2 month old infant?

Question

My 2 month old has been eating 6-12 oz of formula every 3-4 hours, is this normal? I feel like she's eating us out of the house, figurativly speaking. I mean she goes through a Parent's Choice size can w/in a week, sometimes less. The doctor said that she can have 1/2 tsp of rice cereal in her bottle, but that doesn't seem to be enough. She has regular BMs. I just don't know what to do anymore. Any advice?

Answer 1

DO NOT add cereal to your little one's formula. It can make little chunks and choke your baby. In Canada there are strong recommendations to NEVER do this.

You say every 3-4 hours, but is that over night as well? There are so many variables, that it is really hard to give you great advice. I wish I knew more so I could give you more help.

If you want some more answers, please check at www.babywhisperer.com . They have a bottle feeding section that is really helpful and may help you more.

Answer 2

Wow that's a lot of formula. I would try making a 6 oz bottle with more cereal in it. 1/2 a tsp isn't much at all try making it a little thicker, where you have to make a slit in one of the nipples for it to come out. Maybe try giving her a pacifier or trying something else. It could be she isn't hungry when she cries. Her eating that much every 3 to 4 hours she might be getting a tummy ache. Sometimes doc's don't know best!

Answer 3

Babies don't eat more than they want, so she might just be going through a growth spurt. It is only going to get worse until she is able to go on whole milk at 12 months. By 4 months (My son was almost 3 months early) I was buying two cans of the Parent's Choice Soy formula every two weeks, and sometimes that wasn't even enough.
It is not just Canada that recommends against putting cereal in the bottles, BUT if the doctor recommends it and tells her how to mix it, they will not choke on it. Since my son was a preemie and had severe acid reflux I had to do this too and he never choked on it, EVER. If it is not mixed properly it can cause problems.

Answer 4

WHOA! My son just turned a year old and only drinks 6 oz of formula every 4 hours or so - but of course he also is eating lots of solids. It all depends on the child I suppose. If she was a preemie she may need some catching up. If her pediatrician isn't worried, I wouldn't be either. I started my son on rice cereal (from a spoon, not in the bottle) at 3 months and he did great on it, but like I said every baby is different.

Answer 5

well to be honest do what YOU think is best. Myself i like to do what i think is right. I know its a lot of money but if shes drinking it shes hungry. I would try making 10 ounces putting 6 in a bottle warming it feed that to her burp her and hold her if she is still screaming put 2 more in and so on. Mke sure she burps sometimes babies scream cause there have a gas bubble that hurts/
good luck and don't worry i spend 30 every 5 days on formula i am a mother of a 6 month yr old girl who was 2 months premature she eats 6 ounces every 3 hours plus 3 tablespoons of cereal a day

Answer 6

Wow, do I feel better. I've been having this problem or concern actually myself. I feel like I was the only one with this issue. I have a son who was born on 7/31 this year, and he's pushing to be 2 months at the end of this month. He started out as a newborn between 2-3 oz for awhile, then moved to 4 oz, and now he's going anywhere between 6-8 oz! I swear to god he's getting chubby and he feeds now between 4-6 hours. I felt like this was way way to much for him especially the size he is, so small, but he's pushing 10 lbs now, was born at 6 lbs 12 oz, I just thought my god gaining 3 lbs in 1.5 months since he was born, that just didn't seem right. But he's content and happy after we burp him and put him down, he hardly cries anymore, but I've noticed his face is filling out a bit more, could be a growth spirt, i'm still unsure, but I'm also concerned about this feeding how much is enough issue too. I'm thinking about putting him on a little cereal with his formula to see what happens, as I'm afraid feeding him this much formula will get him to fat to quick and get him sick, but so far, he's been really great, not throwing up, just spitting up a little here and there. So I'll see what happens. Glad to see I have someone else with the same concern. Let me know how you do.
-Crystal

Answer 7

Wow your baby certainly does like her food. She's very young to even have the rice cereal but you are right to give it to her if the doctor advised it. Try giving her cool boiled water between feeds - perhaps she is actually thirsty some of the time. This may even have the result of spacing her feeds to four hourly (after two hours, offer her the water).
She could also be bored, so try lying her down on a blanket on the floor with some toys to observe, or put her into a vibrating chair which also plays melodies if you have one. All the best (we also have a 2 mth old in the house but she's breastfead and also wants a lot of feeding!)

Answer 8

I know a doctor has certain ideas of what children need at certain stages, but sometimes a mother does know best. If she is doing fine with that much cereal, try giving her a little more 1-2 times a day. If she continues to do well, good BMs and not getting sick, see if that helps cut down on the milk intake. Good luck

Answer 9

My son was the same way (he's almost 7 months now). I spoke to his pediatrician about it, and he said to try to soothe him in other ways when he cries for his bottle because he didn't want to set him up for weight problems in his 2nd year of life. I tried talking to him, singing to him, walking the floor with him, rocking him, giving him his much hated pacifier; I tried everything I could think of. Nothing worked. I finally went back to giving him his bottle when he was hungry. Things went back to normal and everything quieted down. I have since moved and am taking Isaac to a new pediatrician, and she feels that the amount of food he eats daily is normal. His height and weight are consistently in the 80-90th percentile, and she is not alarmed. She says he is perfectly healthy, and calls him "a good product". :) Unless she is spitting up the formula you feed her, I don't really think you have anything to worry about. If you think she's had enough formula, try giving her a couple ounces of warm water. Sometimes that will help calm a colicy baby's tummy. I know it seems like you go through a lot of formula, and it's priced alarmingly high. Have you tried applying for WIC assistance? If you qualify, they will help you with formula and baby cereal, and even some things for your nutrition as well. Good luck!

Answer 10

well my hometown is ohio(but i live in CA) and with ur daughter being so young disney land would be a bit crowded and loud and ur baby would be tired so easy! and all u will be doing is holding her calming her down pushing a empty stroller and not being able to do anything.. (my aunt took our lil cousin and she said it was suppose to be fun and it was a nightmare and she was 6 months old) plus its expensive... IF Your Wanting A Vacation id recommend one of the following.. 1.)Myrtle Beach (since shes 6 months she can wear sunscreen) 2.) a nice lodge/cabin rental by a lake and just go out and enjoy some Fishing , Boating, Hiking.. and the fresh air. and best of all Shade and somewhere the baby can enjoy herself as well. 3.) Take a trip to a smaller theme park like dollywood. (could have the grandparents babysit if needed if ur needing a good vacation.) 4.) take the family out to the Zoo and maybe some putt putt golf.. that way ALL OF YOU can enjoy the fun i mean of course the baby cant play putt putt golf but im sure u and huby could. hope these ideas help. disney world would be the best ideal trip for kids 3+ b/c they would have more fun and less stress on you plus its really expensive trip so make it meaningful