How much formula is an accurate amount for a 3 month old to eat?

Question

I have a 3 month old and he now gets 5 oz. of formula every 3 to 4 hours and it seems like he is still hungry. I dont want to over fill him so he ends up spitting up, but it seems he is so fussy for at least 30 minutes after eating and then he will calm down. Is it ok to give him more and when is a good time to start feeding him cereal or baby food?

Answer 1

Babies are generally very good at only eating what they need when they need it. My son is 6 months now and he has between 6-9ozs 5 x a day plus rice @ breakkie time, and veg at dinner. At 3 months he was having between 5 and 6 ozs every 3 hours. If he still seems hungry then feed him more - he really is the best judge of how hungry he is - it may be that he's going through a growth spurt As for starting cereal - there is lots of debate surrounding this - some will say you can't start before 6 months, others will say from 17weeks is fine, others will have started much earlier. You as babys mummy knows best. I think 4 months is probably the youngest that I'd have been comfortable starting solids at - but my son wasn't interested - so we waited and started him @ 21 weeks - he was slow to start with - but seems quite keen and eager now.

If you are worried by the little guy eating too much there are infant formulas that are made for hungrier babies - the whey content is higher - filling them up quicker and for longer - maybe this is an idea?

A good guide to whether they're eating too much is weight gain - they should gain between 4ozs-8ozs per week at this age - as long as he's there or there abouts - then there's no problems.

A very rough guide to formula intake is that they should have in fluid ozs between 2-3 x their weight. So a 15lb baby would have between 30ozs - 45ozs per day. I'm not convinced by this - my son has always averaged approx 30-32ozs per day regardless of weight. He also stopped gaining for 5weeks despite a healthy appetite - so ...... the books are great - but babies rarely follow the 'golden rules'.

Ask yourself is he happy, is he healthy? I don't think there is any harm in increasing his milk intake - and if that doesn't work try a formula for hungrier babies. If that doesn't work - try baby rice @ 17weeks. As parents we can but try what is best for our babies - it's a learning curve - but you'll get there and find out what works for you and your baby.

Answer 2

Every baby is different. When I had my son, people would tell me that I was over feeding my son with too much formula but when I fed him less, he would fuss for more. (He's wasn't a fat baby either! He was very lean and eat like a horse!) He would stop drinking when he was full. He used to take his feedings every four hours. Sometimes five! I used to think that the space between his feeding were too long! But when I would try to feed him sooner, he would not take the bottle! So I would feed him when he wanted it. I started to feed him cereal in his formula at about three months. I had to because the formula wasn't filling him up anymore and he would get hungry so fast. He would wake up in the middle of the night hungry and screaming! I spoke to my doctor. He said babies know how much food they want. He said it's almost impossible to over feed a baby. They will stop when they don't want anymore food and will tell you if they want more. (Will they ever!). He told me my son's eating patterns were fine and continue as I was. I was allowed to start putting cereal in his formula, (a few scoops in the bottle. I had to make the nipple a bit bigger.), and he was fine! The fussing stopped and he slept thought the night. Ask your doctor about adding cereal to your baby's formula. It may help. It helped me. Remember every baby is different. People can give you advice but you know your baby best. Talk to your doctor. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

I noticed when my baby was a newborn and she had lots of digestion issues, that she ate more vigorously when she had gas and I think sometimes she wasn't necessarily hungry it just felt good to eat. The gas pains lasted for about a half hour after eating. If I offered her a bottle she would seem like she was starving. She didn't necessarily pass gas either. Just something to keep in mind.
She doesn't have gas anymore but she still eats quite a bit. (She is 3.5 mths and eats about six to seven oz every few hours). I let her tell me when she is full. The doctor says she is doing great and was impressed with her appetite but not concerned.
Starting baby on solids before six months has been linked to an increase in allergies according to American Pediatric Association. I would be careful about starting him on anything but formula before six months especially if allergies run in the family.

Answer 4

My daughter is 4 months old and she is on a breakfast, lunch, dinner schedule!! For each meal I make 8 oz of formula and for breakfast and dinner I'll take a couple of those oz and mix them with baby oatmeal!! She was doing the same thing at 3 months.. It's very okay to give him more.. He'll let you know when he's had enough..

Answer 5

i have a 3 month old daughter who does the same thing. I would feed her a bottle at 930am and 2hours later she would be hungry again. So what i did was i started giving her cereal and baby food. I mixed her cereal with the baby food so it would taste better to her. If you take my advice and start giving him baby food start with fuits like applesauce and peaches. For example i would feed him a jar of applesauce and then follow it up with a bottle and then he would be more fuller then he did when he just drank a bottle.

Answer 6

3 to 4 oz , every 3 hours, I started my son on cereal when he was 2 months, but I got the ok from his pediatrician

Answer 7

WELL AT 3 MONTHS I GAVE MY BABY 4 OZ OF MILK EVERY 3 HOURS AND I DIDNT START PUTTING CEREAL IN HIS MILK UNTIL HE WAS 4 MONTHS OLD. BABY FOOD SHOULD BE STARTED AT 6 MONTHS. STAGE1. AND STAGE 2 AT 7 MONTHS. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 8

i've learned that there's no set amount - babies can eat when they're hungry - but the baby should be having at least 1 bowel movement/ day and at least 5 wet diapers. Hope it helps and congrats!!

Answer 9

when he can swallow a thicker substance try 1 tsp if not increase the formula 1 oz at a time!