My newborn wants milk every 40mins...?

Question

I just had a baby boy, who is 7days now.. during the night, he wants milk every 40mins almost... sometimes he will drink only 1/2 oz, but he will continuously want it... what do i do!!

Answer 1

give it to him!!

Could be temporary, maybe a growth spurt, best to feed babies on demand even when not in a growth spurt... breast or formula

Common times for growth spurts are during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less).

Answer 2

It sounds like he doesn't really want the milk, he wants the sucking comfort. Try to pacify first. He should eat about 2 oz every 2 hours. If he starts to projectile vomit, have him checked for pyloric stenosis. It's where not a lot of formula/milk can get from the stomach to the small intestines at a time. Try setting him on a schedule. At 1:00 feed, at 2 pacify, at 3 feed, at 4 pacify, at 5 feed, etc. It may take a day or two, but he'll get the hang of it. Infants have what is called "oral gratification". They suck when they are upset, scared, need love, etc. Congrats and good luck.

Answer 3

As mentioned before babies that young have tiny stomaches and can't hold that much food at once.
What I noticed with my daughter (She is breastfed but in the beginning I had to bottlefeed her for 5 days) was that she would drink little in one sitting. But if I offered her food after a little rest (10 min) she would drink again then a little rest and burp and then a little food again,that could take up to an hour, when she wouldn''t accept the breast or bottle anymore I figured she was done and the feeding was over. After that she was content for 2 hours and then she was fed again. She now feeds more eficient (from the breast) and so feedings are shorter most of the times.
I know this is a very tough schedule especially at night considering that you also need to recover and probably are very tired only 7 days after giving birth but it will get better.

Answer 4

It all depends if your are demand feeding or on a schedule. With a baby this young demand feeding is best. Your baby can only hold a samll amount in his tummy so needs feeds often. He might also be going through a growth spurt. I would just feed him as he needs it. I know it's hard on you not getting any sleep but he shouldn't be likle this for to much longer. Good luck

Answer 5

If he is only taking a 1/2 oz. he is not getting enough, so he is waking hungry and wanting more. Are you burping well enough? Are the nipples on your bottle letting out enough formula? Or is there a physical reason he is not getting enough? Speak to the doctor about this, he/she can help.

Answer 6

Babies are supposed to nurse from breasts, and while at the breast they nurse every 45 minutes in the beginning. That is how babies are designed to work--baby's biology doesn't know that you're bottle feeding, baby's body was designed to nurse so even if they're not breastfeeding, they demand milk as if they were.

Answer 7

He probably wants to comfort suck, if he is bottle fed you may have to give him a dummy (pacifier/soother) to help him comfort himself to sleep. If he is breastfed maybe he is building up your supply. If he is only taking 1/2oz then he isn't actually hungry he wants comfort, suckling gives all babies alike comfort, they don't know anything, clothes feel odd, feeding and pooping feel odd, they aren't one temp all the time like before, it is sensory overload and it can't be helped. You may have to pat or rock your little bundle of joy off to sleep instead of trying to feed him. If he was going about 2hrs + then he may be hungry, but I am fairly sure with out meeting him that he isn't hungry. Wrap (swaddle) him in a cot sheet (with only light clothing underneath) firmly and put in baby's bed and pat gently and rhythmically to help sooth baby off to sleep. Why don't you find a child health nurse to show you some techniques to sooth and settle your baby.

Answer 8

Are you breast or formula feeding? I found with my daughter when I was breast feeding she would constantly want to feed as well but some of the time she was just using me as a pacifier but once I started her on formula (she was 2 and a half weeks old at that stage) She only woke once maybe twice during the night. Good luck I hope it gets better soon : - )

Answer 9

I would try a pacifier maybe? Does he fall asleep while drinking? then wake back up? does he burp while he eats, He may have a bubble in his belly, or a wet diaper..
good luck , I know how hard it is to go without sleep..

Answer 10

He's ONLY a week old, u need to train him. make him wait a little. He should go at least 2 hours, but don't let him get to the stage of screaming. Go to mothers and babies or what ever the equivalent is where u live.