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Is this normal re: eating?
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LoveyQ
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Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
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Is this normal re: eating?
DS is 3.5 months old, but he was 2 months premature. So I never know if he's supposed to be doing certain things based on real age or adjusted age...
He will eat up to 4 ounces in one feeding now. But for the last couple of weeks, sometimes he'll have just 2 ounces and not want anymore or fall asleep. Sometimes we'll change his diaper or something to see if he'll wake up to eat more, but it doesn't always work. And sometimes he's still up, but doesn't want any more. I don't force feed him and he's been gaining weight well up until now.
Is it normal to want to eat so little at this age (only 2 ounces sometimes)? I have noticed that when he does this, he'll want to eat more frequently so like at the 2 hr mark instead of 3 or so. I just don't want to keep wasting breastmilk or formula.
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Posted 6/19/10 1:40 AM  |
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spa118
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Member since 3/09 2157 total posts
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Shari
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
If he is averaging the same amount of formula for the whole day because he is eating more frequently, I think everything is OK.
I've learned, you can call your ped with any question if you are worried, but it sounds normal.. they go through stages.
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| Posted 6/19/10 3:03 AM |
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waterspout4
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Member since 5/06 19150 total posts
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Kelly
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Every kid is different. Is he still gaining weight and wetting diapers? If so, I wouldn't stress.
My son was a tiny eater. He typically only ate 2-3 oz in a sitting til he was around 10 months old. And he was 11 1/2 pounds at birth, so I don't think it matters what size they were as a baby. Just make sure he is still gaining weight. You can always talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns. I know I did. I was fully embarrassed that he was 10 months old and still not finishing the 4oz bottles. I was so jealous of my friend's kids that were guzzling down the 8oz bottles.
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| Posted 6/19/10 3:10 AM |
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maymama
my little loves
Member since 8/08 18453 total posts
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
ugh, Yesi .. we are going through this right now.
from 1-5 weeks, he ate 4 ounces every 3-4 hours, NEVER left formula in the bottle. Now, he gets bored or is more interested in whats going on around him, he looses interest after 2 ounces. I just let him look around for a little bit and then we go back to it.
i do NOT want him to only take the 2 and then stop because then he wants to eat every 1-2 hours   He is also starting to fall asleep more often at the bottle which he never did. Maybe bored? I always have a rattle or toys on hand now when feeding him to maintain his interest 
ETA - b/c of this, he went from averaging 30 ounces per day to 20(ish) 
Message edited 6/19/2010 8:01:38 AM.
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| Posted 6/19/10 8:00 AM |
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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
DS was a late big baby, healthy long lean, and very energetic. He went through this for 2 days. I couldn't stand it, this is what I did.
I stretched his feedings, got him really hungry. Let him sleep through, play, keep him entertained and happy as long I could for 4 hours after a feeding began. Then fed him.
If he slept past the 4 hours, I'd let him sleep a little more, then play some music and sing to wake him up. He'd wake up smiling. I'd have bottle ready. No screams. In about 3 days he was eating every 3-4 hours, and back to eating good amounts (for him its 6-8oz at 12 weeks )
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| Posted 6/19/10 8:27 AM |
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LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Posted by waterspout4
Every kid is different. Is he still gaining weight and wetting diapers? If so, I wouldn't stress.
My son was a tiny eater. He typically only ate 2-3 oz in a sitting til he was around 10 months old. And he was 11 1/2 pounds at birth, so I don't think it matters what size they were as a baby. Just make sure he is still gaining weight. You can always talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns. I know I did. I was fully embarrassed that he was 10 months old and still not finishing the 4oz bottles. I was so jealous of my friend's kids that were guzzling down the 8oz bottles.
He is wetting diapers all day so that's good. And he's gained a pound and a half in the last 3 weeks, the doctor said that was good.
Ok so you made me feel better since your baby was big at birth and did the same thing DS is doing.
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| Posted 6/19/10 9:17 AM |
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LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Posted by mamakap
ugh, Yesi .. we are going through this right now.
from 1-5 weeks, he ate 4 ounces every 3-4 hours, NEVER left formula in the bottle. Now, he gets bored or is more interested in whats going on around him, he looses interest after 2 ounces. I just let him look around for a little bit and then we go back to it.
i do NOT want him to only take the 2 and then stop because then he wants to eat every 1-2 hours He is also starting to fall asleep more often at the bottle which he never did. Maybe bored? I always have a rattle or toys on hand now when feeding him to maintain his interest
ETA - b/c of this, he went from averaging 30 ounces per day to 20(ish)
Karin, this sounds EXACTLY like what DS is doing! And he is definitely more aware of his surroundings these days. Although when he eats, he doesn't yet look around too much, but maybe I should try a rattle or other toy.
Since I BF and FF at each feeding, it's hard for me to tell if he's eating less overall, but I think he is because it's taking us longer to finish the RTF forumla bottle. 
