When do I increase the hours of the feeding? I have twin girls who are 10 weeks old, 5 week premies!

Michelle - posted on 08/03/2009

You might try to give them 6 oz. and hold them off to four hours. My twins were born at 30 weeks and they came home eating about 2-3 ounces every 4 hours at 7 weeks old, but every child is different. My advice is to try to hold them off and maybe give them more. You might also ask your pediatrician how soon you can mix some rice cereal into their formula in the bottle. Sorry, I can't remember how old mine were when we did that. They are 3 1/2 now. Good luck!

Rachel - posted on 08/03/2009

I was told how many oz. is about how many hours they should go. I tried that for a while in the beginning. My girls are a little over 3 months, and we are 6 oz. every 4-6 hours, when they let me know they are hungry. I was very adimit in the beginning of keeping the ounces to the hours. The formula companies, I think I have Similac's, have a chart of about how many ounces a day your child should be getting, we try to go by that. If we did 6 oz. only 4 times, they aren't getting enough in a day. So we try to do about 4-6 hours. Right now they are sleeping through the night, so when they get up they are starving, and the next feeding is usually 4 hours later, but I think thats from being so hungry from sleeping. I was told you can increase until they spit up. They will le tyou know when its enough.

Danielle - posted on 08/01/2009

Are you waking them up to feed them? I made this HUGE mistake trying to keep them on a "schedule." I increased the amount they ate gradually but at 10 wks they were on 4 ozs. by 12 wks they were on 6 ozs and they wouldn't be hungry until 4hrs later. (6 hrs at night)

Jennifer - posted on 07/29/2009

keep a log. a log will help tell you how much you fed them last and what time you fed them. if they still seem hungry right after a feeding, make an extra ounce or two and see if they eat that entire ounce

(s). if they do, during the next feeding in 2 1/2 hours, make 5 or 6oz and monitor if they eat the entire amt, if not... then stretch your hours to 3 and they probably will. So then, you're feeding 5-6oz every 3 hours. :) Which sounds about right for nearly 3 month old babies. All babies are different as all pregnancies are different. You have to read your babies' signs as well, but stick to a routine while reading their cues as it will help make your schedule predictable for your leisure time.

Jill - posted on 07/29/2009

The best thing you can do is read their cues. If they still seem hungry add a couple of ounces. When my girls were done eating they would turn their head away from the bottle or just play with the nipple. It seems like you can tell when they're ready to eat again, but I believe it is ok to start adding a couple more ounces, they have catching up to do. Our first night home from the NICU my girls screamed all night. I was doing everything exactly the same as in the hospital and couldn't figure out why. My SIL said try feeding them more. Reluctantly, I did, and it worked. Good luck.

Cassie - posted on 07/29/2009

With My boy and girl I just did it when they Wanted it, He moved up in feeds really quick where as she was a little slower, they are both on 200ml now even thought the formula tin says they shouldnt be just yet....... If they want more I would feed them more it will keep you sain and them Happy. Good Luck

Fallon - posted on 07/27/2009

Your babies sleep 6 hours at night? I'd say that's a good sign they're getting enough to eat..but just feed 'em until they're full..they won't eat anymore once they are..my babies are 10 weeks corrected age..(they were 6 weeks early) and I don't think I'll ever get 6 consecutive hours of sleep again..I'd say count your blessings..maybe they're just more active during the day..

Diana - posted on 07/26/2009

You wont overfeed your twins!!! If they are hungry, give them more. My twins are almost 8 weeks old and they eat anywhere from 3-6oz's per feeding. My dr reccommended always making an ounce more than they are eating because you always want there to be left over in the bottle to make sure that they are eating enough to fill them. Its a great idea. As for rice cereal to help them sleep...I have to give my daughter thickened feeding due to reflux, but I was doing it for my son at his night time feeding hoping he would sleep longer, and he didn't. He actually didnt take as much because it filled him up faster, so he would wake up hungry because he never ate enough. Babies will tell you when they are hungry and when they are full. There are guidlines like 1 oz for every 2 lbs, but every baby is different. It seems that they are telling you that you aren't giving them enough food and they want more, so feed them more. They will go longer between feedings too.

Johanna - posted on 07/24/2009

I started feeding my boys rice cereal once a day at night before bed with a spoon at about 4wks & I would increase formula as needed. I am sure alot of doctors would frown on the cereal thing but, the doctor doesn't always know best.

