feeding question

MomOfTrips

The babies have been doing really well with eating. They usually have 1-2 3.5oz jars between the three of them (they would never take to the cereal and the pedi said that was fine). I have been feeding them in the morning and then they take a 5-6 oz bottle after that. The past two days they have only taken a snack bottle after the feed. So my first question is, is this normal? Then yesterday I tried to do another feed in the afternoon but ended up being closer to 4pm due to napping. Again they only took a snack bottle which threw off their whole night schedule (bottle wise). So my second question is... When you start a second feed do what time of day do you usually start with? Also, How much did/ do your babies eat at eat feed?
Any help is appreciated.

pea-kay

Wait, they're already eating that much baby food? And they're not even 4 months old yet?

I'd give them bottles first, at that age. They don't need baby food, and formula (or BM) is more calorie-dense.

macchiatto

Ditto peakay exactly. Solids are just for practice, not nutrition, for the entire first year of life; they don't really need 9 months of "practice," and I would be concerned that eating that much solids at that age would take away from their appetite for the important formula/breastmilk they should be getting.

FaeryStarGazer

Another ditto for PeaKay. They are waaaaaaaay to young to be eating that much solids.

MomOfTrips

They eat about 36oz of formula during the day time on top of the baby food. They were eating around 40+oz per day before we started the baby food. It was one of the reasons we were given the ok to start early. They are still getting more then enough formula.

pea-kay

I guess I'm confused, then. What's the problem, if they're getting enough formula? The timing? If so, I'd drop the food in the evening, and just give them a bottle.

MomOfTrips

They eat about 36oz of formula during the day time on top of the baby food. They were eating around 40+oz per day before we started the baby food. It was one of the reasons we were given the ok to start early.

I am not sure why but it seems like any time I have a feeding question I am being told they eat way too much or comments like above. My babies eat a lot, they have for quite some time. They weigh 15, 16, and 17lbs. They wear 6-9 months and 12 month clothing. They eat 6-7 oz every 2-3 hours during the day time and still get up for 1-2 bottles at night. They are still getting more then enough formula. The docs say they are healthy happy babies.

MomOfTrips

They eat about 36oz of formula during the day time on top of the baby food. They were eating around 40+oz per day before we started the baby food. It was one of the reasons we were given the ok to start early.

I am not sure why but it seems like any time I have a feeding question I am being told they eat way too much or comments like above. My babies eat a lot, they have for quite some time. They weigh 15, 16, and 17lbs. They wear 6-9 months and 12 month clothing. They eat 6-7 oz every 2-3 hours during the day time and still get up for 1-2 bottles at night. They are still getting more then enough formula. The docs say they are healthy happy babies.

MomOfTrips

sorry the ppost above got poster twice (kept saying service not available)

Pea-Kay...

I was wondering about when people added a second feed during the day time. I think yesterday went a little off in the evening because of how late they ate the baby food so I need to adjust that today. I was wondering if anyone else had this type issue/ what times of day they started feeding. I was also wondering if when you did feed your babies baby food did they start to lessen how much of a bottle they took afterward.

Mrs. Destructo

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies not be fed anything but breast milk or formula until they are 6 months old.

I didn't add a 2nd feeding of purees until they were 8.5-9 months old. Before then their tummies were not mature enough. 

BitterOldHag

We added a second meal at 6 months and started solids at 4.5 months. Though my boys didn't have the stats of your little adorables they were also drinking 36-40 and sometimes 45 oz of formula per day. We used to give the bottle then solids 2 hours later (1 hour before the next bottle).

That said, there were days they still drank that much even with 2 meals. And there are days of 30-35oz with them now having 3 meals plus 2 snacks. Sometimes they have 2 breakfasts.

They still have 5 bottles a day plus all the meals. If the pedi's concern is too much formula maybe bulk up their solids with more dense foods if their systems can handle it.

I know the boys drank a bit less after eating bananas and sweet potatoes. They also ate cereal and still do though.

 

macchiatto

Mrs. Destructo:

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies not be fed anything but breast milk or formula until they are 6 months old.

I didn't add a 2nd feeding of purees until they were 8.5-9 months old. Before then their tummies were not mature enough. 

This. I would be far less concerned about them drinking "too much" formula than about them eating solids (especially so much!) before they're capable of digesting solids at all. They can't absorb the nutrients from it yet. Is it possible that some of what you're interpreting as "hungry" cries are really tired cries or something else?

ethansbride2b

Mine haven't started solids yet.  They only take bottles.  Since they STTN (11 hours) they get in 4 feedings a day (eat every 4 hours, they don't drink too well or finish their bottles if we try before the 4 hour mark).  They take in about 25-30oz/day. They are going to start with the rice cereal soon, we just discussed it this week at their appointment.  I would focus more on getting the formula into them at the age they are right now.

ethansbride2b

oh, I didn't read the replies before I posted.  Looks like your babies weigh a bit more than mine and drink more per day then them, so I'm not too helpful.

pea-kay

Honestly, I don't remember when we started two solids a day. Probably around 8 months. My boys drank a LOT of formula too (I mean, at 10 months, not at 3) and we had to give them more solids, but it was things like finger foods. 

Baby food is very low in calories, so I just don't know that adding more baby food is the answer. Have you tried calling your ped?

MomOfTrips

My pedi is who suggested feeding solids early. I just didn't know how long to wait before adding a second feed and was wondering how much did other babies eat when they started solids.

lisa&andy

We started solids at 4months and did not add a second solid until 6 months.

BitterOldHag

MomOfTrips:

My pedi is who suggested feeding solids early. I just didn't know how long to wait before adding a second feed and was wondering how much did other babies eat when they started solids.

They started with a few TBS of cereal and then a fruit. They would split a banana between them (pureed) at 5 months,

Our pedi put an absolute max on 50oz of formula and told us to increase solids every time we hit 40.