. Even on formula he was up a lot and ate a lot. My second son I was able to nurse for around 5 mos and still ate quite a bit. My pediatrician told me that if they're hungry, feed them. They won't starve themselves and they won't gorge themselves. My pediatrician even suggested adding rice cereal to bottles before bed so that they would sleep longer. I would suggest talking to your pediatrician and get his/her views since he/she knows your family health history and baby. But don't worry, she's growing and needs her nutrition, it's normal.

Answer 10

If a baby is hungry, she needs to eat. If she is hungry every two hours, she needs to eat every two hours; at under a year, babies are very good at self regulating.