Jennifer - posted on 07/23/2009

Don't worry. Mine do the same thing. They are 15 weeks old (11 weeks corrected age) and they eat probably between four and six ounces a feeding. I say probably because I half breastfeed. But they eat at 5 a.m., 7 a.m.(sometimes) 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. I have never been able to force them to eat more and they drop feedings when they feel like it. My son will eat more (he ends up spitting it all back up) but my daughter will not and you can't make her. They sleep about six hours straight at night. They will tell you when they are ready.

Charlotte - posted on 07/23/2009

My boys are now 16 weeks old and they feed 4 times a day. They feed at 6am 10 am 2pm and 6pm they have 7 ounces for the first 3 feeds and then 9 ounces for their last feed and they sleep right through the night. I started giving them an extra 2 ounces in their feeds and it made them go longer and I give them the bigger one at night so they sleep longer. A month ago they use to feed 5 times a day but increasing their feeds will help them go longer. Sometimes they don't finish their night time bottle so I know that they are full then. Definately increase their feeding amounts.

Heather - posted on 07/23/2009

If they are taking 4 ounces put 5 in the bottle that way if they want more there is more to eat. Put one more ounce in there then they take that way there is extra to be had if they want. By now they should probably be taking 6-8 ounces a bottle, I hope this helps.

Natassia - posted on 07/22/2009

i had the same concern. my doctor told me that at this point... when they are so little... you can't over feed them. they just start playing with the nipple when they're full. it gets easier i promise.

Jessie - posted on 07/15/2009

I don't think you could over feed them! Mine were born at 35 weeks also, it seems so long ago but I think I pretty much kept them on a good eating schedule. When they did get cranky though, I would always see if they were hungry before anything else,

Ceri - posted on 07/15/2009

I increased the amount and eventually the time between feeding increased. I started when they were about 10 weeks as they were also 5 weeks early. good luck!

Tracy - posted on 07/14/2009

If you are able to start slowly increasing how much they are eating, they will be able to start going a little longer in between meals. It seems like you are constantly feeding them at first, but it won't take long and things will get easier! My twins are 7 months old now, but they have been going about 4 hours in between feedings for about 3-4 months. Once you get to a point where you can add cereal in the formula that will also help and it will help with sleeping longer through the night!

Diane - posted on 07/14/2009

Babies don't really overeat, they eat as much as they are hungry for and if they're still hungry then they really do need it. Some babies will overeat if they are stressed but this is rare and they almost always spitup the excess, so I wouldn't worry about overfeeding I would worry about underfeeding.

Rebekah - posted on 07/14/2009

I just fed mine as much as they would take, but you can't make them eat more than they want, and you can't "stretch" them much further. It's just a matter of letting them guide it really. Mine are 6 months corrected (15 wks early) and still feed mostly 3-hourly.

Tracie - posted on 07/13/2009

You can't overfeed babies this young. They will stop eating when they are full. Try giving them 6 oz every 3 hours or so. If they finish the bottle, you could give even more. They will not finish a bottle if it is too much for them. Also, they may be going through a growth spurt, and will go longer stretches between meals in a few days when the growth spurt slows down.

Amie - posted on 07/13/2009

at nite they sleep for 6 hours.

Beccy - posted on 07/13/2009

my twins were breastfed, but try giving extra formula then naturally they'll go longer between feeds.

Dani - posted on 07/12/2009

my twins are 10weeks corrected age.. they were born 11 weeks early.. and they eat 7ounches every 4hours.they have been having 7oz since they were 2weeks corrected age... just feed them what they want.. try building it up a bit each feed if they keep wanting more.. also how long do they sleep at night..? mine sleep 9-13hrs a night and once they have had a long sleep they seem to want to eat more often during the day.. or do urs eat 2hrly at night to..

Noel - posted on 07/12/2009

I increased the amount by an ounce with both my girls. I had the same issue but they will eat as much as they want, you don't have to worry about over feeding them cuz they will stop when they are full. I was told by the NICU nurses and doctor that they will start to eat a lot more after they get home and they did.

Liz - posted on 07/12/2009

I would suggest increasing the amount you give them. If you give them more it will satisfy them longer and increase the amount of time as well.

Najiyyah - posted on 07/12/2009

Its really whenever they are ready. With my girls I added and ounce to the bottel at a time and just monitored how long before they wanted another meal. They started with 2 ounces before they came home. By the 2nd weeks home they were on 4 ounces.