hungry 7 week old..help

Mylene - posted on 01/17/2013

can coconut milk be processed as infant's formula milk?

Alicia - posted on 03/15/2010

i now have a two year old son but he did pretty much the same thing. i breast fed him until he was about 5months old,until he drank me completely dry and i couldnt keep up with him. I used to put a little it of baby cereal into his bottle to keep his belly full.i would try doing that and see how it goes for you

Louise - posted on 03/15/2010

thanks everyone..i decided to change her onto hungry baby milk, and she seems more satisfied and happy on that, and is feeding every 4 hour on 6oz

Louise - posted on 03/14/2010

thanks everyone..i decided to change her onto hungry baby milk, and she seems more satisfied and happy on that, and is feeding every 4 hour on 6oz

Kathy - posted on 03/13/2010

You might try mixing some baby cereal for her right before bed time and it will help her hold something on her little tummy so she can be satisfied longer to sleep more. You do NOT need to give her much at all maybe 1-2 tsp with formula and she will surprise you with a restful night.

Krissy - posted on 03/13/2010

my little girl was the same way my doctor told me to put a small teaspoon of baby cereal for every ounce of formula in her bottle and it helped her alot she even started to sleep all night because she didnt get hungry as fast

Marcie - posted on 03/13/2010

Doctors say that but it is ok to bump it up a little more cause if she is still hungry a half hour later then the baby is not getting enough to eat. It doesn't hurt to also try giving her a 2 ounce bottle in between feedings I did that with my daughter, she did not always want one after every feeding but sometimes she would still be hungry after her first or third.

Felicia - posted on 03/13/2010

IF SHE IS HUNGRY FEED HER. THE ONLY REASON WHY THEY SAY OUT INCREASE THE AMOUT YOU GIVE THEM IS BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF WEIGHT PROBLEMS (BEING TO CHUNKY FOR THEIR AGE) I HAVE 5 KIDS AND THE DR TOLD ME WITH EVERYONE OF MY KIDS TO FEED THEM IF THEY ARE HUNGRY.

Asti Renee - posted on 03/13/2010

If she's actually hungry then you should feed her. That is just my opinion. I have breastfed my son so I don't know what bottle feeding is like. But I think if everything else is good [dry diaper and such] and shes still crying, feed her. There must be a reason she is hungry.

Jennifer - posted on 03/13/2010

Be careful giving your 7 week old water. You run the risk of water intoxication. That's when their electrolytes become imbalanced. Babies can die because of too much water. From what I have studied you shouldn't introduce water until they are about 7 months old and eating baby food regularly. It shouldn't be much either. The say not to water down formula because of this danger.

Risha - posted on 03/12/2010

ya.. an infant as urs shud be fed every two hours....

Jane - posted on 03/12/2010

no water! when they're this little, water is dangerous for her kidneys - they can't process it and it can lead to renal failure.

if she's hungry feed her - i'm not sure why you be told not to feed her. also, this is around when they get their first growth spurt,so she needs more milk.

some advice i got - do what you would want someone to do for you when you're figuring out how to meet your child's needs. if you were asking to be fed, what you want someone to do, if you were asking to be held, what would you want done for you? if you were asking to go to bed, what would you want someone to do for you?

meeting your child's needs his how you are building the trust b/w the two of you.

what does the pediatrician recommend? i would steer clear of adding another milk product to her feedings, it takes their little tummies a week to readjust to a new product when they're this little. she'd just end up with belly aches.

feed her on demand. when she's hungry, feed her. i'm an italian mom - FEED THAT BABY! and keep the person who told you not to, out of your house!

Amber - posted on 03/12/2010

Hi Louise. I was told by my sons home health nurse that an average baby should eat an average amount of formula through a 24 hour period. You can figure this amount by taking your daughters weight and times it by 2.5. Keep in mind the amount of time she sleeps too. If she sleeps through a feeding at night or during a nap time then she will be hungrier when she wakes. My daughters doctor (11 yrs ago) and my sons doctor now have both said that on demand feeding is best and they will not eat more than they should. My daughter was always on top of the growth charts but now she is just at 5 ft tall and on her way to be a taller than average girl. Their bodies know what they need.

