four week old baby very hungry?

Question

My son is four weeks old he is fomula fed. He is on SMA White for more hungry babies but is still feeding every two hours 3- 31/2 onces sometime four but is still wanting to be fed every two hours. When will he start going every three four hours?. He is also constipated what could i do to help him?

Answer 1

are you only giving him 4 oz?? if you are maybe up it to 6oz. constipated at 4 weeks?? how often does he go some babies can go for a couple of days without a bowel movement! call your pediatrician and either talk to him or the nurse there. they should be able to help you!!

becareful if you are giving him water. newborns should not drink much water if any!! try doing the bicycle movements with his legs or just pushing his knees up to his chest gently!!!

just read the first response!! DO NOT GIVE YOUR NEWBORN ANYTHING ELSE BUT FORMULA!! THAT IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

My son was a VERY hungry baby, when he was 3 months old he was eating 64oz a day. I would just feed him until he doesn't want anymore. That was the only way I could do it with my son. Hey if he's hungry feed him. I would say that if he's still eating every two hours after this then I would consult your pediatrician.

Also as a note a pp said to give water... Too much water is BAD for a baby and can land them in the hospital I would not advise giving water unless under your pediatricians orders.
Not all babies are alike some eat more than others some eat less. Go with your gut :)

Answer 3

Are you sure his cries are because he's hungry? My daughter did the same thing at that age. She cried a lot and I thought she was hungry, so I fed her often. Turns out, that she was in pain. Her pediatrician recommended that I feed her no more often than 3 hours because her little system wasn't allowed enough time to process the formula she had drank, before I was feeding her again. So, try feeding every three hours and just feeding a larger amount each time. For constipation, try about 1/2 oz. of prune juice mixed with an oz. or two of water. Your baby might not like the taste though. If that doesn't work, I used Fleet brand children's glycerin suppositories. (sold at wal-mart in the pharmacy, or any drug store) Since your baby is so little, you need to cut it in four pieces and use only one piece. Insert it with a clean finger, just a little ways in. Within about an hour, you should see results. If the consistency of his stool is hard, then it means he's dehydrated, do try giving some clear pedialyte instead of water when you mix his bottle. He won't know the difference, and he'll be getting the electrolytes he needs. Don't worry, it is safe. My daughter's pediatrician recommended it. The dark karo syrup doesn't really work, and it's not really safe for such a yound baby to have that anyway....if you are still unsure, call the padiatrician. Good luck, i hope this helps.

Answer 4

That is normal, for a baby to feed that much, and remember the time frame is from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next. You don't time from the end of the feeding. Feed him when he is hungry that is all you can do right now, supply and demand. If he is constipated, you may need to try a new formula.

Do NOT add anything to the formula as one person suggested. Pureed PRUNES!!!???? No way, the babies digestive system is way too immature. Nothing but formula for 6 months. Geez get educated people.

I REPEAT

OK I HAVE NOW READ ALL THE RESPONSES, WHAT IS WITH YOU PEOPLE? DO NOT, EVER GIVE YOUR NEWBORN BABY ANYTHING BUT FORMULA OR BREAST MILK UNTIL 6 MONTHS OF AGE. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SOMEONE ELSE DID IT AND IT DIDN'T HURT THEIR BABY, IT MAY HURT YOURS. THE AMERICAN PEDIATRIC'S AND HEALTH CANADA, AS WELL AS EVERY OTHER UPDATED SOURCE IN THE WORLD RECOMMENDS NOTHING BUT BREAST MILK OR FORMULA FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF LIFE. YES THERE MAY BE SOME RARE EXCEPTIONS, BUT THAT IS FOR YOUR DOCTOR TO TELL YOU. GIVING YOUR CHILD ANYTHING BESIDES THAT BEFORE 6 MONTHS HAS BEEN LINKED TO LIFE LONG DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS, NOT TO MENTION THAT YOUR CHILD CAN DEVELOP ALLERGIES. IT IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN KILL YOUR CHILD. BROWN SUGAR, SYRUP AND HONEY CAN CAUSE BOTULISM. PEOPLE I AM APPALLED, EDUCATE YOURSELVES BEFORE POSTING GARBAGE.

Answer 5

Your son may never get on a specific feeding schedule. I nursed and for the first two months it seemed like I was nursing around the clock. At least your boy is on formula! Now my son's schedule is very normal, but he's 19-months. I'd suggest maybe making a 6-ounce bottle for your boy. He's going to be very hungry because he's growing very fast -- every day! You also may want to try adding some pureed prunes to one bottle to help with his constipation. I'd say only a couple teaspoons. You also might want to look into the infant massage for colic. I know he's constipated, but the way the massage works, it would work out his constipation too. Worked on my son! Good luck.

Answer 6

I think the best advice you are going to get is from your doctor. I never had that problem, but if I did, I would maybe try to increase the ounces per feeding so there are less servings.
Also you need to talk to your docotor about the const.
Also, doctors now a days tell you not to give babies water. I disagree.... My niece was sent to the hospital weeks old dehydrated and they asked her to give her some water as well as formula. I did the same with my son and he's had no const. problems.

Answer 7

every 2 hours is totally normal at 4 wks. some even more. feed him when he's hungry, don't try to force him into a schedule. now is not the time to be concerned over his weight.
is that the formula that has the rice cereal in it? if so thats likely the problem. a young babies gut is not capable of disgesting it, hence the constipation.
its also a chronic problem with formula fed babies.
do not add extra water to his diet unless the doc orders it. it can kill him. it can throw off electrolytes and cause whats called water intoxication

Answer 8

my daughter was the same i put her onto farleys second milk for hungrier babies and made up 4ozs then every other feed i'd give her abit of baby rice mixed with her milk in a bowl and fed it to her with a syringe i also did the same with farleys rusks and she started to go longer between feeds. i also noticed that the farleys milk for hungrier babies is thick than the sma white. also for the constipation i gave cooled boiled water with a little orange juice init worked a treat.

Answer 9

Don't know about the constipation, ask your midwife. If he's hungrey feed him! The weight will drop off when he starts moving around. My cousin is hungrey all the time and loves her food. My aunty feeds her if she wants it and now shes starting to move the weight is starting to drop. She is a very big baby so don't worry if your son starts getting big.

Answer 10

I went through this with our son and firstly the constipation - old fashioned but effective.
Prior to feeding give him a bottle with a teaspoonful of brown sugar mixed in. Believe me it worked for our boy.
Secondly when mixing the feed add the water first up to the level i.e. 120ml or what the equivalent is in ounces, and Then add the feed.
Finally the growth rate at that stage as you can imagine is exponential so try increasing his feed up to the next recommended level NOT the same more frequently. Peace should break out immediately.
If the constipation contiunes get in the mid wife and she will sort it out DO NOT try to sort it yourself