my 3 1/2 month old isnt getting full........?

Question

he eats 6oz every 3 hours and now he seems to not be getting full, do i bump him up to 8oz every 3 hours (which seems like alot to me) or should i start on rice cereal??? ive heard lots of both, but the dr. said not to start on cereal this young b/c it can lead to diabetes???? but every mom says thats not true......

just to let yall know, its not to get him to sleep through the night, ive had no problem of getting him to sleep through the night, its just he gets fussy when i take the bottle away from him, when hes eaten all of it, but when i give him his pasifier hes fine.... but then he gets fussy 2 hours later when hes saposed to go every 3

Answer 1

Just to address some other posts, please do not give your child rice cereal without discussing it with your pediatrician. Introducing solids too early can lead to serious food allergies, as well as reflux. Your child's body was not meant to ingest cereal at this early age, despite what other posters are saying. Yes, alot of people do it, but that does not make it the best choice for your child.
Additionally, a post mentioned something about the rice cereal heloing her child sleep throught the night. At this age, a baby needs to eat every so often to maintain a healthy metabolism. Introducing solids for your own convenience is selfish and could harm your child in the long run.
Also, someone noted that Diabetes is genetic. While that is true for one type of Diabetes, there is another that develops when certain things happen - like when someone is overweight, doesn't exercise and has a poor diet.
Your child's body is designed to be fed only breastmilk, or if you chose, formula, for six months. Anything else can throw his system out of whack. These recommendations docs give you are based on years of research - and a good many of them also have children too. Please, talk to your doc, and don't rely on what you read here to guide your child-rearing decisions. Good Luck.

Answer 2

My son is 3 1/2 months as well. He was born 7lbs 15 oz and 20 inches. A month later? 10 pounds and 22 inches. His father is really tall and my dad's side of the family is pretty heavy. He's a big boy.

When he was two months old he was drinking what your son is drinking now. I bumped him up to eight ounces...didnt help a thing. He is looking for more than formula. Please ignore those that tell you not to feed him cereal too early. your kid is hungry and wants more than just the milk. As long as he is still getting milk, he will be just fine.

My brother was started on cereal a WEEK after he was born. (another big kid...he is now 6'9).

Like someone above said, the doctors have to tell you whats in the text. Whenever someone asks another question about why their baby isnt crawling or rolling over, everyone says "all babies are different some start early, blah blah" so why is this any different when it comes to their appetite?

My son started with cereal at two months. He went from 8-10 ounces of formula to six ounces of formula/cereal and only ate every....five or six hours.

He is now three and a half months and drinks 6 ounces of formula and cereal about four or five times a day (because he sleeps through the night) and every once in a while when he is getting restless with the bottle, I give him a little baby food.

Feed your child sweetie.

I could sit here and say not to listen to all the other people because they are not that childs mother and they do not know that child, but then again, neither do i. but he sounds a lot like my son and thats what i did with him and he is doing great. The doctor said "I dont know what youa re doing, but he looks great and is healthy, keep doing whatever it is"

Last month he was 13 lbs 13 ounces and 23.5 inches. No telling what he is now O_O! Let the boy grow!

Answer 3

It's surprising how many people go against Dr's advice and medical studies showing babies are unable to digest cereal before a MINIMUM of 4mths, and giving cereal prior to this age can cause serious life-long health problems. Health problems that you might not be able to detect until adulthood. All health organisations recommend waiting until 6mths now. It's your decision whether you choose to listen, but I dont see why you WOULDNT.

You say he's a good sleeper at night - perhaps as he sleeps more at night he would like more during the day? I think the range for formula givers is 24oz - 40oz a day, and if he's not gaining too much then there isnt anything to worry about if you add a bit more. If he's at 6oz now, try 7oz...

Angela R, you are exactly right in your comment. And the fact someone could give a thumbs down to what you said is simply their way of trying to justify their own decision to ignore medical advice of delaying solids (which includes cereal).

Answer 4

Maybe he shouldn't go every 3. He is obviously hungry before that. My 5 month old only wants 4 ozs at a time but he wants another bottle 2 hours later. And if he wants another bottle an hour after that then I feed him another 4 ozs. I dont think you should start cereal just yet. I would suggest just to feed him when he is hungry even if it isn't after 3 hours. You can't force a schedule like that.

Good luck

Answer 5

Please do not give your child cereal. Yes, some kids tolerate it but most don't. Why do that to your child. It is a myth that bigger babies need more food. My son was in the 90th percentile for his age and he never drank more than 6 oz. at a time. I never had to start him early on cereal either. It sounds like your son may be going through a growth spurt. Just feed him when he is hungry and try giving him a binky. Some babies just need to suck more than others. Good Luck.


Please don't listen to these women who had children 14 years ago. Times have changed and with research we now know the disadvantages to starting solids early. This is one of the reasons why this nation is so overweight. Please don't be lazy like some of these mothers. As parents we always want what is best for our children, not the easy way out.

Answer 6

I dont know where in the world you are but in England you can get formula milk for hungrier babies I would see if you can get that first. The doctors here have just upped the age limit for feeding solids to 6months before that it was 4months. I have had 3 healthy children and i started them all on solids at 31/2 months of age.

Answer 7

I would try feeding another oz before going down the solid route, sometimes baby go through a growth spurt for a few days then it eases off again. Also, have you changed to 2nd stage milk?? Some hv's advise against and some agree so i guess it's just personal choice????

Answer 8

You should see my son! Eats and eats and doesn't gain weight! Was he a preemie? They tend to eat more... my son never had teeth yet and was eating 3 jars of the gerbers 3rd foods with the chunks, a gerbers 2nds desert and a 12 oz bottle of milk, all in one sitting! Sometimes they just get really hungry! My son hated the rice cereal in his milk and refused it all the time. I would ask the doctor what to do. Sometimes if he eats that much, they will tell you to start giving him pudding, or Ice Cream (only vanilla), and mashed potatoes. They would know if it's too soon for him or not though, not me. They should be able to help you out on this though! They started my son on the rice mix that dissolves into the formula very early, and they said he needed to be full, not hungry... he is growing, and he started the pudding and mashed potatoes early, and he was thrilled, and gets full!!

Here's to us losing all the food in our house when they are teens!

Answer 9

It's NOT true...diabetes is a hereditary thing...not something you can FORCE!! GEEZ! (NOT YELLING AT YOU...yelling at stupid wives' tales!!)
I started feeding my children at 3 WEEKS rice cereal from a spoon...very "watered down' with formula..but had EVERY one of them FULL and sleeping through the night by a month old... I'd also start him on applesauce...with the cereal...My youngest son..gave up formula at the age of 6 months..he REFUSED to drink it...but drank 2% milk.... (my oldest son -14 yrs old, was put on 2% milk at 6 months because he was drinking a case and a half a week PLUS cereal PLUS fruits and veggies...the DOCTOR put him on it!!!)..He also gave up the bottle at 9 months and started using a sippy cup...

Feed him until he stops eating...don't feel you should follow what the books say...Your child is different from the "books subject" and he has a healthy appeitite...GIVE HIM CEREAL ...in the morning and at night...You'll see the formula intake will stay around 8 ounces...

Answer 10

Wow, you certainly got a range of answers. Bump him up to 8 oz. If that doesn't satisfy him, then try just a little of the cereal in his formula or breast milk. Check his stool and/or if he seems to be having any discomfort otherwise, discontinue till the following week. Even the boOKs tell you that. They have set standard too, but also say that if your child can handle it ok, to continue feeding them. Every child is different and will develop at different rates.