Kristy - posted on 03/12/2010

I was always told if your baby is hungry feed em'. My son seemed to always be hungry so I feed him and he's been a healthy boy. He's never been overweight. I to suggest that you seek a second opinion.

Jennifer - posted on 03/12/2010

Is she screaming and crying 30 min. later? I have 3 kids and 3 of them had a dairy allergy when they were babies. Two of them had a soy allergy and one was also allergic to corn and wheat. I breastfed them all but I had to cut the allergens out of my diet. Mine would cry or scream 15-30 minutes after they ate before I knew what the problem was. Many times babies act hungry because they are in pain for comfort I guess. The bad thing is the dairy free and soy free formula is VERY expensive. Just a thought. I agree with the others though eating every 4 hours at 7 weeks is old is outrageous. It took mine until they were almost a year to go to every 4 hours. Two of mine were every two hours until they were about 4 months. It is difficult that often. But you can't say that every baby is the exact same and needs the same things.

Tracy - posted on 03/12/2010

around 8 weeks my little girl did that too. she would drink her bottle and want more in about a 1/2 hour or so. and she would cry. i knew something was wrong cause she was always such a quiet baby. so when that started i looked on the net and found she had symptoms of acid reflux. i took her to the doc and got some med and it stopped!

Tricia - posted on 03/12/2010

this is old fashion- but this is what they did- she's old enough to start implanting baby food into her formula- get a large nipple- start with really simple basic's - keep the acid down- I suggest banana's, pears and even some lite veggies or mashed potatoes, remember to start thin and then increase, she;ll be ready for baby food quick and easy. another old trick is to add carnation sweet milk, very lite. it is a sugur high for them but makes them fat.

Christina - posted on 03/12/2010

your baby is just growing and its body is in high demand for those calories and the fat it needs to grow, My son was eating that much ever 45 mins, Babies don't over eat, their bodies tell them what they need. and babies do not become overweight they will eventually grow into their bodies! don't worry she'll eventually slow down!

Amanda - posted on 03/12/2010

I agree with most of the others here. You could try many things.... decrease how long between feedings, increase how much, put cereal (though do be careful i had to do that for my daughter when she was little cause she had reflux and it'd help settle that and my aunt had my cousin eating cereal and stuff at like 6 weeks because he was just that hungry and never gained much weight. but i don't suggest doing more than just cereal) If you do put cereal in her bottle be sure your actually holding her and not just laying her down with it. But most importantly follow your maternal instinct and do what you feel is best. Though i would look into getting a different dr. since your current one is saying to deprive your child food (cause i'm sorry but they DO know when to STOP because that's when they are comfortable when they are full) I WOULDN'T suggest the formula that is like real milk if it actually has milk stuff in it because giving a child milk before they are a year old could cause them to have lactose issues.

Ashlee - posted on 03/12/2010

Give her rice/ cereal. I gave my middle daughter cereal at the same age to help her sleep and like said before she should still be eating every 2- 3 hours so maybe you could try only giving her 4oz every 3 hours

Louise - posted on 03/12/2010

hi my son christopher was a hungrey baby to i use to feed him ever 2 to 3 hours during the day then at night hed go 6 or 8 hours without a feed werid as i used nurtura for hungery babys its the purple 1 its alot thinker and filles them up for longer its not good to stave then as i learnt my son got sick and then u pay for it in the long run just feed her cus by the time u do feed her shel golp it down and then she still hungrey later on dats what i found

Sarah - posted on 03/12/2010

I was told that infants due not know how to over eat! They want food because they are hungry. If it is breast milk you are feeding they get hungry faster because it digests faster then formula. I also found that my son (as well as from what my friends said there babys did) that babys are hungry every 2 to 4 hors until they are older and there stomachs get bigger. I was told not to give newborns water as food. I also started giving my son rice cereal in his bottles at 1 1/2 months because he was constantly hungry. It was a 1/2 a teaspoon to 4 oz of formula/breast milk. I got this advice from 3 great grandmas and 2 close friends =0) It made a huge difference! The doctor advised against it but I had to do something and after i just went ahead and did it the doctor wasn't upset. All they said was make sure he doesn't have an allergy or become constipated. I hope that this helps ...

