1month old ff question

Ds just turned 1 month yesterday. he had been having 3 oz. and although our plan was to feed on demand, he woke up every 3 hours anyway (even during the night) so thats what we were doing. for about a week now, he seems to be hungrier and wanting more than he was getting, so we started giving 4 oz. but then he would be less hungry the next feeding and would only take 3 oz or sometimes 2 oz so after a few days of being all over the place, i decided to give 3 oz every 3 hours but if he was hungry between feedings to give him another 1 oz to basically make the 4 but not force it on him at each feeding.

i noticed he started sleeping a little longer which i was so happy for but it was really inconsistent and although the 4 hour sleeps were good, the 1 hour ones were not good, so i changed back to 4 oz. and it seems in the past 2 days hes been on a schedule of waking every 4 hours and would want and take the 4 oz at every feeding which is awesome!

then he slept 5.5 straight at one point, the night before last and 5 hours last night. so i was super happy about that since its moving in the right direction for sttn (although i understand its still early) . my questions are- how much should we be feeding when he wakes up? still the 4 oz (since he missed the 4 hour mark?) or more? could a baby his age handle more (i personally dont think he can- he seems full after the 4 oz. but i also dont want to give him too little food)

and finally, in general, when your LO starts to increase how much they eat, but you are feeding on demand, how do you get on any type of schedule if the baby just isnt being consistent with when they are hungry ("demand") food.

1month old ff question

The rule if thumb I always used was that there should always be some left. So when DD was drinking 3 oz, I started putting 3.5 in her bottle. I'm cheap, so it killed me to do it, but it was the only way I would know she was full.

As far as how much, it's sooooo different for every baby, and even day to day. DD never drank more than 2 oz in a sitting until about 3 months while other babies her age were drinking 4 oz or more. I wouldn't worry too much about giving him too little or too much. If its too little, he will cry and if its too much he will stop eating.

As far as a schedule, I never got to the feed on demand part. While she was on formula, I fed her on a schedule bc I was really bad at figuring out the different cries. I wasn't able to tell when she was hungry v when she was tired. The way it worked for DD is that as she started napping longer, she began having fewer bottles and eating more at those feedings.

And also, hugs to you. The first couple of months are so hard!

Re: 1month old ff question

1month old ff question

I was obsessed with how much DD was or wasn't eating. I had iPhone apps and notebooks and schedules to keep track of it and honest to god stayed up at night worrying about her not eating or eating too much. Then the 6 week growth spurt came and i believe i certifiably went insane trying to manage how and when she ate (watch out fir that one, its rough) so i just started Putting a bottle to her mouth when she cried to save my sanity. I wish i had a dollar for everytime she cried for a half hour while i tried everything thinking there was no way she could be hungry already, i just fed her, only for her to stop crying as soon as she got the bottle!

It's totally normal to worry/overthink things and just proof of what a great mommy are that you're concerned about these things.

Re: 1month old ff question

Wow, my sons pediatrician told us we are feeding him too much and he is almost 8 weeks and taking 3 oz every 3 hours!! I ersonally dont agree and glad to see im not the only one feeding more!!

Re: 1month old ff question

Posted by mig

Wow, my sons pediatrician told us we are feeding him too much and he is almost 8 weeks and taking 3 oz every 3 hours!! I ersonally dont agree and glad to see im not the only one feeding more!!

Re: 1month old ff question

I kept a "feeding diary" with both of my babies. I would start to see a pattern emerge in their feelings around the 8 week mark.

It sounds like your baby is on track for that age! I think the longer stretches are a good sign. My babies seemed to be hungriest in the early evening.

Good luck- you will figure it out as time goes on and you learn more about the baby's habits.