Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

Help! DS is 5 weeks old and weighs 9lbs 6 oz - not overweight by any stretch. Last week the ped told me to keep his feedings (formula) to 30oz per day, no more than 32oz and that I was probably over feeding him at that already. Well, DS is taking 6-8 bottles per day. I give him 4.5 ozs per bottle, but he's usually still hungry afterwards. He DRAINS every bottle. He's taken up to 6oz in a feeding and keeps it all down. I thought you can't overfeed babies, and I know I he's often still hungry b/c he screams when I'm done with a bottle.

I'm not exactly sure what my question is. If your newborn is hungry, do you feed him? I feel awful that I'm starving him when he continues to cry. But, I also don't want to overfeed (per ped). I've tried the paci after meals, but he takes 2 sucks, realizes there's no food in it and spits it out angry. Or, do you cut your baby off? And if so, what works b/c the paci does not! Is there really a 32oz per day rule I'm not aware of?

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

This is JMO, but if he is draining every 4.5 bottle I would definitely up him up to 5 oz per bottle and see how he does. I have read the 32 oz. rule, but my DD has definitely had a bit more than that. My ped never gave me a limit on what to feed her.

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

32 oz is a good guideline but by no means a hard and fast rule. IMO (and from experience) babies do not overeat. If he is taking more than 4.5 oz, give it to him. If he is too full he will spit up. As long as he's not spitting up, you're good to go!

Use your mommy instinct, and always remember that pediatricians, like all doctors, don't always know everything

Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

Yep, i agree with the previous posters. Feed that baby!

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

DD is bf but cries almost everytime I take her off the breast. She does this even with bottles! I have to stand up and walk around to distract her. I think she just finds comfort in nursing/eating and will never be done if I don't take her off.

Anyway back to your DS - why don't u try 5-5.5oz. How is he sleeping? I may up his intake a bit if you think he needs/wants more. You are his mommy so you can make the call!

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

if you increase ounces, i bet bottles space out a bit if she is taking it and not spitting up, go for it!

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

Thanks all!

I do try walking around, as well, after feeding him to distract him. Sometimes it works, sometimes he's still upset so I give him another ounce.

He's sleeping "ok" but I don't know how much to expect from a 5 week old. We've had a couple of nights where he's gone long stretches (4 or 5 hours, once even 6 hours!), but not always after a big bottle. Sometimes, it's after a small bottle. Same with daytime. Sometimes I get a good stretch from him on 4.5 ounces, and other times he's upset 2 hours after eating 6 ounces.

As a type-A who thrives on schedules I'm going a bit nuts! But he's so cute that it's worth it!

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

Once they were finishing a certain amount I'd always offer .25/.5 more. There were times they would eat an oz more than normal then go back to their usual. Now there are times I can only get my one dd to eat 3 oz! They go through growth spurts. A few weeks ago she was downing 6 oz.

If distracting him isn't working I'd give more. It could be temporary too. I don't think you can over feed. It's not like they are showing a preference for mc ds over broccoli. Lol. The are hungry.

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

Posted by headoverheels

32 oz is a good guideline but by no means a hard and fast rule. IMO (and from experience) babies do not overeat. If he is taking more than 4.5 oz, give it to him. If he is too full he will spit up. As long as he's not spitting up, you're good to go!

Use your mommy instinct, and always remember that pediatricians, like all doctors, don't always know everything

Re: Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

Posted by headoverheels

32 oz is a good guideline but by no means a hard and fast rule. IMO (and from experience) babies do not overeat. If he is taking more than 4.5 oz, give it to him. If he is too full he will spit up. As long as he's not spitting up, you're good to go!

Use your mommy instinct, and always remember that pediatricians, like all doctors, don't always know everything

Moms of HUNGRY Newborns

He wont overeat. I always went by if he was hungry after less than 4 hours after the 4 oz for a day or 2 increase it by 1 oz. But DS was always on a great schedule. Like clockwork ate every 4 hours and at night by 6 weeks he was sleeping 6-8 hours at night. I would even say he was on 6oz at a time by then. He never spat anything up either. He is a big baby but more long and good build than chubby.