My bigest advice is if she's hungry feed that baby!!! You are the Mom and you know whats best! AS MY GREAT GRANDMAS SAY THATS WHY THEY CALL IT A PRACTISE BECAUSE DOCTORS ARE JUST PRACTISING MEDICINE THEY DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING

Judy - posted on 03/12/2010

My twenty one year old son was the same. At two weeks of age he was insatiable. He was starving every two hours. I tried to hold him off but he would just cry and cry and then I would cry and cry. We were both exhausted. So the day he was three weeks old I fed him some rice cereal mixed with formula in a bowl (about a quarter of a tsp) before I fed him. It was so runny it was kind of like a thick formula. I did that at his 11 pm feeding and he slept for 6 hours. It was glorious so I continued to do this. I had already tried giving him more formula but he would just spit it up cause his belly was full. I think the rice cereal did the trick. By the way he is now full grown and healthy ( 6' 2") and has never had or does not have now any digestion problems. No one told me to do this...I just followed my instincts and I think you should do the same. Trust your own instincts. Doctors and books don't have all the answers.

Myra - posted on 03/12/2010

You can give as much as she needs. Normal amounts up to 4 months of age is up to 36oz. I started my daughter on rice cereal at 4 weeks because she had been taking more than 36oz for 10 days. It isn't recommended usually to start any foods until 4-6mo, but since yours is taking 6-6oz bottles, your baby's doctor may recommend it since they don't want you giving more formula. Since babies don't eat more than they need, though, feed your LO until she's content. If she can take more formula without spitting up more, try giving more formula first. When fixing the formula for hungrier babies, fix the amount you fix now until you can determine if she needs less. My daughter (6wks old), has patterns and takes more in the evenings so she usually gets 6oz-8oz feedings, but in the day, she prefers smaller feedings of 4oz. Look at yours' patterns, and you'll have a feeding schedule tailored to her needs.

Best of luck...hungry babies unite.

Shelly - posted on 03/12/2010

If she is hungry feed her don't hold back food. Babies know when they are full. Don't worry because she is a chubber as she starts moving around more she will lose the chub. Babies eat alot for the first few months and then calm down into a more steady schedule...they also eat alot during growth spurts. Nobody knows your baby better than you do. If you suspect there is another reason why shes hungry or just unsettled then have her checked by another doctor/pediatrician. Don't just take everything a doctor tells you because they are a doctor, dont be afraid to ask questions or for another opinion they arent always right they are perfectly capable of making mistakes too. But from what u say she may just need a little extra food.

Claudia - posted on 03/12/2010

what's sma milk? just feed her often and consider yourself lucky to have a hungry baby, I could never get my kids to eat... now THAT is frustrating!

Marj - posted on 03/12/2010

o ya and something else! maybe u should try giving her ear drops. they say babies often earaches cause the ear canal has to develop and it causes earaches, polysporin eye and ear drops are really good and safe for baby maybe give that a try as well. i had that problem with my baby when she was that age and turned out she was in pain cuz of her ears

Marj - posted on 03/12/2010

a 7 week old baby still needs milk at least every 3 hours, and who cares if she's real pudgy. fat babies are cute and as she grows she will loose the weight! as long as she is healthy and happy thats all that matters. maybe shes really gassy? try some techniques to help her burp! lay her on her tummy and GENTLY! press her legs against her tummy and do a circular motion like riding a bike and then pick her up, the might fart a lot and not burp at all but thats really good too! and do not give ur baby any rice! she is still so young if u do that then she will have trouble passing stools, and thats the last thing u want!

