Hes bottle fed. Im on WIC so I use the nestle good start formula. Hes fine durring the day, but at night it seems alls he wants to do is suck. He hates his binki and will sometimes reject my pinky! He just wants to eat and eat. He goes threw a can of formula in 24 hours. They say that babys will not eat unless they are hungry, but I think that he just wants somethign to suck on. Than when we give him to much food he will get constipated and cranky. Do you think the formula is not agreeing with him, or should we just keep feeding him? HELP
2006-12-01 10:56:14 · 13 answers · asked by BOOTS! 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Hes 5 weeks!
2006-12-01 10:56:45 · update #1
How much does he drink at a time?
I am also wondering if you are talking about concentrate formula? A can of concentrate formula is 26 ounces of formula when mixed with water. Around 2-3 months, some infants start to consume more formula than WIC provides and that is normal.
Make sure you are mixing the formula exactly how it is stated on the can. I am not saying that you are not doing that already, but I had many moms who added a little extra water or did not add enough. NEVER dilute formula by adding more water to it as was stated in another answer. He will be getting less calories and possibly too much water, something that can be very dangerous.
If he is going longer during the day in between feeds you can try to feed him smaller amounts at each feeding and feed him sooner, this may help him at night to eat less. For example. instead of 3-4 ounces give him 2-3 ounces and burp him afterwards.
Usually formula fed babies around his age want to eat every 2-4 hours around the clock. If he is having long stretches during the day, he may be making up for them at night. My son, ate more at night. He was breastfed, so he ate sometimes every hour and a half until he got his days and nights straight. I really worked with him and woke him up to feed him during the day, so I could get a little more rest at night. It seemed to get better when he turned 2 1/2 months.
He is also at an age, where he could be going through a growth spurt where he may want to eat more for a couple of days. This is normal but he should resume back into a normal feeding pattern within a couple of days. If you feel he is truly hungry, feed him.
Too much formula can cause him to be gassy and he may want to suck to relieve gas pressure in his stomach. If you feel he really is not hungry, try to burp him to see if he has gas. You can lay him on his tummy in your lap and gently pat him on his back. You can also try to swaddle him.
I would not recommend changing his formula based on what you have written.
If this does not help, contact the WIC office. The nutritionist will be able to help you determine if your baby is feeding too much and can help you come up with a feeding plan that works for your baby.
Good Luck to you!
2006-12-01 13:07:52 · answer #1 · answered by jns 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a five week old infant should be eating roughly 1-2oz every 3 hours or so
the total ounces your baby needs is based on weight (you will know you are feeding your baby too much if he keeps going up in growth percentiles)
to figure out how much your baby should be eating take his weight in kilograms and multiply by 108 this gives you the total calories he needs in a day, devide that by 20 and you have the number of ounces of formula to feed him a day.
at this time I would recommend against changing formulas, (no indication for it) and certainly do not recommend that you give the baby anything else (no rice cereal or other foods before 6 months at the earliest, no whole milk before 1 year, no 2% or skim milk before 2 years, giving any of them earlier will cause malnutrition)
2006-12-01 19:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by tpuahlekcip 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is what I had happen with my first son...he was also on WIC ~ I started giving him rice cereal watered down with the formula at 2 weeks old...and he not only was FULL but he started sleeping through the night...At 6 months old...the doctor took him off formula because he was drinking almost 2 cases a week PLUS cereal PLUS fruits and veggies....he was then put on 2% milk...just enough fat for him...He's now almost 15 yrs old!!
My almost 3 yr old...gave up formula at 6 months...stopped drinking it~ didn't like the taste...so he too got 2% milk...and then gave up the bottle for a sippy cup at 8 months old...
If he was constipated or cranky he'd be letting you know...try a little cereal and feed him what he will take... Maybe he's gonna be a thumb sucker...my son is ...he NEVER took the binki
2006-12-01 19:04:09 · answer #3 · answered by just me 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If he is not throwing up, than he's not over-eating. My son is breastfed and I was told that all babies can survive for the first 2 days after birth without any supplement. Mine was too hungry, screamed for 2 days and sucked vigorously, and at day 3 he became dehydrated. My point is - babies needs (same as adults metabolism) are different, but they all throw up if over-feed thanks to the reflex. For constipation problem you might want to change formula or speak with the doctor.
2006-12-01 19:10:56 · answer #4 · answered by mimemamomu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it seems to me the formula is agreeing with him its just he wants more of it . I think you should feed him when he wants to eat maybe you can dilute it a little bit with water if you feel it is to much but I personally would give him when he is hungry.
My son was exactly the same way as yours he is just a healthy hungry boy thats good some parents have a hard time with there kids even eating consider this a good thing. If you still don't feel comfortable always ask your pediatrician they always have the answers you need good luck and happy holidays
2006-12-01 19:17:12 · answer #5 · answered by Tracy.W 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had a little boy who was exactly the same it use to drive me crazy!! Especially at 3 in the morning. it may be a comfort thing and remeber at 5 weeks he probably having a big growh spurt and is not in a definable reutine, so everything that he's doing is pefectly normal. It get easier when the bubs goes onto solids.
See your Maternal & childcare Health nurse or Doctor if you are still worried.
Good Luck and Congratulations on the birth of your son
2006-12-01 19:14:31 · answer #6 · answered by vinyl_mad 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
babies do not eat unless they are hungry..your baby is hungry. If he drinks what you give him..then he needs it. he would not take it if he wasn't hungry..babies are not like us..if we see something we .like..we tend to eat it whether we are hungry or not. remember too..your baby is growing all the time..and some growth spurts will often bring out more hunger for the baby. he needs his nutrition..never deny him it. It makes no sense too. Also..the patterns of his sleeping..eating etc..will always change as he does. A can of formula is not an outrageous amount for a growing baby to have. relax.
2006-12-01 20:23:56 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 2nd son was like this. I was nursing him constantly. He did that for the first 5 months and then finally slacked off. In a 24 hours period he gained 8 ounces! The doctor couldn't believe it.
I felt worn out all the time but your baby is needing it I feel. You might ask the doctor or nurse.
2006-12-01 19:04:57 · answer #8 · answered by Cindy P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 4 month old just recently started to reject her pacifier and always wants to suck on me (I'm breastfeeding). She's not actually eating, she just wants to suck because it calms her. Maybe he's not actually hungry but wants to suck on something and because a bottle is so easy to eat from he does.
2006-12-01 19:01:27 · answer #9 · answered by Ashley K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
honey first calm down bring this to your doctors attention and no matter wat you need to come up with a feeding schedule and stick to it usually every 2 or 4 hours if its 4 hours 8 ounces every 2 hours its 4 ounces, but you can not keep feeding and feeding it will harm the baby you want wats best for him right? good luck i know this is difficult for you
2006-12-01 18:59:12 · answer #10 · answered by mommyof3 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