How much do you feed your 5-6 month old? (FF)

[anoushka]

We've been trying to stick to 4oz of formula every 3 hours, as advised by his pediatrician, but DS often seems hungry before 3 hours is up. I mentioned this to her, and she said we really need to stick to every 3 hours (preferably even longer). This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I'm paranoid about feeding him too much, because of the chance that formula contributes to obesity and because people are always making comments about him being "chunky" (which makes me want to throttle them). He was 15 lbs a few weeks ago, not sure what he weighs now. How much do you feed your 5-6 month old?

(We just started purées, but I don't think he eats enough to stave off hunger yet.)

[soozy87]

When my 6 mo gets formula he gets 6 oz. We feed on demand.

[spk926]

15 pounds for a 6 month is fine!

Formula doesn't change its contents like BM does so it only makes sense you would have to feed more for your child as they get older and require more. If he's hungry feed him!!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy SIII

[Deleted]

IIRC we were giving 6 oz of formula every 4 hours. Maybe try upping the amount and still feeding every 3 hours?

[glauren]

My DS is a snacker - he gets anywhere from 2-4oz every 2 hours. We also feed on demand.
If your instinct tells you to feed him more often, feed him more often! Try not to let other people's comments bother you. People are always telling me how huge my 20lb 28 1/4in 7 month old is - they don't mean anything negative by it. I like that he's sturdy
And I mentioned this in another thread earlier (yesterday?) but I was always SO STRESSED about overfeeding my kid. In the end, I followed his lead and fed when he was hungry and stopped when he wasn't. He's turning out ok!

[bazinga]

Our DD gets 6 oz at a time, probably about every three hours. She averages about 34 oz of formula a day.
And she is small for her age. She was 13 lbs at 5 months.

[anoushka]

May 6, 2014 12:46:02 GMT -5 glauren said:

Try not to let other people's comments bother you. People are always telling me how huge my 20lb 28 1/4in 7 month old is - they don't mean anything negative by it. I like that he's sturdy

I have such a hard time with this. I just keep thinking, "really, you look at my adorable kid and the first word that comes to mind is 'chunky'?" My co-worker even saw some photos yesterday and said, "wow, he's very... round."  WTF?

[buffysummers]

DS is 4 months and gets 6 oz bottles every 3.5 hours or so. Sometimes he'll finish it, sometimes he'll leave an ounce.

My pedi told me if your baby seems hungry when they're done with a bottle, it's time to add more to it.

[BaliHai]

DD is 5 months and has 6-7oz every 3-4 hours.

Eta- She was 15lbs even two weeks ago.

[browneyedgirl9]

DS is almost 4 months, he drinks 4-6oz every 2.5 hours.

[glauren]

May 6, 2014 12:53:35 GMT -5 anoushka said:

May 6, 2014 12:46:02 GMT -5 glauren said:

Try not to let other people's comments bother you. People are always telling me how huge my 20lb 28 1/4in 7 month old is - they don't mean anything negative by it. I like that he's sturdy

I have such a hard time with this. I just keep thinking, "really, you look at my adorable kid and the first word that comes to mind is 'chunky'?" My co-worker even saw some photos yesterday and said, "wow, he's very... round."  WTF?

Your coworker sounds like an asshole! I'm sorry. 

[thebreakfastclub]

At that age, it was 5 oz bottles every 3 hours between 6am - 6pm. He did not eat overnight.

[ilikedonuts]

How many bottles a day?

If your child is hungry, you need to feed him more. Your pediatrician sounds like an idiot.

[rt2008]

How many bottles a day is he getting?

I think at that age DD ate 5-6 oz bottles, but did not eat overnight.

[galaxy8227]

DD is 4 months and gets 7 oz every 3-4 hrs. During the day she doesn't always finish them but morning and night she finishes them. She doesn't eat overnight.

[ilikedonuts]

I really am side eying the whole worrying about feeding your kid when they are hungry because formula might contribute to obesity and because he's already chunky...

And my 6 month old gets 6 oz every 3 hours during the day, 8 oz before bed and a 6 oz bottle around 5am.

Oh and she was 16 lbs yesterday at her 6 month appt. And one of her friends is 2 months younger than her and over 18 lbs. And that baby is BF.

[kdubs923]

DS is combo fed, so sometimes his bottles are BM and some are Formula. He's currently 6 months, but has been getting 5-6 oz bottles during the day (and an 8 ounce bottle before bed) for nearly 2 months. He doesn't always 100% finish every ounce each time, but it's helpful to have it there if he's particularly hungry at that feeding.

I'd start adding another ounce or two to the bottles.

[anoushka]

He usually gets eight 4oz bottles a day (meaning we feed him every three hours even through the night, because he wakes up for a bottle). We've tried adding more oz to the bottles, but he has pretty bad reflux and 4 oz works best.

I don't know why it's side eye-worthy to worry about obesity - I just want a healthy, happy kid. I'm a first-time mom and not all that sure about what I'm doing, and it worries me a little when a doctor tells me this stuff.  Sometimes I'm not sure if he's hungry or what. But that's why I'm asking about it here. From the responses, it sounds like I could feed him a little more frequently without worry.

[littlemisschatty]

I think at that age he was having 5 bottles of formula a day -6-7 oz each. As his solids intake increased, he dropped a few ounces here and there.

PS Formula doesn't contribute to obesity.

[rex]

L was having 4 or 5 bottles, 5.5+ oz.

Your pediatrician is being a dope about this. feed your kid if he's hungry. follow his cues etc.

if you increase his amount he won't scream and will likely go longer without food.

also ignore people. they don't know what else to say about babies. L was 15lb at 6m and that's small its not a competition!

[Birdie]

DS is 10 weeks and his pedi told us he should be up to 4.5oz bottles by 12-14 weeks. It sounds like your LO is hungry.

And I don't believe formula contributes to obesity. We're a whole generation of formula fed babies and we're not all obese. Formula isn't the devil.