Am I under feeding him?

[krystee]

I just googled "when to switch to bigger bottles" and found message board posts from moms of 11-week olds who were eating 6, 7, 8 or TEN ounces per feeding! J is 18 weeks tomorrow and has 5 ounces per feeding (six bottles most days, but seven today). He seems content, but also like he would take more if I offered it. Am I under feeding? He eats only formula. He is 16 pounds and in six-month clothing so I know I'm not starving him, but I'm not sure if I should be giving more. He sleeps through from 8-6, so I guess he would wake up if he needed more? I hate not having very clear instructions on what to do.

[heygrey]

he would wake up for sure if he were hungry. koko.

[penguingrrl]

All kids take different amounts. If he seems content and is growing steadily, sleeping well and doesn't seem malnourished he's almost definitely fine. None of my kids ever took more than 5 oz per feeding and they're all tall for their ages.

[hermione]

C never ate more than 6 ounces at a time. He'd tell you if he was still hungry.

[gretchenindisguise]

A is 8.5 months and still takes 5 oz bottles. We have tried to up it, and occasionally he will eat part of a second bottle but mostly he drinks 5oz bottles still.

[sparty04]

My almost 9 month old takes one 4 oz bottle and four 6 ounce bottles a day. He has never drank more than 6oz in a feeding and weighs 25lbs. My DS1 was very similar. If he's not acting hungry and is gaining weight, I think you've got it right

[sarahsas]

Our babies are about the same age and I feed usually 28oz/day. He seems fine with that. He has periods of way more but for now this works!

[jewel]

If he's growing, sleeping, and not crying like a maniac, you're definitely fine.

Mine has never taken more than 5 ounces at a feeding, and usually more like 3-4.

[KaraOrNot]

He will let you know if he is still hungry! Plus, it sounds like he is growing well, so I don't think you have to worry.

[redwino]

DD is 18 weeks and takes 5-6 6 oz bottles a day. We haven't had her 4 month appt. Yet but I don't think she's more than 14 lbs. Her pedi was surprised at how much she was eating and said that it was a lot for a baby dd's size but ok to continue feeding her that much. DD is just a big eater. Some kids are. I think your son is probably right on track since he's sleeping well and doesn't show signs of hunger.

[mandapanda18]

Jul 28, 2015 22:23:30 GMT -5 hermione said:

C never ate more than 6 ounces at a time. He'd tell you if he was still hungry.

My kid was the same, also I noticed that my kid are less (breast fed) than his formula fed cousin at each Fred. Both were happy, healthy and content

[spk926]

Every kid is different. DD never took more than 4 oz and even that was rare. Usually she just took 3 or 3.5 oz bottles. I had the small Playtex ones and never even bought the bigger ones because she didn't eat much!
She would then nurse all evening before going to bed for the night so that factors in too.

[Deleted]

My son is 11 months and just recently started drinking more than 4oz at a time and only before bed. You are doing fine!!

[Deleted]

Sounds like he's doing fine!

My son makes whiney hungry noises when he wants to eat more--I'm sure your son would do the same. And wake up more at night.

[rugbywife]

DD rarely took more than 4oz at a feeding, never more than 6.

[thebreakfastclub]

DS peaked at 6 oz at 6m, every 3 hours between 6a-6p, nothing overnight. Then it went down after he started more solids.

[mainelyfoolish]

My kids were both bottle fed. If they consistently finished their bottles at most feedings, I started making bottles with one additional ounce.

[imimahoney]

My daughter is a little older than 4 months and she gets 6 bottles a day. The MOTN bottle is 5 oz and all others are 4.5 oz. She usually doesn't finish the 4.5 oz bottles.

When she's a bit older we will switch to 5 oz bottles but I don't think she's ready yet.

Your son will let you know when he wants more.

[VillainV]

My son never ate more than 5oz in a sitting as long as he was drinking breast milk or formula.

[cep1976]

Kids are so different. My daughter maxed out at four 6 ounce bottles a day, and my son, who is 11 months, has never taken more than four 4 ounce bottles a day, but he nursed at night longer than my daughter did.

[hopecounts]

Kids are different.
If he was hungry he wouldn't be sleeping so well and he's growing well.
It sounds like he is fine. KOKO

[bk1]

G is almost 6 months and still takes 4-5 Oz bottles.

[SJ]

This was normal for us. I don't think she ever drank more than 30oz/day, but I could be confused.

[shellbear09]

We went to 6oz formula bottles at about 12 weeks but never went above that except for a few times. I wouldn't worry if he is content. Just increase if he you can tell he wants more. I would do a bigger night bottle if he is waking up. Otherwise it sounds perfectly normal.

[linz]

You're fine. If he is hungry he will let you know. I know DS also went thru a stage where he never wanted his bottle to end but if I fed him more he spit up all of it. Mine just got to 5 oz bottles at 9 months. They topped off at 28 oz a day and now are at 25 oz since they get 3 meals. I think one big difference too, at least I've noticed with my friends, is formula vs BM. It's hard to not compare, I know I've posted questions about it here. But every baby is different. There are also a ton of growth spurts in the beginning so some days might be a little more.

[anaps28]

DS1 was up to 8 oz by 4 months but DS2 is 9 mos and only drinks 6 oz twice a day the other bottles can be 4 or 5oz and he's 60% for weight and height.
Every kid is different as long as yours is thriving don't stress.

[krystee]

This makes me feel better. My mom keeps saying, "I was giving you guys eight ounce bottles PLUS cereal at this age! Are you sure he doesn't need more?" And since she is a nurse, I feel like I am doing something wrong. But I will go by his happiness level and KOKO!

[jennistarr1]

so I have 16 week old (today, hooray) and she eats once before I go to work, 3 times while I'm at work, and 3 times when I come home.

The three times while I'm at work she takes 3 ounces bottles...so 9.

The other 4 times I assume she's getting as much from the breast as she does from bottles, so 12 ounces total.

That's 21 ounces, from what I read, 25-28 ounces as good so I almost think I"m under except that I have a very happy, content healthy looking baby so I'm not worried. She's gaining weight from appointment to appointment, doesn't seem hungry, has been in the average weight range.  So I KOKO

[cheeseandcrackers]

E is almost 17 weeks and she is still eating 4-5 ounces a feeding. Sounds normal to me.