am i feeding my infant too much?

Question

I'm exclusively formula feeding my 4 week old son. Even from the hospital, he was eating almost twice as much as other newborns. Now he's taking 3~5 oz of formula every 1 1/2 hr ~ 3 hrs. This is way more than what the normal feeding schedule should be for his age. Is this okay? (His birthweight was 8lbs 14oz, and his 2 wk weight was 10lbs 12oz)

Answer 1

At 8 pounds, 14 oz, your baby started big so it is only natural he eats more than other, smaller newborns.

He will slow down as he gets older, until the day comes, thankfully, that he will sleep thru the night.

A general rule is.. weight should double by six months, triple by a year. So when your baby is 6 months old, he should be 17-18 pounds.

If you want to check earlier, they have growth charts that track height and weight. Tracking both is important, just as it is for adults. If he is on a standard growth curve, his height and weight will increase proportionately. If he is being over fed, his weight will increase disproportionately to his height. Believe it or not, they can do body fat measurements on infants.

Do not worry right now. Keep him fed and happy. This is the time he develops trust..

Answer 2

My doctor told me to feed my baby as much as she wanted as long as she wasn't spitting it up all the time. So she's been eating between 4-6 ounces every 4-5 hours for about two weeks now. She's six weeks and 10 lbs, up from 7 lb 1 oz when we came home from the hospital. I remember reading on one of the numerous baby sites I've surfed that anywhere between 24 oz. to 40 oz. a day is a normal range for an infant so your son is on the high end of the range but for his size it sounds fine. Maybe he'll be a professional football player and make lots of money to share w/ mom :D Good luck!

Answer 3

My best friend has a 3 weeks old girl that was born weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. At her two week checkup, she was weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz. She drinks 4-5 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours. The doctor said up to 6 was fine for her age. As long as they don't spit it up, they can have whatever they can handle.

Answer 4

babies will not increase there wweight significantly the first few days from birth but after ward they do gain weight I think that if you find your baby is spitting up alot then you are feeding it too much also every 1 1/2 hours the baby is being fedd but is he sleeping for 4 hrs at a time? you need to take that into consideration. My best advice to you is to ask your pediatrician.
remember that a babies stomache is as big as its fist .
write a schedule and put him on it. one bottle at 4am burping every oz or 2 then changing and putting him back to sleep for 3 hrs then feeding another bottle exct... keep a schedule it will become your journal /log and show your pediatrician it. that way she can have a better understanding too.
there are many sights also you can go on but everyone is different. watch for signs the baby will let you know when he is too full or not too.
good luck

Answer 5

The biggest and most important indicators are his reactions. Is he still hungry after the amount that is "normal" is done? If so, feed him more! Is he turning away from the bottle before it's finished? If not, then he's still hungry! Consult with your pediatrician but being a mom of 3 and a nurse, I would say feed him until he's not hungry anymore. Just don't keep trying to feed him after he turns his head away from the bottle. Good luck and trust your mom instincts!!

Answer 6

You heard incorrect. If arranged right, formulation supplies her all the drinks she desires. it may additionally be risky to furnish her better water at this age simply by fact it may disenchanted her electrolyte stability. Breastfed or formulation, no better drinks till infant starts solids around 6 months. I exceedingly doubt your daughter's tummy pains have been led to by your milk by the way. Tummy pains are only very undemanding in newborns simply by fact they are actually not used to digesting something yet. How previously did you end? If very those days, you will possibly desire to be able to get her lower back to the breast, and initiate producing adequate to fulfill her desires. If it is a few thing you opt to do, touch the l. a. Leche League and/or a lactation representative that can assist you you acchieve that.

Answer 7

Just relax. A baby knows how hungry they are and how much they can handle. Unless you fill his bottle every time he finishes one you are fine. Have you gone to his 2 week checkup? What did they tell you? If they didnt tell you he was eating too much your fine. If you still feel uneasy call his doctor and he/she will tell you what she/he thinks. Good lucK!

Answer 8

my granddaughters doctor told my daughter feed her when she wants but not so much that she pukes.http://www.thinktwice.com/stories.htm
ThinkTwice Global Vaccine Institute: Avoid Immunization Reactionshttp://www.mercola.com/2004/sep/1/vaccines.htm
Tell the Truth About Vaccines--or Keep Away From my Children 9/1/04http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/VaccineResearcher.html
NEXUS: Interview with a Vaccine Researcherhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=ELx2eX_kM-w
YouTube - The Truth About Vaccines

Answer 9

first off..he is a boy...they generally eat way more!! and i say that if he is hungry..let him eat :) but if he seems to always be hungry like he can never be full..talk to the ped..but for now..just let the boy eat!! :)

edit
by the way i dont think that is way to much..now that i think about it..my daughter was eating four ounces every 3-4 hrs.. its still pretty normal

Answer 10

He should be allowed to consume as much as he want to and as often as he wants to. If he's not spitting up, he's definitely not getting too much. (If he is, it could be just normal for him or a sign of something else, like reflux.) I'd say let him eat all he wants.