Question if you are supplementing

melisb25 · February 2010

I am starting to give LO one bottle of formula a day. Should I be giving her the same amount that I would breastmilk? She drinks about 4-4.5 oz. of BM when given a bottle and yesterday I gave her 4 oz. of formula and she seemed full but I wasn't really sure if it should be increased or not.

starkbaby22 · February 2010

I'm glad you're asking this, I have the same question, but also...which formula are you supplementing with?

melisb25 · February 2010

I am trying Enfamil Gentlease which is what the pedi recommended. She has taken one bottle so far yesterday and it seemed fine.

sgrl · February 2010

I'd ask the pedi based on weight. The nurse practitioner told me last time that I was in there that you can't really make an equivalent comparison between the amount of breastmilk a baby will take and the amount of formula, since every woman's breastmilk is different (she was telling me not to freak out about how little my baby eats). My baby will actually eat more breastmilk than formula, but I think that might just be because she prefers the taste of breastmilk.

ErinNConnorsMom · February 2010

I would just give her what she's hungry for. Just like their moms, babies are more hungry at some meals than others, and the amount they eat can vary throughout the day. If she was satisfied with 4 oz of formula, there's no need to make her eat more.

bexie · February 2010

Your LO's stomach is only so big, so give them 4.5 ounces (or for formula you'll have to make 6 ounces). If your LO is sucking the bottle completely dry, then you need to give them a little more. As the other poster said, you don't always eat exactly the same at each meal, and neither do babies. I would say make 6 ounces, and let her stop when she's done. (At least with similac, you have to make it in 2 ounce increments).

tmp-493670500007520 · February 2010

I still only give DS 5oz of formula at a time.

shinergirl · February 2010

I wasn't able to pump enough for little man while I was at work (11 hours with travel time) so we started supplementing as soon as I went back to work. We started with 4oz bottles and that seemed to work well and then we increased to 6 oz with normally some remaining in the bottle afterwards. We found that any of the Gentlease (including Target brand and Walmart brand) worked well with no issues from the little dude...

dusk42 · February 2010

We supplement after feedings, and sometimes the babysitter will give her a bottle while I pump instead, but we always start with 2 ounces and then give another 2 ounces if she still looks hungry. Otherwise, she will eat and eat and then spit it all up.

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