My 6.5 week old is still hungry after 4 oz...

Michelle - posted on 09/19/2010

I started off breastfeeding my son. Unfortunately my milk didn't come in for six days, and my son lost more than 10% of his body weight. He was born weighing 7 lbs 3.5 oz. We had to substitute with formula until he gained his weight back. I wanted to keep trying to breastfeed him, but it just wasn't working out for us. We started him off on one certain type of formula. He started off eating heaps of this formula. By 5 weeks old he was eating 150 mL, and eating every 2 hours. Eventually he became very constipated,so we switched to a different brand. On this formula he actually regressed eating to 100 mL. He sleeps a lot more better on this formula. He eats every 4 hours, and now weighs more than 11 lbs at 8 weeks old! He is tons more colicky, and a TON more gassy. ( I'm weighing out my pro's and con's) I'm starting to figure out that raising a child is a lot of trial and error. I think that you spend more time with your son than anyone else. You of all people know how he reacts to the new world surrounding him. I would defiantly consult another doctor. He is more than likely just a hungry little guy. :)

Nikki - posted on 09/13/2010

i have a little girl who is 7.5 weeks. and is on 180mls. she has been on it since she was about 3.5 weeks. she was just so hungry so i cant deprive her of food. sometimes she drinks it all sometimes she leaves some. she is a big girl 9pounds8 born. but i would rather her be a full happy baby then a cranky hungry baby. she stops when she is full so i know im not over feeding her... i dont beleive you should be depriving your baby of food. and its better on you to have a full baby that sleeps well and you get a good slep and rest to take care of your baby.

Chrystal - posted on 09/13/2010

well my daughter is 9 1/2 weeks old and is just now getting up to 6 oz. According to my Dr. she's right on target w/ her oz. She eats every 3-4 hours. But if you feel that your baby is still hungry after 4 oz up it 1/2 oz and see what happens. Your baby will let you know when he/she is satisfied:)

Nicole - posted on 09/12/2010

my daughter is 7 weeks old and drinks 6oz she was 7lbs 7oz and is now 12lbs and they said at the doc that so long as shes not spitting up its fine, i find she goes longer without eating even sleeping through the night.she also refuses when shes full so if one feeding she doesnt finish it its ok i also only up it an oz at a time not two... but i think 6oz is fine if thats what he needs to be full

Nikki - posted on 09/12/2010

Your son weighed exactly the same as mine at birth and at 6 weeks, and he drank 6 oz, feed him as much as he wants, if he is not spitting it uo its obviously what he needs to eat. A baby will only eat til they are full, I dont agree with your doctor at all. Go with what you feel is right. My son was drinking 12 oz at 5 months... thats when we finally started solids.... DO NOT GIVE CEREAL yet no matter what people tell you all your baby needs is formula or breastmilk, there little stomache cannot digest solid food its too weak abd ut will do more harm then good, also when u do start cereal pref after 4 months , use a spoon NOT IN THE BOTTLE its a choking hazard.... ALSO cereal is simply a filler it has no nutrional value

Lindsay - posted on 09/12/2010

I would do what YOU feel is best for your baby! My son is 8 weeks and 5 days and I am going to start putting cerial in his bottles soon. The doctors told me not to but the formula alone just is not enough for him anymore! So bottom line I think us mommy's know our children the best!!! :)

Whitney - posted on 09/11/2010

i ahd the same issue with my son (who is now 9 weeks). at his 10 day growth spurt he went from eating 2-2.5 oz to 4 oz! my body couldn't keep up so we supplemented as well, but the dr seemed to think 4 oz was too much. in the long of it though, we (as moms) know more about our babies on a day to day basis than your dr ever will. this isnt to say he may not have a point, but if you're baby is hungry and 6 oz makes him happy, so be it! i wouldnt worry about how much he is getting unless he develops some issue..good luck !

Whitney

Catherine - posted on 09/10/2010

...My 8 week old eats 4 -8 every 2-4 hours, and if she was still hungry I would still feed her. If you think your child is still hungry than feed him, make him happy not your doctor.

