My baby wants to eat like every 2-3 hours regardless of how much he ate before (whether 3 or 6ozs). I'm trying to hold him to a 4 hour schedule, but I can't seem to do it and keep him happy. I'm also worried about over feeding him...the formla can says to not exceed 32oz in 24 hours, but he would totally do that most days if I let him. Books say to not overfeed, and to form a schedule, but then contradicts by saying to let the baby be the guide and feed him when he's hungry!! ahhhh!
Do you have any advice for me about this? and...do you think I should worry as much about going over the 32ozs? I don't know what the reason is for this.
2007-04-20 19:37:09 · 17 answers · asked by Theresa 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
First, take a breath. (You will need to learn to do this frequently with children, otherwise you are going to go bald) Second, at 6 weeks 3 hours is a great thing. You may not get to 4 hours for a month or 2. The best bet for a happy baby is to feed on demand. If they want 3 oz or 6. If your child is taking it in then you should let him. Remember your baby is growing so much right now that he needs all he can get. You have a 2 month well baby coming in 2 weeks, talk to your Dr. about any concerns you have about feeding. I am sure you will be surprised by his answers and suggestions, they are usually not anywhere near what you have heard before. As for a schedule, I promise you it will come. But maybe closer to 3 months and some take longer. Your best bet is to throw the book away and use your instinct, unless of course your baby came with a manual...in which case follow it closely (lol) Good luck with this and try not to worry you are doing a great job.
2007-04-20 19:53:57 · answer #1 · answered by Tawni B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing you need to do is throw all your parenting books away. If you spend the next few years consulting them you'll never feel like you can make your own decisions and won't trust yourself when you do.
Routine feeding is so old fashioned. I find it hard to believe that you have a book that tells you to do that! Feed on demand, babies eat when they're hungry. They can't be greedy or picky because they're only responding to what their bodies are telling them.
Also with formula milk the baby can sometimes be thirsty rather than hungry. With breastmilk the first bit is thinner than the rest and is more of a drink than a feed, so they still cry for a feed when thirsty. If he's recently been fed and seems to want more try offering a bottle of cooled, boiled water instead of a feed.
2007-04-21 00:55:15 · answer #2 · answered by georgina155744 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly how you feel - there is so much conflicting advice out there.
I did a 3 hour schedule, and it worked pretty well - he usually only woke up about twice a night. But sometimes he'd be hungry after two hours.
I don't think you should worry about exceeding 32 oz; some babies just need more.
A friend of mine gave her baby rice cereal in his formula when he was around 8 weeks old, because he was hungry all the time - but you should probably talk to your doctor before you do this. I think they say not to overfeed so the baby doesn't spit up as much (maybe ....)
Hang in there! I know it seems difficult now, but try to take it a day at a time.
2007-04-20 19:58:26 · answer #3 · answered by BE 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My oldest was the same way. Feed him what he wants, fill him up (make sure to burp him often) and he'll fall into a schedule. You don't need to worry about overfeeding him at this early age. He'll only eat if he is hungry; when he's full he'll stop and/or fall asleep. If your baby is ever truly "over-fed" he'll vomit anyway. If your baby is hungry (crying, restless, rooting, etc) then by all means feed him. Also, some babies crave the sucking. Orthodontic pacifiers (Nuc brand was our favorite) can satisfy a baby's need to suck. Don't worry too much, follow you're instincts. You know your baby best.
2007-04-20 19:55:37 · answer #4 · answered by nublett 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 6 week old baby should be eating about every 2-3 hours. Breastfed babies about every 2 hours and formula fed babies maybe every 3. But beyond that its too long. Why are you trying to keep him on a schedule? He's a growing boy. Let him eat when he wants. It's too bad you're not breastfeeding. When you breastfeed the baby drinks just the right amount, the milk is custom made and full of antibodies and they get skin to skin contact.
2007-04-20 20:35:27 · answer #5 · answered by Haulie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
She is old adequate now to take a bottle w/o being puzzled. that's worth looking time to pump in the morning to be waiting to have daddy supply the 1st night feeding. have self belief me! Is she stressful feeding each and every 2 hours or are you offering? attempt and stretch the time gradually in case you may. and make useful she incredibly needs to consume and not basically suck. fantastically at night, attempt offering a finger or a pacifier as a substitute of nutrition and notice what occurs. Its real that infants could be fed whilst they are hungry, yet additionally real that that's fantastically easy to mistake the signs and indications. Our DD used to "root" whilst she grew to become into having gas besides as whilst hungry; i ultimately discovered that if she had eaten an hour in the past it may well be some thing else she grew to become into attempting to tell me! Does she end a minimum of one breast whilst she eats? apparently that's the richer hindmilk on the tip that sticks with you greater, which you would be able to talk. in case you're switching breasts 0.5 way by using, attempt going a sprint longer on the 1st one. i might say some infants are nonetheless ingesting each and every 2 hours at this age, yet many are ingesting greater like each and every 3 in the process the day and each 3-4 at night. each and every toddler is diverse; that is totally feasible that that's coming quickly for her, so hold close in there! you're def. not doing something incorrect!
2016-10-13 02:28:08 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard not to over feed your baby. In fact my formula says nothing of the sort. It is also common for a baby to cluster feed so maybe you need to go back to him telling you when. My daughters would want a bottle every two hours and then not want one for 6 hours.
2007-04-20 20:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by gnomes31 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont overfeed...so i would say DO NOT go over what the formula says...yes feed him on demand as often as he wants but limit the amount that you give him. If he wants to eat every 2-3 hours no matter how much you give him..that says give him only 3 oz. Overfeeding leads to obesity! If you overfeed as a baby they overeat as children and adults! Dont worry about schedules just yet...its too early. Wait until they are 3 months old to start doing that. Yes its hard feeding them all the time..trust me i know i have twins and they ate every hour and a half...but slowly they grow out of it! My twins are almost 6 months old and STILL dont eat 32 oz!!!!! I overfed my twins as well but I realized what I was doing and stopped...!
2007-04-21 06:34:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT FEED YOUR BABY CEREAL OR MASHED POTATOES. Feeding a baby regular food too early can set them up for a life of food allergies, obesity, diabetes, etc. It is not worth the risk to keep him satisfied. Talk to his doctor. Some babies just have a healthier appetite than others.
2007-04-20 19:58:55 · answer #9 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hunny first and formost throw the books out the window if your child is hungry when given just milk then try mixing 2 tbsp baby oatmeal(least likely to be allergic to oatmeal) into 4 oz of milk you may need a nipple with a larger opening to allow the thicker milk to flow through he will go straight back to the 4 hour feeding schedule once he feels FULL. I done this with all 3 of my kids and they turned out just fine.
2007-04-20 20:34:01 · answer #10 · answered by shellshell 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