When to Increase How Many Oz They Drink.

Hey Ash,

I Always let my kids decide how much they'd drink,

Within reason LOL, otherwise you end up with puke all over you LOL.

At one week old I would think 4 to 5 oz is fine.
Remember he may just need to suck, you could try offering him a pacifier.

M

If he continues to finish his bottle each feeding try adding an ounce. He may not need it or may only drink half of it for a while. Don't worry, you won't over feed him. He will only eat till he is full. Or falls back to sleep.

Congratulations on your baby!!! Yes, it is a great time even when you're tiresome but it will pass soon. I have read some of the responses and I agree with them. I breastfed and bottle fed because I lost my milk early. What I have learned from my third son was that he couldn't stop eating and I learned as he got bigger, he would overstuff himself. Because as a baby he didn't stop when full, he threw up. So, I had to think, "okay, you have nursed this amount of time" or "have been on the bottle with this amount of oz, then it's time to stop" and it took a while to figure out but we got through it and today he's 20 months at 30 lbs and he's not fat, he's very solid. He was the biggest one of all three. Again, congratulations!!!

If he wants more, give him more. It's as simple as that.

Hi A.,
Sometimes it may be hard to tell, but usually when they are eating more often, like 4 oz. every 2 - 3 hours for a day or two, you should increase the feedings by 1 oz.
Be careful, though, it may be just a growth spurt and he may be more hungry during these spurts, and may not need the extra formula all the time.

When he doesn't seem satisfied (fussy, crying, rooting), he needs more. Don't go by what other children are eating. One of my boys had 2 oz bottles until his first birthday, the other was drinking 4 oz bottles at 1 week. they are both healthy......

Congratulations on your new baby!

A., I'm not a doctor but I think that whatever makes your baby eat more and less often probably works for him and as long as he is gaining weight, you shouldn't be worried. Please confirm that with your pediatrician at your son's next well baby visit.
My son was 10lbs 4oz. at birth and was eating very little at the beginning: 0.5-1 oz. for a very long time (as it seemed to me) and every 2-3 hrs, I was worried that he wasn't eating enough but my doctor said that he was gaining weight properly so I guess like they say "every baby is different". Later on he started eating more and more but even at 5 months he still wasn't eating much (4 oz. 4.5 at most) and still every 3 hrs - which didn't help me when I wanted do go out shopping or do "occasional whatever", I felt like I was rushing everything because I needed to breastfeed my baby... Now he is 7 months old and eats 6-6.5 oz. every 4 hrs + some cereal once or twice a day and one small night feeding.
If he'll need more, he'll start looking for more when the bottle is empty (or if you want have any more milk if you're breastfeeding) and will get cranky or cry - you'll know. If he seems satisfied (pulls away from the breast or bottle and does not go back for a long while), that means his little belly is full and he's fine. You don't need to keep trying to make him eat or he will keep eating and than will spit up... He might just feel like sucking not eating... Just make sure he is gainig approprietly.
I hope that gave you some idea. Please check with your pediatrician and do not worry, I'm sure he is just on his own schedule :)
Congrats and good luck!!! Learning your new baby's needs might be overwelming but so very precious...
also 1st time-Mama Magda

First of all congratulations!! :) I remember how hard it was just judge if my son wanted more because I also bottle-fed, making it hard to tell. If he is really still sucking away on the bottle after each feeding, or cries when you take it away, then I would move the ounce level up to 5 or 6 the next time and see how he does with that.

Congratulations again! What an exciting, yet tiring time. :)

Lynsey

Hi A.! congrats on your son!! The way to tell if they need more is if he is consistenly taking the 4 ounces, add another ounce to his bottle... then when he is consistenly taking 5 oz, add another ounce to it...
hope that helps!!! good luck!

well as a mom to 6 children it sounds like your little guy needs more my daughter emily who is now 9 weeks old was 7lbs 5 oz when she was born and was drinking 4 oz the first hour after her delivery emily drinks 4 oz every 3 hours and our ped is okay with this our ped also suggested we put half a teaspoon of baby cereal in emilys bottle at night time to help her feel a little fuller

congrats on your new son!!!
He is a nice big boy!!!
You will learn his different cries, wants, and needs as you have more time with him.
My way as infants, and I had a couple of big guys, was if they wanted to eat again before the 4 hours, I started trying to feed 5oz., always making sure they were choosing to stop eating not stopping because there was nothing left in the bottle. So you throw away about 1/2oz with each bottle, then you are making sure he is done, yet not loosing a lot of formula. Does that make sense?
God bless you and your lovely family
Old enough to be your mom. Hope you can talk to yours and hear all your baby stories.
K. SAHM married 38 years ---- adult children --- 37, 33, and twins who are 19 today.

Hi A.,
Congrats on your new little guy! While I don't really have experience with bottle feeding, I will say that babies don't need mom to tell them when they're hungry, they know best - so if your baby is draining his bottle and still actively, hungrily sucking as he is getting to the end, then it's time to increase his feeds. Good luck

Hi A., wow what a growing boy he is. My twin girls are almost 12 weeks and they are just finishing their 4 ounces. Is he sucking the bottom out of every bottle? Try giving him a 5 ounce bottle and see what he does. I have taken on the philosophy of my pediatrician. If he is growing and isn't starving then let him be. I follow the baby wise book so make sure he is eating every 3 hours.

A.,
Soon enough you will learn all those different crys he makes. When he still is fussy after feeding him,changing him and burping him, try some more. He will let you know. If you want try a half an ounce more see if he will take it then u will increase as he wants. At 8 wks old my son was drinking almost 10 ounces a feeding. We even started baby cereal at an earlier age not that early this is like at 5 mths or it might of been earlier. So you and the baby will know.

Congrats on your new arrival!!..He will tell you when he wants more..if after a feeding he still seems hungry, that will be your first clue..then add 1 oz at a time until he seems full...so then the next bottle that you give him you will start with the 5 oz instead of the 4 like the feeding before..He might finish it, he might not...its all trial and error..but mainly LISTEN to your BABY!!..he knows exactly what he wants..good luck!!..

My children always let me know by the non verbal language of babies often they keep sucking even yhough there is nothing in the bottle. They obviously want more. when they don't they let you know that as well have another ounce ready at a feeding and see what he communicates back to you most of this parenting is very individualized. I breast fed and you never know how much they are taking in. so the mother has to clue herself in the baby is ready to stop now. sometimes they go to sleep while eating.

I would just try 5ozs. at the next feeding qnd he will tell you trust your instincts momma. dont let others dictate to you because of how their baby did it.