Hi, I have a 5 week old daughter who is constantly hungry!

Monica - posted on 03/30/2009

she shouldnt eat that often she is probably using the bottle as a pacifier, try giving her a paci

Rebekah - posted on 03/30/2009

Around 6 weeks your baby will go through a growth spurt and will feed every hour, it's what is called "cluster feeding".  This cluster feed is VERY important for breastfeeding moms, but a baby naturally does this even bottle fed.  Just feed your daughter, she needs the extra milk to compensate for her growth spurt.

Tricia - posted on 03/30/2009

I always was a on demand feeding mother.Even if she is hungry an hour later I would feed her a ounce or two.

Deidre - posted on 03/30/2009

Quoting Kat:

babies are only hungry when they really need food. around 5 weeks, there is often a growth spurt that will make them pretty fussy. don't worry about the schedule for now.... a baby's daily routine will change a dozen times before their first birthday. for now, just follow your daughter's cues, and you'll both do great!

*rofl*  I'm going to update that and say at least TWO dozen times their routine will change before they are one.  For now routine isn't necessary, following your baby's cues and learning their personality is key at this age.  Around three months is when I recommend really starting a daytime routine and bedtime routine (not necessarily feeding wise, but everything else).

Kat - posted on 03/30/2009

babies are only hungry when they really need food. around 5 weeks, there is often a growth spurt that will make them pretty fussy. don't worry about the schedule for now.... a baby's daily routine will change a dozen times before their first birthday. for now, just follow your daughter's cues, and you'll both do great!

Candice - posted on 03/30/2009

thanks Deidre, your little girl is so adorable!!!

Deidre - posted on 03/30/2009

A piece of advice I was told about growth spurts is they generally get them around 3wks, 6wks, 3mo, 6mo (and since your babe is 5wks I would say it's time for the 6wk growth spurt). I feed on demand with my daughter as I hate to see her go hungry. If you're concerned about giving her too much, give her 2-3oz of she seems hungry before her next scheduled feeding. At 5wks my daughter ate every 2-3hrs so that is perfectly normal.

Candice - posted on 03/30/2009

Thanks Annie and Geraldine, I will be trying this for her next feed xx

Annie - posted on 03/30/2009

hi my first born was just like that, was i did was make the bottles up to another oz each time so instead of 4oz i would try five, its not a big deal if he didnt take it but when he did he wasnt as hungry, after i got to a full bottle i put him on the hungrier baby formula and that did the trick as it is thicker  - hope this helps x

Geraldine - posted on 03/30/2009

You could try just giving an extra bit of milk in her bot. Also hungry baby formula is quite good if she will take to it.



My son was the same, he's 4 months now and has 8oz bottles plus rusks and a yoghurt in the day.



Just do what feels right!



xx

Candice - posted on 03/30/2009

hi April, she is currently on 4oz every 3 hours. Is it ok to give her this amount in between her normal feeding times?

April - posted on 03/30/2009

Hi. As a nursing student and a mom, I know that that is perfectly normal. Babies go through several growth spurts early in life and she will eat a lot more during those times. The extra hunger should only last for a few days to a week so I would just feed her what she wants during this time. If she is hungry, don't make her wait. How much does she eat at a time? Should be around 3-4oz.

Candice - posted on 03/30/2009

Quoting Nele:

Hi,

Think you should ask your dokter. But I know a friend with the same problem. Her son was also hungry all the time. If you give her a bottle, it is possible to put something extra in it. The food will not be that liquid anymore and your girl will need more time to digest the food. I think the name is Beabe but I don't know if its in Ireland to...

Hope you find you're solution soon

xxxx

Thanks for your advice Nele, do you know if they sell Beabe in Australia? (i'm from Australia not Ireland lol Ireland is my surname hehe)

Nele - posted on 03/30/2009

Hi,

Think you should ask your dokter. But I know a friend with the same problem. Her son was also hungry all the time. If you give her a bottle, it is possible to put something extra in it. The food will not be that liquid anymore and your girl will need more time to digest the food. I think the name is Beabe but I don't know if its in Ireland to...

Hope you find you're solution soon

xxxx