Autumn - posted on 03/12/2010

Are you sure it is hunger, or could she be crying cause something else is wrong? Eating can be soothing to some babies so it seems like feeding fixes the problem, but really only calms them down for a little bit.

Alison - posted on 03/12/2010

I was told to feed on demand while baby is a newborn. That's what I do with my son (but I breastfeed) so I am not sure as to how much he gets... I would try to feed her slower- a few ounces at a time. Maybe that would help.

Chloe - posted on 03/12/2010

my son was like that wen he was a baby , i uped his formular by an oz or 2 .... if she is still hungry try her on the hungry baby formular . it ant gonna do her any harm. wen i was a baby my mum put me on the hungry baby formular wen i was a few weeks old . if u do though make sure u give her a lil bit of water because it could make her consterpaited , hope this is helpful :) x

Cheraki - posted on 03/12/2010

Firstly let me start by saying.. YOU are mom... You have to do what you feel is best for your child...
I was fed mashed potatoes and gravy and anything smooth when I was born.. I am now 33 and I am healthy.. I also have 4 children of my own.. My grandmother fed my mom and my aunts and uncles from day one.. My mom fed my 2 brothers and myself from day one.. A lot of parenting comes from what your parents have done.. You can learn from thier mistakes or who can trust that things they did was right.. I fed my children... as they were always hungry.. I put a little cereal in the bottle.. keep it thin so it will flow through the nipple with out have to increase the size.. It will help your little one become fuller...There are a lot opposed to feeding a child before 6 months. and there are a lot that believe in feeding a child when it's hungry.. The way I see if if we are hungry don't we eat? A baby is just a smaller version of us.. I seen a mom take a bottle away from her children because she didn't want them to eat to much and get fat.. and also the dr told her that the baby was overweight.. I told her that her and her dr was idiots.. To feed the baby.. I mean during that time she was only giving formula..

Look at things like this.. if you did nothing but drink formula all day wouldn't you get hungry? And when you are hungry don't you eat?

Not all drs know what they are talking about.. My last child was lactose intolerant.. I switched her formual and he tried to take the credit for the switch.. I told him he was an idito that he never even suggested it.. He asked me why I switched I told him it wasn't my first rodeo and that my oldest was lactose intolerant when she was little.. So, I knew. But, I also went with my motherly instinct..

So, to end my post.... I am going to say this I have 4 children all are girls.. and they are all very healthy.. Trust in yourself and you instincts..

Good Luck and Best Wishes

Heather - posted on 03/12/2010

I have 4 children, my 3rd baby (my son) was born at 9lbs and was ALWAYS starving..I could feed him a full 8oz bottle at newborn and he would still be hungry..my pediatrician told me to put some rice cereal in his formula to help fill his belly up. This DID in fact work so I could have somewhat of a break inbetween feedings and he slept better. By the time he was 4 weeks old we had moved onto jared rice and oatmeal food...which he LOVED!!! Talk to your pediatrician about doing something that can sustain your baby off longer. Good luck

Marci - posted on 03/12/2010

i read this post and now i almost don't want to be a part of this community. You are not listening... feed the baby more! Unbelievable.

Louise - posted on 03/12/2010

thanks everyone..i decided to change her onto hungry baby milk, and she seems more satisfied and happy on that, and is feeding every 4 hour on 6oz

Taren - posted on 03/11/2010

My son is 7 months now and he was always hungry when he was younger. He is on the heavy side but I would give him Oatmeal. 1tbsp oatmeal with 1 1/2 teaspoons water and that helped. As soon as she starts rolling and crawling the weight will come off but if that baby is hungry feed her.
My doctor was the one that told me to do the oatmeal and that it wouldn't hurt him and that just because he's alittle heavy it's ok because like I said when she starts to roll and crawl the weight will come off.

Michelle - posted on 03/11/2010

me again..sorry........also don't worry about timed feeds...a baby will always wake when hungry, and will always feed until satisfied.

