Daycare- What would you do?

star328

Yesterday was DS first day at day care, but for the last two weeks dad and other family members had stayed with him while I went back to work. He is 3 1/2 months. I last nurse him around 7am, and and am back with him about 5:30. When I first left him he was having 3oz bottles about every two hours. Per recommendation of this board, he was being over fed, so I cut him down to 2.5oz bottles every 2 hours (12.5oz- 5 bottles 10 hours). This worked fine with all three people that watched him.
Well I pick him up from his first day of daycare yesterday, and they said he seemed fussy after all his bottles and seemed like he was sucking for more. So they said his last bottle of the day there, they made 4oz and they said he seemed happy and satisfied after that. They said I might want to think about sending larger bottles and that may mean more time between feedings... I know about bottle paced feeding, I will bring them info on that if it seems necessary. I asked and they said almost all (12 total) kids there have BM.
When I am at home all day with DS, he nurses about every 2 hours. I am confused and not sure what to do! Any help or input would be greatly appreciated!
Sorry this got so long!!

lightninglarose

I am home with my son (9 weeks old) and nurse every hour and a half to two hours. When dad wants to feed him we feed him 4 oz BM bottles. He is upset with anything less (fussy). When I pump I get 4 ounces usually as well. I don't feel he is over eating at all as he barely ever spits up and I've been told this is a growth spurt period so that's why I think he's eating more. Hope some of this can help

star328

lightninglarose said:

I am home with my son (9 weeks old) and nurse every hour and a half to two hours. When dad wants to feed him we feed him 4 oz BM bottles. He is upset with anything less (fussy). When I pump I get 4 ounces usually as well. I don't feel he is over eating at all as he barely ever spits up and I've been told this is a growth spurt period so that's why I think he's eating more. Hope some of this can help

Thanks! After dad gives him the 4 oz bottle, how long is it til he is hungry again?

taraleanne

I would send more milk and let them make bigger bottles and space out feedings.  Remember part of the reason he is nursing every 2 hours when you are home with him is because YOU are there... know what I mean? Part of it could be comfort nursing, part of it could be making up for lost time with you during the week. I wouldn't stress about him being "over-fed", every baby is different and if the daycare is telling you that he's fussy and that he's wanting more- then he's wanting more! 

star328

Thanks! I will send more milk maybe 3 or 3.5 and an extra bottle in case tomorrow, and see how that works. I guess I was so caught up on baby should have 1oz per hour...

star328

Thanks for all the feedback! I have been stressing, and you guys have helped!

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ncbelle

If he was fine with the other people who watched him, my guess is that daycare didn't used paced feeding and was mistaking fussiness for other reasons for hunger.  I would go over things with them again and give it some more time.

kt012885

When DD was 3 months the doctor told me to feed her (age in months plus 2) so 5oz bottles.  At 4 months I fed her 6oz bottles and I've stayed around 6 to 7oz bottles and she's 6 months & she is fed bm only. 

I take 3 bottles and then she has a freezer stash that she keeps there in case she needs more.  I feed on demand and always have so if she's hungry she eats.

Carnation77

My LO is 4 1/2 months and still eats every 2 hours.  He takes 4 oz bottles at daycare 3 x a day (I nurse in person 2 x a day and also in a.m. and p.m. at home) but I think he comfort eats at DC and tends to eat less when he actually nurses from me.  DC is all about trial and error.  Maybe try giving 3 oz bottles?  I would just be concerned they're trying to feed less often and bigger amounts for their own convenience rather than feeding on demand since what they're telling you isn't what over caregivers have experienced.

JilllyBean

2.5oz doesn't seem like enough to me at that age. I'd up the oz and have them space out the feedings more. He will end up taking the same amount of ozs but less bottles