32 ounce limit?

festivus

My pediatrician wants me to stick to 32 ounces or less of formula/breastmilk (I give a combo) per day. Over the last few days, it seems like that is not enough for my 18 pound boys. They were sleeping through the night until about 6 or 6:30am (from 7pm) but started waking at 4:45. They can't be consoled back to sleep but do settle after a bottle. So, I started spreading out the 32 ounces over 6 feedings instead of the 5 they were taking, but they still seem hungry (again, just over the last few days). For my own reasons, as well as at the recommendation of my pediatrician, I would STRONGLY prefer to hold off on solids until at least 5 months and preferrably 6 months. I'm wondering if they may be going through a growth spurt, as their adjusted age is only 3 months 17 days.

My boys were premies but are already at the 90th percentile for weight. I was also accused of overfeeding them when they jumped from the 50th to 90th percentile over about 8 weeks (although I still maintain that was due to being on the premie formula too long!). I'd like to listen to my pedi but also know that things need to be adjusted for individual LOs. So, a couple questions...

1- Did your pedi give you a 32 ounce limit for formula/breastmilk?

2- Would you give them more temporarily and then call the pedi (or add solids...) if they continue to seem to need more than 32 ounces for more than a week or two?

pettycrocker

That seems kind of crazy, at our 4m well visit LO was 17lbs and at that point taking 36-40oz per day. She's been in the 95% for weight since she was 1m old and our Drs have never once recommended any kind of limit on her intake. I'm sure she's at the very minimum pushing 20lbs now at 5m and I would laugh if they suggested we cut out that much of her formula per day. 

I guess they have a plan in mind, but I am kind of agreeing with the PP that you perhaps get a second opinion if it doesn't seem right to you, especially if it seems like LO's are really hungry. 

Good luck with everything!  

cantalopes24

katem3277:

I have never heard of a limit of ounces of formula per day.  My DD is not big by any means and she takes 36 ounces a day right now.  I have an infant feeding guide from the pedi at home that says during this age up to 42 ounces a day is average.  I would feed my child whenever they were hungry.  Babies don't overeat.  If they weren't hungry they wouldn't take it.  I would call the pedi or maybe even consider getting a second opinion.

This is not true. I'm assuming your pedi wants you to limit their intake because he feels that their weight is increasing too rapdily? I really have no advice other than to get a second opinion.

Mish2g

I am SO glad you posted. I just interviewed my second pediatrician (we're thinking about changing over) and he's the second pediatrician to tell me that I'm over feeding my kid (he averages between 35 and 41oz of breastmilk/day -- closer to 39 daily). He also told me no more than 32oz and the pedi before him said 25 - 28oz (!!!). He was 7.15 when he was born and 16.8 at his 4 month visit. He has NEVER slept through the night and now I have 2 interviewed pediatricians (who both came highly recommended) telling me I'm over feeding and all 3 of them (my current pedi included) telling me to let him cry it out and to cut out all middle of the night feedings. I really feel like crying because I told all 3 of them I don't believe in CIO and they've all recommended it and my husband has been wanting to do it for 3 months now. Also, I know my child -- he won't eat when he isn't hungry. He's locked me out (purses his lips) to prevent me from sticking the bottle in his mouth! So, how am I overfeeding him? I'm really bothered by how my interviews went and I'm curious to see the other responses you get.

bundymommy

I would also get a second opinion. We had our 4 month checkup yesterday and DD jumped from 50th to 80th percentile for weight (while height only increased from 75th to 90th). I was afraid the pedi would comment that she's gaining weight more rapidly than she's growing in length, but all she said was "She's growing really well," said to give rice cereal a go that night if I wanted, and that she should still eat any where from 20-30 oz of formula a day.

My DD also will turn her face away or stick out her tongue when she doesn't want anything more to eat. I do worry about overfeeding with formula (because she can eat SO MUCH sometimes) but I try to follow her lead as to whether she seems hungry or is getting full.

festivus

cantalopes24:

katem3277:

I have never heard of a limit of ounces of formula per day.  My DD is not big by any means and she takes 36 ounces a day right now.  I have an infant feeding guide from the pedi at home that says during this age up to 42 ounces a day is average.  I would feed my child whenever they were hungry.  Babies don't overeat.  If they weren't hungry they wouldn't take it.  I would call the pedi or maybe even consider getting a second opinion.

This is not true. I'm assuming your pedi wants you to limit their intake because he feels that their weight is increasing too rapdily? I really have no advice other than to get a second opinion.

This is the pedi's standard advice, as it is printed on some of their informational sheets. It is not specific to my fellas' rapid weight gain, especially since their weght gain slowed SIGNIFICANTLY after stopping the premie formula (which I had to advocate for stopping!).

dinonugget1517

My pedi said that once a baby hits the 32 oz mark, that enough is enough and to move onto solids!  Also I am pretty sure it states somewhere in the American Pediatric book that 32 oz's is where you start introducing solids, but I could be wrong!

mrswalkertobe

I have never been given a limit on how much to feed him and I probably wouldn't follow this advice anyways. If my baby is hungry then I'm going to feed him regardless of any limits set by a pediatrician who isn't there to comfort a hungry baby.

tiff012982

that sounds weird if you ask me.  Limit food??  DD takes about 35 oz a day and we just started rice cereal only because the pedi said that once she consuming this much it's an indication that she needs something more

jani7

I'm not sure it was a limit but our pedi say he shouldn't need more than 36 oz (we have a big boy too).  Some days I do go over by a few oz and some days I'm closer to 32, it just depends.  

Amitchell0626

That doesn't seem right. The guidline is 2.5oz/lb so if you boys are 18lbs then that would be about 45oz a day!

SuperCuteBenz

We were never told to limit it.

In fact, at one point my DS was taking 60oz in a 24 hour period. Yes, I said 60oz! I freaked and called our pedi, she said not to worry unless he was spitting up after eating. He did this for about 2 weeks and the it went back to normal.

The crazy part is that he was only a month old at the time.