My 8 week old son eats wayyyy too much, what is normal?

Question

My 8 week old son eats 5-8 ounces at a time, about every 2 hours of formula. At 5 ounces he does not seem satisfied, but once he eats until he stops he seems to be miserable with a bellyache. It seems no matter how much or how little I feed him he is not satisfied. How much is normal for him to eat at a time? People have told me that something could be very wrong with him. We have a Dr.s appointment in 2 days, but I am quite worried.HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Generally you can let a baby that age eat as much as they choose. Just give it a break every couple of ounces and burp him.

Call your Dr.'s office if you're really worried.

Answer 2

I am a single mom with 5 boys, so experiance is my knack. My second son when he was 8 weeks old, would drink an 8 oz. bottle every hour to hour and a half. My mother-in-law suggested to feed him a little bit of baby cereal such as rice like a half hour before I fed him a bottle. So I tried it and it seemed to work, it filled him up and he wasn't eatting as often. I only fed him the cereal in the morning and than again at night. Dr's usually won't want you to do that, but I did tell my sons dr. about it and he said if it works to go ahead and try it only feeding him a little bit at a time, and wait to see if it comes back out or not. But that seemed to do the trick and the night time feeding made him sleep longer through the night.

Answer 3

I think 5 ounces is normal for an 8 week baby but not 8 ounces every 2 hours or until he gets satisfied. You just really need to talk to the doctor and let the doctor know that you think this is really serious, your worried and you really want to know if this is a problem.

Answer 4

Well, there are a few things here that need to be looked at. 5-8oz is a lot for his age and it's important that you are aware of that. Many parents overfeed their infants and are not aware they are doing so. The average feeding for 1-2 mths old is 3-4 oz.
First thing to note is that a bottle allows the food to come out fast and constantly. So, your son will eat as much as you put in his mouth when he is that young. It should take him 10-15 min to finish 3-5 oz of formula. If he is finishing it quicker then that then he is eating too quickly. Slow him down. Stop and let him rest after every 5 swallows. Have him burp after every ounze. Once you do these things, he'll actually start eating less. There is a mechanism in our stomachs that tells us when we are full but it takes up to 30 min for it to register to our brains. A baby has this same mechanism. If he is eating too quickly, he is not having enough time to register that he is full and will get over full. That is one rean why he is getting a belly ache. Please, slow down how fast he is taking the formula.
Second, babies who are bottle fed usually do not get their need for sucking met. It is important that you offer him a paci b/c he could just be wanting to suck after eating.
Third, do you know his hunger cues? After you feed him is he still looking for more formula or chewing on his hands? Or do you think he isn't satisfied b/c you offer him more and he takes it? Babies will usually keep eating from a bottle if you keep offering it to them, even if they are full.
Finally, if he is eating every 2-2.5 hrs like you posted,then he does not need that much formula at each feeding. Alot depends on his weight. If he weighs 12lbs, he'll eat around 30oz a day. If he eats every 2-2.5hrs, he sould be eating an average of 3oz a feeding.
Please ask your doctor for more information. Good luck!

Answer 5

Talk to his doctor. But I remember thinking with my first that he never stopped eating. It made me panic too. But he slowed way down at about 9 months. Now as a 3 year old I am begging him to eat sometimes :)

For the next two days write down every bottle you give him. What time, how much you made and how much he ate. Then write down how he acted after the bottle. Sometimes we as parents get in the parent rut and it seems like all we are doing is feeding...so it seems like it is more than it really is. But if it does still look like he is eating a lot...bring the paper with you to the appointment and get the doctors opinion.

I don't know how you feel about pacifiers...but maybe he just wants something to suck on. A lot of babies need to suck on things to be comforted. Look for one that has a similar shape to the bottle he loves so much. A lot of bottle makers also make pacifiers with the same shape.

If he seems really fussy after he eats, he might have a stomach issue like reflux. Really take the time over the next two days to journal your day with him. Try not to write "he acted fussy" Really watch him. Does he arch his back? Suck on his hands? Root around looking for more food? Pull his legs up to his belly? All of these things can tell your doctor a lot about what is going on with your little guy...Good Luck, I hope this helps

Answer 6

Wow, that sounds like my son Ty when he was born. He ate every 1 1/2 hours and it was usually 6- 8 ounces. The doctor said if he was hungry to feed him. I used a pacifier in between otherwise he probably would have ate every 15 minutes.
I don't think your son is sick, but I am not a Pediatrician. I think it is great that you are a concerned parent and are taking him to be checked just in case. Kudos to you!!

Answer 7

every child is different and it depends on his size and weight, my son was at 6-7 oz every 2-3hrs (breastfed and pumped breastmilk) at this age, and I started cereal with him at 10 weeks, but he was 9lbs at birth and was 12lbs at 8 weeks. My sil baby is 10 months old and was a preemie he weighs 15lbs and drinks 5 oz every 3hrs and eats solid food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Make sure you are burping him frequently esp since he eats and probably eats fast, he is most likely getting a lot of air, I used to have to burp my son every 2oz or so. Also he may just be gassy, or have reflux, these things will make him fussy, will he take a pacifier? it may help push out his feedings if he just likes to suck. Dont worry to much as long as he is eating and wetting diapers, the amount doesnt seem excessive to me. your appt is in two days, if it is really shaking you up call your ped the nurse will talk with you about it. Remember other people always know what is normal and what isnt, they always know better, you doc is a pro talk to him/her and tell everyone else who is freaking you out to leave it be.

Answer 8

Why not try to feed him 2 ounces of water 2 times a day. He might have bellyache due to overeating.

Answer 9

Yeah,that is a lot..I guess. My daughter is pretty much the same way. She eats about 6 ounces every 2-3hours..and I was told it's completely normal. Her doctor only gave me the option to give her a little cereal. So maybe you should try that. And be sure that yur baby is burping enough,too.

Answer 10

You really can't base your child's feeding habits on someone else's baby's feeding habits, every infant is different. Some have insatiable appetites, while other's are tiny eaters. Frankly I don't think there is anything horribly wrong with your baby, he just gets really hungry and then over eats..much like adults do sometimes. However asking your doctor is the best thing to do.

Answer 11

Maybe the formula is not agreeing with your baby and that is why he has an upset stomach after eating or why he is hungry.
Have you tried different formulas?
How is his poop? How regular is it? Any problems there?

I would tell you that he is probably not eating too much at all. Some babies are hungry and some are not! Ask your Doctor about adding cereal and when can you.

Good luck and do not worry all babies are different.