Growth spurt / eating concern?

Question

When a newborn baby goes through a growth spurt - do you feed them as much as they want or do you regulate it?

I've been told by one doctor to let them eat as much as they want and if they over feed then its okay, that they will just throw it up. That sounds rather cruel to me to let a baby puke and its no big deal.

One other doctor told me to regulate how much they eat even during a growth spurt so they DIDNT puke. She even gave me a chart, and it said for 8 week old babies they should have like 30oz a day, and no more. My daughter NORMALLY eats 32oz a day, and since she's going through whatever it is she's going through she wants more than the 32oz....

What to do... what to do.. LOL

What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

I believe in not starving a child. I let my kids eat as much as they wanted to when they were baby's but then I regulate when they got older so that they don't get on the chunky side. She will let you know when she is full and not hungry anymore.

Answer 2

I fed my kids as much as they wanted. One was a pukey baby who would upchuck no matter how much I fed him, the other one would stop when he was done. They're 10 and 8 now, don't have eating problems and are perfectly healthy.

So I say if she's hungry, feed her. How cruel is it to make a baby go hungry because the "average" baby eats 30oz a day? They get "averages" by taking a survey and adding up all the amounts that babies eat during a day then dividing it by how many babies they surveyed. Some eat a lot more, some eat a lot less. If she throws up, remember how much you fed her and don't give her that much next time. Maybe she only needs a couple of more ounces a day than what she's already getting. Good luck!!

Answer 3

I think it's silly for any doctor to take a 1-size-fits-all approach! If she normally eats 32 oz a day and the doctor asks you to limit her to 30, she will LOSE weight (and be very cranky while doing it)! Common sense should tell that doctor she needs to eat more than that!

Your baby may have a larger stomach and bigger appetite than others of the same age. I've always just let my baby eat as much as she wants during growth spurts, and she just stops when she's full. She spits up a little (like all babies) but she has never puked! **Fingers crossed!**

Good luck!

Answer 4

In my experience (6 babies) they will stop when they are full, or only overeat and spit up a little. I don't regulate the AMOUNT my babies eat, ever, but I do stick to the feeding routine even during growth spurts. They just eat more during those times.

Answer 5

I would not regulate a growing baby. They need to eat to grow up healthy and strong. "Regulating" or giving a set amount sounds more cruel to me and can border on starvation if the baby wants more food and can't because you're following a piece of paper. Babies do not want to eat just to eat, they need to eat to LIVE.

The paper the 2nd doctor gave you should be a guideline only. Each baby is different. Follow the cues YOUR baby is giving you and feed her however much she wants.

Answer 6

When a baby goes through more than 32oz of formula in a day, it's time to introduce cereal. Sad to say.... and are you saying your baby is only 8 weeks old?? Phew... she must have been a strapping young lady at birth! :)

If your daughter wants more than 32 oz of formula each day, then discuss introduction of solid foods with your physician. Normally you wait about two weeks to see if their desired intake decreases.... and then if not, consider a bit of rice cereal.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not kill them - lol

Answer 7

I think you should let the little cutie eat as much as they want. Obviously they are growing and as time will tell they wont always eat as much. If the little one is still hungry let them feed. God bless and good luck