Michelle - posted on 03/11/2010

And don't add too much other stuff to a young babies bottles....it messes with their excretions in the nappy....you dont want a constipated baby or one with the 'runs'. Best of luck.

Michelle - posted on 03/11/2010

feed your baby as your baby demands! you will not regret it! you know your baby best and dont let other people tell you you don't. I have 4 kids of various ages. if you want your sanity back, and the crying to stop, feed the baby as she demands and life will get easier very fast.

Danielle - posted on 03/11/2010

try adding a little bit of baby oatmeal to her bottles......it should help alot.....my son had a problem eating like that but he was 4 months old when it started.......just a little bit of oatmeal should help alot....

Debra - posted on 03/11/2010

nevermind about the overweight chart up ounces to 7. i never listened to any of my health visitors i listened to my mom my son i put on the red sma and my daughter was on the aptimel both are now healthy 7 and 2 yr olds.

Jodi - posted on 03/11/2010

Feed her if she is hungry! Don't worry about her being an "overweight" baby. That is nonsense! If your MD is telling you that then they are ignorant! At 7 weeks she should still be eating every 2 hours. So cut her back to 4 or so ounces every 2 hours and see how things go. And about the water thing. I'm not sure if you are aware of it or not, but babies are not supposed to have much water at first. This can throw their entire system off and you can have major problems, including salt deficiancy and iron deficiancy. Limit the amount of water you give her to no more than 2 ounces a day. Otherwise, you may have a very sick baby on your hands eventually. Hope everything works out.... :o)

Louise - posted on 03/11/2010

thanks everyone..i decided to change her onto hungry baby milk, and she seems more satisfied and happy on that, and is feeding every 4 hour on 6oz

Beth - posted on 03/11/2010

When my son was 2 weeks old and seemed to want more to eat we started him on rice cereal with his formula we gave him about a tablespoon of rice cereal and thined it out so he could eat it then the rest of the formula that was in the bottle and it helped a great deal. but only gave him the cereal in the morning for breakfast and at night before bedtime, also did the same thing for my daughter. I would definately get a second opinion on what you were told.

Nicole - posted on 03/11/2010

I would definitely move the time to at least 3 hours maybe 2 1/2 evan. I would also use a slower flow nipple (longer sucking). I am soo sorry that you and your baby are having such a hard time. My children were always in the 95th percentile as babies and are now very thin!

Rachel - posted on 03/11/2010

My daughter was going through that much and more when she was that size. It took a few doctors, but one finally realized that she had acid reflux. She said it isn't too common, but some babies drink and drink because they think it makes their stomach feel better, but really it just continues the cycle. They put her on some medicine for it and about two months later she went off it and the problem was solved.

Gin - posted on 03/11/2010

coconut milk, catnip tea, alfalfa tea with some karo syrup, goats milk. hold her to your breast while you feed her. use breatmilk bottles instead of the others.

Victoria - posted on 03/11/2010

My daughter was born weighing 8 lbs 4 oz....the first time she had a feeding she ate 2 oz....that was a lot for a newborn baby. When we got her home she was hungry all th e time........i started feeding her cereal at night when she was only 4 weeks old. Not a lot but only at night......she still eats every 3 hours but at night time she eats cereal with her 4oz bottle and sleeps ALL night....she is almost 3 months now and still only eats 4 oz. There are times when i have to feed her an extra 2 oz though. I would try to feed her cereal at night for a week and see if that fills her up.

Fouzia - posted on 03/11/2010

Is your daughter's pediatrician ok with your daughter's weight gain progress? even though you have restricted her milk at 6oz per every 4 hour. If she is gaining healthy weight, then your baby is ok, and may be has other problem (crying and all)

It is possible that your daughter might have some food allergies ( all that crying after feeding). Talk to her pediatrician.

My son used to cry a lot, beyween 1-10 months, then we found out he had major allergies that hurt his stomach, and that information helped a lot.

Louise - posted on 03/11/2010

thanks everyone..i decided to change her onto hungry baby milk, and she seems more satisfied and happy on that, and is feeding every 4 hour on 6oz