I feel like I am overfeeding my one month old son. My breast milk dried up and all he eats now is formula. Everytime he cries I test his hunger by putting my finger towards his mouth and it seems like he always wants my finger so I make him a 4 ounce bottle and he finishes it all. Well this isn't really working for my sleep. I'm not too sure how much he needs to be eating because I just feed him whenever he seems hungry. I know this is not right. Please help me make a schedule for my son if I try to get to bed at 9 PM every night.
2007-03-07 05:52:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
there is no need to be rude..I just read in a baby book that parents can sleep longer if they have a scedule for their baby that's why I was asking. The reason I think my baby is eating too much is because he is always spitting up so I don't think he knows when to stop...
2007-03-07 06:38:07 · update #1
oh and he is hungry almost every 1-2 hours it seems as well
2007-03-07 06:40:47 · update #2
It's still a bit early to be thinking about scheduling feedings, or sleep for that matter. Demand, or cue feeding is recommended for all newborns, whether breastfed or formula-fed. It does sound like he's ready for a little more milk at each feeding, which may help him go longer between feeds.
I suggest trying him on 5 oz. per feeding for a couple of days, and see if that helps him settle into a better pattern. You might even try up to 6 oz., but be sure to stop when he seems full, and not try to force that last 1/2 oz. if he's finished. It's important to pay attention to baby's hunger *and* fullness cues, so they learn to eat when they're hungry, and *stop* when they're full.
If he is still wanting to suck ALL the time, he may just be a baby with high sucking needs. A pacifier should help with that.
Good luck!
2007-03-07 06:01:18 · answer #1 · answered by LaundryGirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A one-month old won't be on any sort of schedule. You just have to feed him when he is hungry.
As for overfeeding, try to use a pacifier or your finger after he has eaten 3 or 4 oz. (At one month, I was pumping and supplementing as BF was not working out, and she would eat about 3 oz at a time.) She would still want to suck after that, so I would give her a pacifier.
Since you are using formula, maybe you could have your partner help with one of the night feedings, so you could get a bit of rest? No, you won't get as much rest as before, but with some help, you could get 4-5 hours a night.
2007-03-07 15:15:01 · answer #2 · answered by papillion964 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The schedule you should have, is when he tells you. The first few months there is no set schedule (sorry), it's on demand. Normally, feeding a baby is every four hours for the first few months, even through the night. On the third month, you can then start setting a schedule but it just depends.
I never got more than three hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. I ended up napping right along with them until they were a lot older and could sleep longer in the night (like ten months LOL).
2007-03-07 14:18:54 · answer #3 · answered by trojan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Newborns should be fed on demand, which is usually every 3-4 hours. Unfortunately, a schedule at this age is not common. I know it is hard when you are lacking sleep, so you need to rest when the baby is sleeping. What I used to do is give the baby one last feeding right before I went to bed. I went to sleep as soon as I put the baby down and that's it. Hang in there, he should be going longer in between feedings shortly and then he will sleep for longer stretches during the night.
2007-03-07 14:01:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
My twins ate about every 1 1/2-2 hours...all day...all night. Dont try to schedule a newborn..a schedule will work itself out around 3 months or so. Try to cut down on the oz....give him 3 oz instead of 4 and give him a pacifier to see if it is just a sucking reflex...babies suck ALL THE TIME!!! If you are against pacifiers then let him suck on a clean finger of yours!! Sorry to say your sleep is SHOT for a while yet. Mine are 4 mo old and still not sleeping through the night..but we do what we have to! It will get better!
2007-03-07 14:47:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both of my kids have always been fed on demand. But, even though he takes your finger, that doesn't mean that he's hungry... give him a soother instead. Babies have a natural urge to suck and that could be waht he's telling you. Keep in mind though, you can't overfeed a baby. They will stop when they are done. You know if they've had too much if they spit it ALL back up.. but other than that, you're doing fine!!! If you aren't sure, give him 2oz per feeding and a soother in between. If he is unsatisfied with the soother, he's hungry. If he refuses the bottle, he wants to suck. Good Luck
2007-03-07 14:00:36 · answer #6 · answered by Jenn 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You cannot put a newborn baby on a feeding schedule. You must feed on demand, he has no concept of timing in any way. Just feed him when he seems hungry. You should have thought about your needs (sleep) before you went and had a baby, now is not the time to be selfish. If you need help, ask someone you trust to watch him for an hour or two and take a nap.
2007-03-07 13:57:29 · answer #7 · answered by lipglossaddiction 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
You SHOULD feed infants when they are hungry, and only as much as they want to eat. Their little tummies can only hold so much at one time, and at your son's age, all they pretty much do is eat, sleep, and wet/dirty their diaper. Sorry that doesn't work for your sleep pattern - welcome to motherhood! I was blessed with my youngest daughter, because she would take 8 oz at a time and slept all through the night from the day I brought her home! My oldest daughter was more on the schedule your son seems to be on. I can assure you, it does get better eventually...hang in there!
2007-03-07 14:02:02 · answer #8 · answered by Romans 8:28 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