How much formula should by 4 month old be getting?

Question

He weighed 14 lbs at 3 mos, so he's probably up to 15.5 or 16lbs. He's taking a 4 oz bottle every 2 1/2 to 3 hrs from 7am until 8pm. We put about 1tsp of rice cereal in his bottle to ease spitting up. He does sleep through the night 9pm-7am. He seems to be wanting a 6 oz bottle, but still eats every 2.5 hrs. I'm afraid of over-feeding him.

Answer 1

Sounds like you are doing great a great job - 4 months and sleeping 9pm-7am is fantastic!

Here is a guide to see what he's should be eating during the day (this is from BabyCenter - I love this site):
Multiply your baby's weight times 2.5 ounces
16 lbs x 2.5 oz = 40 oz (this is a rough guide)

My first was a chow hound and a phenomenal spitter (diagnosed with projectile vomiting). At 4 months he could finish a 6 or 7oz bottle, but then he would spit most of it up. We had to keep his bottles smaller and feed him more often to reduce the spitting.

Could your son be ready for more than cereal in a bottle to help fill his tummy? Can he hold his head up and is he sitting well in a highchair, does he look at your food or look like he is 'chewing'? If so, you may think about a meal for him.

Now BabyCenter also says:
From the age of 2 months to 6 months, you should be feeding your baby 4 to 6 ounces at a feeding, and he'll take in 23 to 32 ounces a day. (Some parents find that an increase of about one ounce per month works out about right.)

Once your baby reaches 6 months, you can feed him 6 to 8 ounces at a feeding, up to around 32 ounces of formula per day. At this point you should start adding solid foods to his diet, if you haven't already. You'll find that as your baby gets older, he will drink fewer bottles with more formula.

Take care - keep up the great job!

Answer 2

I am a mother of a 4 month old and she is eating 6 ozs about every 3 hours. She also sleeps through the night I think that when they go all night without taking a bottle they want to make up for it during the day! :o) Sometimes after she eat's a 6 oz bottle within 2 hours she's wanting more so sometimes I give it to her and it's another 6 oz bottle but she doesn't drink it all. They will let you know when they are full! Good luck!

Answer 3

My son is 13 pounds right now at 4 months old (he was born at 5 pounds 6ozs) I have him on 4 feedings of 8ozs of formula and cereal, veggies, and fruits. He started a little earlier on everything. I would ask your childs ped on what you should do. Every baby is different. Acording to the infant feeding sheet I have it says at 4 months of age 28-38 ozs with 4-5 feedings a day and 2-6 tbps of cereal. If he is spitting up it might also be the formula. He may need to try another kind.(Always make sure you try new kinds under the supervision of their ped) Also try spoon feeding him. They say that putting cereal in his bottle can cause a choking hazard. Plus spoon feeding him teaches him to use his tongue so he can get ready for other foods. You will know your child is full when he/she is happy and content. Usually the doctor will let you know if he gets over the average weight to so try not to worry so much. But def. run it by the ped 1st and remember every baby is different. Also remember babies may want more at times because they go through growth spurts! Good luck with you baby, hope my information helped.

Answer 4

They say 2 oz. for every pound they weigh. So if he weighs 14 lbs, he should have somewhere in the ballpark of 28 oz. a day. Of course, that tapers off after a while. My 11 month old weighs 20 lbs and he doesn't get 40 oz a day. But for newborns, it's a measuring stick. But I'd feed him when he's hungry. He'll stop when he's full and cry when he's hungry. That's really the best guide. Babies know when they are hungry and don't worry about them getting chubby, babies get chubby and when they start walking and running, they slim down again.

Answer 5

You seem to be giving him what he needs. The recommended amount of formula is 2 to 2 1/2 ounces of formula for every pound your child weighs within a 24 hour period. Since your son is about 15 pounds he should be eating about 30-36 ounces of formula in a 24 hour period. Between 4-6 months of age, you can start introducing cereal and stage one baby food (ask your pediatrician first) but putting it in his bottle isn't a good idea. Put it in a bowl with a little formula and spoon feed him. The point of cereal isn't to get him to sleep throug the night, it is to teach him to push his tongue back (like adults do) when he eats instead of forward (like he does when he drinks a bottle).

Answer 6

It sounds like you are feeding him correctly especially if he is sleeping through the night at 4 months! If he seems like he wants more then give it to him. 4-6 oz should be fine for him. My daughter is 8 months and weighs 14.5 lbs and drinks 6 oz.

Answer 7

"She USED to consume a 10 ounce bottle in the morning, and a selection of of alternative 8 ounce bottles for the time of something of the day" ...those are extensive bottles for a 4 a million/2 month previous. She in all probability very in basic terms isn't hungry for all that formula. Her taking 4 oz..at a time is definitely clever. permit her consume what she needs. She shouldn't starve herself.

Answer 8

You'll KNOW if you overfeed him. He will spit-up or even vomit if he's eaten too much.

Right now feed him as much as he is asking for. He sounds like he's going through a growth spurt. He'll have a week of being a little pig then go back down to normal as he sleeps and grows more during the next week.

Answer 9

my baby boy is 5 months old and he is 17 lbs. we feed him 6-7 oz every 4 hours. for the whole day he eats around 35-38oz. we also put cereal in his milk. you are not over feeding him.

Answer 10

Boys usually eat more than girls do, at this age. My nephew was always hungry and wanting more to eat, but we have come to realize that when he has a growing spurt he eats more, and sometimes you just can not get him to a whole lot. I would recommend uping his formula to 6 oz. Today my nephew is a healthy 7-year-old; who still goes through this phase.