Help! Feeding question for newborn

Excitedbridetobe215

Just a quick question I need some suggestion with feeding wise. My newborn is 8 days old and I'm trying to get him somewhat on a feeding schedule, I am formula feeding. Some days he is content with 2 ounces, but sometimes an hour or so after feeding him, he'll start screaming his head off wanting to eat again. I attempt everything else first like changing his diaper, burping, getting him comfortable just to see if it can be anything else before just sticking a bottle in his mouth, but most of the time he's still hungry when this happens. So my question is how much should I be feeding him so I'm not feeding him every hour?? I know every baby is different but I also don't want to be over feeding him. Is 2 ounces enough for a 1 week old or should I be feeding more? He's good over night with 2 ounces and only wakes every 3 hours to eat but during the day I'm having this dilemma and my hubby suggests just letting him cry it out, but if he ate an hour ago, I wouldn't be able to deal with letting him cry for 2 or 3 more hours to eat again....help this is making me crazy!!!!! Thank you ladies:)

stemms8810

2 oz seems normal at 8 days old.  If your baby is hungry, you need to feed him.  When they are this small they need to feed on demand.  A schedule this early is not a good idea.  Your baby will tell you when he is hungry so don't let him cry it out.

laurennkeith

I am by no means a pro as my baby is only 2 weeks old, but I too am formula feeding and started with 2 ounces, but a day or two later he was screaming only a half hour or so after eating (we feed him every 2-3 hours). We were perplexed after doing everything from changing him, burping him, cuddling him ect. Finally after what felt like an hour of him crying non stop I made him another bottle and voila, happy baby.

My DH and I got on line instantly and googled it, and you can't overfeed newborns. Newborns won't over eat. And some cluster feed, where they will eat a lot in a short period of time. Since then we have noticed he fluxtuates in his feeding needs. Mostly during the day he is content with now 3 ounces, sometimes he doesn't drink it all though...then at night around 7pm or so he sometimes floors us and will have his 3 ounce bottle and then take another 2 ounces. I would just follow the baby's lead and if your baby is crying and wanting more, then its because he is hungry. Don't worry about the numbers.

Again - I am a FTM of only a 2 week old so hopefully you will get other responses that will help. Just giving you my experience so far. Good luck!

LoriMM

We went through the same thing.  We just tried to increase a bit at a time until he seemed satisfied.  I was so worried about over feeding but then saw lots of posts on here saying that the baby will let you know.  If he's hungry he should eat.  And he will stop when he's full.  Our DS is three weeks old and he's eating about 3oz at each feeding which is usually every 2.5-3 hours.

easjer05

At that age, we fed on demand (we were mixing expressed milk and formula for a total offering of 2.5 to 3 ounces, breastmilk offered first). She often clusterfed.

There is no sense in trying a schedule at that age, imo.  If they are hungry, they need to eat.  So long as their total intake is in the normal range, I wouldn't worry.  While it might be nicer for you to have a schedule, babies often don't comply - and it'll all get thrown out in another week or two with the next growth spurt anyway.

Excitedbridetobe215

Omg what a relief! I really thought I was over feeding him so I was very confused and ready to call the pediatrician on this but it seemed silly. This is my first baby but my hubby's fourth so I was trusting his opinion but I also can't let the baby cry for hours because he is hungry so we were having some disagreement there, but I'm so glad to know I'm not doing anything wrong because once I give him another bottle he's a happy camper which means I'm a happy mama! 

kerryk_21

I am a FF as well. This is normal and you just need to feed him if he is hungry. A baby will let you know when they are full. The first few weeks I always waste a lot of formula because their needs change so quick and from feeding to feeding. Sometimes they just need 1 more oz or so. If he is spitting up then you know u over fed him. My DS Was eating 3 oz every 2 1/2 hours by 3 weeks old. 

Heather2256

Have you asked the pediatrician (sp)? My baby is 2 weeks old & eats 3-4oz every 3-4 hours. But then she's 9lbs9oz (was 9lbs5oz at birth). Her doc says it's alright that she's eating that much but not to go over 4oz.

Erica413

hi all... first post on here... but a 4th time mom...

sounds like he might just want to suck... you may need a pacifier.

2 oz every 2 hours seems ok, but then you are feeding him all the time...

i had all mine, including my newest who is a week and 4 days today, on a 3.5 to 4 hour schedule from birth with a paci in between and they seemed to do very well... and i wasn't feeding them constantly... all formula fed.

naturally if he's hungry, by all means feed the child... but he may just want something to suck on. 

right now we are at about 3 oz about every 4 hours  

 

JennyJensing

Erica413:

hi all... first post on here... but a 4th time mom...

sounds like he might just want to suck... you may need a pacifier.

2 oz every 2 hours seems ok, but then you are feeding him all the time...

i had all mine, including my newest who is a week and 4 days today, on a 3.5 to 4 hour schedule from birth with a paci in between and they seemed to do very well... and i wasn't feeding them constantly... all formula fed.

naturally if he's hungry, by all means feed the child... but he may just want something to suck on. 

right now we are at about 3 oz about every 4 hours  

 

I wish my LO would take a paci!! 

Erica413

I wish my LO would take a paci!! 

 

she's not sold on it lol... sometimes she gives me what daddy calls her "dirt face"... makes a face like you just put dirt in her mouth... but yeah, it helps alot, esp when the first few months when they want to suck all the time... have you tried different shaped ones? mine have all liked the MAM brand. 

mrs+harlow

He's  probably either wanting to comfort suck or cluster feeding. Having a schedule at this stage is hard- because they will go through growth spurts and want to feed more often.  Personally, I don't think you let a 1 week old CIO. When they cry they are telling you they need something - soothing, to eat, diaper change, etc.