Jenni - posted on 09/10/2010

My daughter would take 6 oz EBM at that age. She was 7.11 lbs at birth and is now 15lbs at 4 months. She isn't a chubby baby either, she's just big. (My husband's side of the family are giants with his Dad towering at 6'8).
Personally, I feed on demand. I'm pretty sure 'most' doctors agree that FOD is best for baby. Maybe try for a second opinion.

Salime - posted on 09/10/2010

Just my personal experience: my son never got to latch so I pump my milk (thankfully he's 6 months and we haven't had the need of formula)... when I started giving him the bottle I also noticed he drank and drank and was never quite satisfied... also, he wasn't good a throwing up or spitting... but now I think I DID give him way too much milk because now he's able to refuse the bottle and drinks 2/3 or less of what I gave him! So be careful, maybe you should try giving him 4 oz and if he gets fussy give him a bit more.

Amanda - posted on 09/10/2010

cereal is also a good suggestion but dont put it in the bottle! if you feel like that might work try spoon feeding! if not.. just keep doing what your doing and feed your hungry baby!

Kendra - posted on 09/10/2010

My daughter was eating around 6 to 7 ounces (formula because I couldn't breastfeed) every 3 to four hours when she was 6 weeks old. A very hungry baby she was. My doctor said that babies have growth spurts at 3 and 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months. So if he acts like he's hungry let him eat. He may be going through that growth spurt. My doctor also told me that it is okay to mix single grain rice cereal in their night time bottle only (still very very liquidy though). I didn't start that until about 3 months old.

Jessica - posted on 09/09/2010

Do what you think is best for your child. Doctors all say one thing but your baby is not like anyone elses. My son was eating 6 oz and actually hasnt wanted anymore since and he is now 4 months old. As long as he keeps it down and doesnt seem to be having a belly problem then let him eat. He is a growing baby and theres nothing wrong with a big boy!

Sarh - posted on 09/09/2010

I would never put cereal in a bottle. It is a choking hazard. You can try and spoon feed it to baby, same difference, just safer. When my daughter and son both were about 3 wks old I had to give them both cereal because the milk was just not enough. My son didn't like rice cereal so I gave him foods, he did perfectly fine w/this! They learn very quickly how to eat from a spoon.

Danielle - posted on 09/09/2010

my baby was like that 2 so my grandmother told me to give her a little ceral in her bottles it works for me

Amanda - posted on 09/09/2010

if hes hungry feed him! if hes too full.. hell spit up for sure. you know your son and evey child is different! my son was born with pyloric stenosis and didnt eat more than 2oz at a time until he has surgry at 6 weeks old.. i ended up starting fresh like he was brand new with 2oz at a time.. but even then he quickly progressed up to 4-5 oz. so i dont thnk 6oz is alot for a healthy baby! good luck!

Lindsey - posted on 09/09/2010

Ami he is a formula fed baby! I tried breast feeding but he had jaundice really bad and we struggled with breastfeeding so his doctor had me do formula for like a week...well we tried to go back to breastfeeding and he wouldn't latch on! I thought it was odd he said we were feeding him too much as well but being a first time mom I hang on the doctors every word..definitely something I will have to work on! Thanks for your opinions!

Sarh - posted on 09/09/2010

I feed my son when he is hungry and until he is full. If your son is not spitting up then it is not too much! A baby will stop eating when they are full!!! Continue to feed him as much as he (your son) wants to eat!!! My son was 8lbs 12.5oz at birth and at 8 wks old he was 15lbs (not for sure how much he weighed at 6.5wks, but 8 is close). He maybe going through a growth spurt and you don't want to "deprive" him from that. Try switching pediatricians. I have never had a pediatrician tell me I was feeding my children too much.

Ami - posted on 09/09/2010

Honestly, you will know best what is working. If he is hungry, feed him! It might be different if your son was spitting it back up, or getting tummy aches. The doctors also say to wake a baby up every few hours to eat as well, but I said forget that! When the baby is hungry, he/she will let me know! I'm not waking a sleeping baby unless there is a medical reason involved (for example, jaundice, and eating frequently helps the jaundice filter out quicker).

Just wondering...if your baby eating breast milk or formula. Breast milk is easier to digest and doesn't keep babies full for as long. My daughter was eating all the time when she was on breast milk, and less frequently when we eventually switched over to formula. I'm not judging either way. Breast milk and formula both have their pros/cons!