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| Posted 6/19/10 9:19 AM |
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LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Posted by momytobein2010
I stretched his feedings, got him really hungry. Let him sleep through, play, keep him entertained and happy as long I could for 4 hours after a feeding began. Then fed him.
If he slept past the 4 hours, I'd let him sleep a little more, then play some music and sing to wake him up. He'd wake up smiling. I'd have bottle ready. No screams. In about 3 days he was eating every 3-4 hours, and back to eating good amounts (for him its 6-8oz at 12 weeks )
How did you stretch his feedings? When DS is hungry he'll CRY until there's a boob or a bottle in his mouth. I've tried a paci to hold him over for a bit, but he doesn't go for that. Any advice?
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| Posted 6/19/10 9:20 AM |
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nicrae
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Member since 12/06 9289 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Posted by LoveyQ
Posted by mamakap
ugh, Yesi .. we are going through this right now.
from 1-5 weeks, he ate 4 ounces every 3-4 hours, NEVER left formula in the bottle. Now, he gets bored or is more interested in whats going on around him, he looses interest after 2 ounces. I just let him look around for a little bit and then we go back to it.
i do NOT want him to only take the 2 and then stop because then he wants to eat every 1-2 hours He is also starting to fall asleep more often at the bottle which he never did. Maybe bored? I always have a rattle or toys on hand now when feeding him to maintain his interest
ETA - b/c of this, he went from averaging 30 ounces per day to 20(ish)
Karin, this sounds EXACTLY like what DS is doing! And he is definitely more aware of his surroundings these days. Although when he eats, he doesn't yet look around too much, but maybe I should try a rattle or other toy.
Since I BF and FF at each feeding, it's hard for me to tell if he's eating less overall, but I think he is because it's taking us longer to finish the RTF forumla bottle.
Maybe both of you should change to a faster nipple? DS was falling asleep while drinking his bottle or taking forever to finish. A friend suggested going to a faster nipple and it totally worked.
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| Posted 6/19/10 9:34 AM |
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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Posted by LoveyQ
How did you stretch his feedings? When DS is hungry he'll CRY until there's a boob or a bottle in his mouth. I've tried a paci to hold him over for a bit, but he doesn't go for that. Any advice?
The first couple of times, I fed him what he wanted and didn't let him sleep, played music sang dance around him, kept him smiling, distracted him with toys, get really really silly, carry him around and dance, for almost 3 hours, he was exhausted but still happy. For the last hour, I'd swaddle his arms and put him in swing, turn it on, sit next to him and sing quietly and he'd sleep the last hour. I would wake him up at that 4th hour, singing cheerfully, happily. I did this twice, but for the next feedings, he would be alert for 2 hours, play, then pass out on his own for the last 2 hours. I'd let him wake up on his own, but watch him. As soon as he wake I'd sing our "eating song"
You can't do this when they are screaming for food, so in the beginning its important to catch their hunger cues before they scream. I planned, though, that if he got upset at any point, I'd just feed him and try it next time. I just don't have the nerves for his crying.
So our eating song, I would sing, "its time to eat, eat, what a treat, lets go get our bottle!" (when I was BF, it would be "lets go get our milk"
He knows this is the eating song and never cries for food if I wake him singing this. Or if he's getting crabby and I know its his time, I start singing this. I don't tease him with it. Never more than 5 minutes from when the song starts do we eat. Its super rare that he ever cries for a bottle anymore. Even if I don't sing.
Then because he was so calm before feedings, I'll say "this is our bottle" over and over a few times, while he's passionately, but calmly gazing at it.
This was working so well, just this week, I started to wake him up in the morning singing "good morning, good morning, what a nice day to play" He knows only then will I take him out of the crib when say, "up, up, lets get, up" So if he wakes up before I do, he knows he should wait. He whine a bit to be picked up in the morning, but never cries. He knows that song will be coming. If I pop in earlier, to clean up, or to close a window, he'll stop whining, catch my gaze and smile. He's so patiently waiting for the time. And he's STTN 10 hours now.
Each kid is different, but I wonder is he wanting to eat out of boredom? comfort? is something else really bothering him? I'm not saying this will 100% work for your child, but it worked amazingly well for mine. Play and song is a big part of our day, and we are slowly learning language.
Also, keep a detail log, you will notice his natural pattern or schedule emerge. It will teach you a lot about him and what he needs.
Feel free if you have any specific, questions, to FM me. 
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| Posted 6/19/10 10:35 AM |
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LittleBlueBug
Happy Mommy
Member since 9/06 4074 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is this normal re: eating?
Some babies do better with eating less more frequently. Pumped breastmilk can be placed back in the fridge. I would only make 2 oz bottles with the formula. If he wants more formula you can always make more.
However, if he is not wetting diapers I would talk to your ped. I would also mention this to your ped anyway so you can make sure he is gaining weight and getting the appropriate amount of nutrition.
I would also think about changing your feeding time if you are feeding him around nap time. It may be better to feed him as soon as he wakes from a nap.
Are there any other symptoms (crying, arching back, kicking)?
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| Posted 6/19/10 11:20 AM |
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