Is 8oz. of formula too much for a 4 month old?

Question

My son was 9lbs when he was born and at his 2 month visit he was 14 or 16 lbs. (forgot exact weight) well he'll be 4 months on the 23rd of this month and right now he's on 6oz. of formula, but the past week he'll cry after a bottle wanting more. So I gave him an 8oz bottle of formula and he was happy. He not fat or anything. He's solid built and is growing lenght wise like a weed=)
I don't know his exact weight right now, but will know when he gets his 4 month shots this month. I don't want to wait until then to see the pediatrician and ask him about how much he should be eating so I want opinions and advice at the moment from others.
Does 8oz. seem too much at 4 months? Should I go ahead and add solids into his daily routine? How much was your baby eating at this age?

Thanks.

Answer 1

My son is 13 months and just started drinking 8 oz bottles about 3 months ago. But he was drinking a 6 oz bottle every 2 1/2 hours on the dot from 5 months until then. I guess it depends on the baby as well as how often he is getting bottles. Here's a handy guide I post on all of these questions, but remember, it is only a general guide and every baby is different!

HOW MUCH FORMULA DO I FEED MY BABY, AND HOW OFTEN?
As you develop a bottle-feeding routine for you and your baby, the two of you will work out which formula is best, how much, and how often. This routine may change as your baby grows. As a general guide:

Between birth and six months of age your baby will need an average of 2 to 2.5 ounces of formula per pound per day. So, if your baby weighs ten pounds, she will need 20 to 25 ounces per day.

Newborns may take only an ounce or two at each feeding
One to two months: 3 to 4 ounces per feeding
Two to six months: 4 to 6 ounces per feeding
Six months to a year: as much as 8 ounces at a feeding
Small, more frequent feedings will work better than larger ones spaced farther apart. Your baby's tummy is about the size of his fist. Take a full bottle and place it next to your baby's fist and you'll see why tiny tummies often spit the milk back up when they're given too much at one time.

IS BABY GETTING TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH FORMULA?
Signs that your baby may be getting too little formula are:

slower-than-normal weight gain
diminished urine output
a loose, wrinkly appearance to baby's skin
persistent crying

Signs that your baby is being fed too much at each feeding are:

a lot of spitting up or profuse vomiting immediately after the feeding
colicky abdominal pain (baby draws his legs up onto a tense abdomen) immediately after feeding
excessive weight gain
If these signs of overfeeding occur, offer smaller-volume feedings more frequently, burp baby once or twice during the feeding, and occasionally offer a bottle of water instead of formula.

Answer 2

My son is 12 1/2 pounds (4 pounds 7 ounces and 9 weeks early at birth) and he'll be 4 months on the 14th. He was getting 6 ounce bottles every 3 hours but would cry for more after he was done so we upped him to a 7 ounce bottle every 3-4 hours during the day and now he's been sleeping from 10:30 pm to 7:30 am because he's nice and full (he used to wake up around 3:30 for only 2 ounces, so the extra formula holds him over). His doctor told me that babies usually eat about half their body weight per feeding, so if your baby is 16 pounds, 8 ounces is just right. However, that's a suggestion...if your baby is still hungry, by all means, feed him what he needs. I would not add solids until you speak to the doctor, although my doctor said baby cereal is introduced between 4 and 6 months.

Answer 3

Hold off on the solids until he has his doctor's appointment. Each doctor has their own preferred timing for suggesting introduction of solids. Nutritionally, a baby receives all of his needs through breast milk and formula until about the age of 6 months. Some babies are ready for solids at 4 months, but there is no need to rush it. 8 ounces at 4 months is not necessarily too much. Every baby is different. If he is eating 8 ounces and not spitting up much of it, then I would go with the 8 ounces. You may find he is just going through a little growth spurt and will want the 8 ounces for a few days but then will go back to only taking 6-7 and that is perfectly normal.

Answer 4

at four months old I was feeding my daughter a 8 oz bottle and when that wasnt filling her up I put a little bit of infant rice cereal in her bottle (only 1 or 2 scoops). Soon after that she was eating stage one baby foods. I did ask the pediatrician when I did this and he said it was fine. Izzy was always kind of petite, she was born 5lbs 12 ounces. She is now 11 months old and she eats like a pig. She is still really petite too!! She eats almost everything we do now (in small enough pieces of course and no peanuts, etc..)

So, I think you will be fine giving 8 oz to your baby.

Good luck!!

Answer 5

Go ahead with the formula till you talk to your doctor. It sounds fine though. I would hold of the solids till I had a chat with the doctor. Sometimes if a baby is taking 2 much formula they will recommend starting solids a little early.

Answer 6

my daughter just started formula and she is 4 1/2 months, she drinks between 4-5 oz every 3-4 hours

Answer 7

At two months my daughter was eating 6 ounces of formula with cereal on the side or a little bit of jarred food ur doctor wouldnt recommend doing that that early but now that he will be four months i would start him on the cereal in morning and at night and midday a little fruit or veggies. Just when you start on the fruit and veggies make sure you watch for an allergic reaction. Good luck

Answer 8

Eight ounces sounds right for his age and weight. But don't go by these strict measures. If your baby is hungry, give him more food. If he turns away from the bottle, stop feeding him. Pretty simple. A four month old shouldn't be on a diet!

Answer 9

Remember that babies go through growth spurts. He may eat less in a few weeks when the spurt ends. At four months I started my daughter on a little bit of rice but quit because it would constipate her so we went to oatmeal. My baby's eating changed every few weeks due to growth spurts.

Answer 10

Give the baby what he wants. All babies are different. I wouldnt let him "snack" throughout the day because then he will just always be hungry for a few ounces, but they go on growth spurts... I wouldnt worry, bring it up with the ped.