How Much Formula Should a Newborn Take at Each Feeding?

Okay, don't worry my son at that age was breast/bottle fed because he was in the NICU and I remember them giving him 2 oz. every 2 hours. I would pump, and they would give him tiny little bottles. When I breastfed it was until he was done, so it varies really. I think it wasn't until he was 2 months old that we were instructed to fill a bottle with milk 4 oz., and see how much he would feed. And, every 2 months it was add 2 oz. By the time he was four months old he was feeding every 3 hours, and taking 4 oz.

It sounds like your doctor is not the best help, and you might want to consider getting new Pediatrician...you can't give a baby acid reflux...it's something you develop as a result of your system. My sister and Dad both have it, and it's a biological thing.

Good Luck!!

Hi N., when my babies were that age the took an ounce to 2 ounces every 3 hours, 3 to 4 ounces seems like a lot for a 10 day old, remember their stomach is no bigger than their fist, I would try cutting down to 2 ounces, and go to every 2 hours and se if that helps, Some babies are just spitters, my first one spit up with every feeding, I mean alot, so it's normal for some babies to spit up up a lot, make sure you are burping after every half ounce, that's what i did, that may help. Well God luck and enjoy. J. L.

N.,
I have twins who are four months old - and they were preemies. They only ate 2-4 ounces at each feeding when they were a month old (discharged from the NICU) and yes, you should feed them if they are still rooting and sucking their fists. A lot of pediatricians will tell you to continue to feed until they stop rooting/sucking, etc. Some of them are going to sound like your pediatrician - however, you might try some other techniques to help with the reflux. You might try to feed her sitting upright - and maintain an upright position for about 20 minutes after feeding. You can also try another formula - just let your pediatrician know that you have changed it at your 2 month check up. I switched my little guys over to Similac Advance with immune support and they actually did better on that than the Neosure that was given by the hospital. You might also give her 2 ounces and then wait for 10 minutes before giving her the remaining 2 ounces and see how she does with that.

I am not a feeding specialist but I am a pediatric physical therapist with a lot of experience with preemies/newborns and have worked closely with occupational therapists who are feeding specialists. A little spitting up is common for newborns - just play around with the feeding a little bit and see how it goes.

Take care -
A.

try 2-3 ounces, but giving it more often, like every 2 hours....My son had that same problem, it sucked- hang in there! :)

According to some paperwork that I received from the hospital, a newborn can eat anywhere from 2-6 ounces in a single feeding. It can vary too. Were you not advised to pump and dump so that you can go back to breastfeeding? Is it too late now? My son spit up formula ALL the time and finally just quit accepting it. He went on a hunger strike for a day or so. I had an infection as well and I had the doctor put me on a lower level antibiotic and made sure that i kept replenishing my son's system with probiotics. Just a thought!