Hi moms, I posted about my pumping routine which by the way is going GREAT! I have worked this week so far 8:30 to 1:30, and the timing couldn't be better - I feed the baby 7:30. I pump at work at 11. I get home at 2 and feed him right then. He has been having only one bottle while I'm gone, plus his rice cereal in the am. The pumping is not at all painful and I am getting a great amount. Usually 8 oz in 10 - 15 min.
So now, my question is at this age and weight how many ounces do you think I should be giving the baby? And should I switch to a medium nipple or is the slow one still fine? He is 4 1/2 months and weighs 16 lbs. Big boy! Right now he drinks just one 4 oz bottle. Plus of course I nurse him 4 other times during the day and he is having rice cereal and oatmeal 2 times per day. FYI after tomorrow, I will be staying home and working from my house, so will not be giving bottles too often but once in a while it is nice for hubby and my daughters to feed him.
Thanks!
Thanks moms. To answer your Q Mommyof2 - my ped had us start on the cereal. She said 2 tbsp 2 x daily, start w only rice then once ok w that, oatmeal, then alternate rice and oatmeal, then add in barley. All single grain, infant cereal. We started just after 4 month checkup. It is mixed with breastmilk. We won't be doing any other food till 6 months.
Personally I NEVER switched to the medium nipples, he was on the slow flow nipples until he gave up the bottle. (At 11 1/2 months he decided he wanted water in his cup or milk from the breast, no more bottles!)
Don't worry about how many ounces, let him decide, he knows how hungry he is! If he acts like he's still hungry after the 4oz, have his caregiver offer another 2....
Babies are different but my DD never took more than a 5 oz bottle of pumped milk. That was when she was 6 mo and in a growth spurt. Your milk changes, unlike formula, to provide for your baby's changing needs.
I would make sure that the oatmeal and cereal (I'd frankly skip the rice, it's just filler) isn't interfering. Before 1 yr, they really only need to nurse and when they do take solids (we started at 6 mo), they should nurse first.
Kellymom.com has a calculator on it and other bottle feeding pumped milk tips.
I never went to a faster nipple. Slow flow is more like your breast.
My son was a big boy too, but I didn't feed him any cereal until 5 mos. I pumped exclusively. He drank a full 8 oz (and would've had more if I let him) every 4-6 hours at 3 months. He started sleeping through the night around 3 months too. I think because he drank so much at once?
When I started cereal at 5.5 months, he drank more like 6 oz per bottle. I switched nipples to faster flow as suggested on the nipples. I used Dr. Brown's. He was a fast eater and looked like he wished he could drink faster. I switched to the medium at 3 months and he would drink the 8 oz in like 10 minutes.
My first question is: Why is such a young infant getting solid foods? Doesn't matter how large your baby is, solids should be held off until after 7 months due to their immature and open GI tract.
My 3 week old weighs 11 lbs - does that mean I should be giving him solids just because he's a big baby? NO!! His stomach size and immature GI system is the same as a smaller weight baby of the same age.
I'd stop the solids, breastfeed on demand when you are home, pump often when at work... and once home the I'd pump every 3rd feeding (15 minutes before a feeding and 15 minutes right after the feeding - in the same package/container then freeze it) to keep up a supply for emergencies or when you need someone to cover a nursing.
My daughter is breast milk only and she only takes 4oz in her bottle she gets lunch when she wakes up at 1130 from her nap and then again at 6pm. She is 8.5months and 24lbs. Big baby yes but I love every single roll and crease she has! Her schedule has been the same since I went back to work when she was 7 weeks old. Up at 0530 to nurse before I go to work up at 8-830 4oz bottle at 0930 nap until 1130. She used to go down for nap at 1230 with 4oz bottle now she gets food at 1145 and 4oz bottle at 1245 1pm. Up at 230 from nap and stays up until 430 when I nurse her then down for a nap. Up at 530 food at 6pm now instead of nursing. She gets veggies and yogurt or fruit with cereal it alternates between the two. Then nurses at 0745 to go to bed.
at that age i would guess around 5 or 6 ounces a feeding from the bottle. but i would say just make him a bigger bottle and see how much he takes to give you and idea of his hunger levels. and as far as the nipple, you could try the faster flow and see how he does. if he likes it and does well great and if not just keep with what is best for him. my 9 month old twins never like the slow flow nipples. right from birth we had to buy the ones that had the "large" holes and now we actually had to make them bigger to make them happy. my boys love to drink and down 8 to 9 ounces in about 3 minutes.....
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Each baby is different. My daughter was taking 4 oz at two weeks old and I was completely shocked. I didn't think a newborn's stomach could even hold that much. Now she's two months, but I have no idea what she eats since she hasn't had many bottles. I do remember with my twins that they took 4-5 ounces per feeding while I worked. They did this until about 8 months old, so it looks like you're on the right track! As for the nipple, as long as he isn't frustrated, keep with the slow nipple.
