Do you give an odd number of ounces of formula?

Haven1 · October 2010

This got brought up below, but do you avoid an odd number of ounces of formula just to get level scoops? It never crossed my mind to only do 2-4-6. So long as the ratio of powder to water stays the same, why not do 3-5-7 or even in between?

I make 4.25-5.5 oz bottles all day. I figure the amount I'm slightly over and under with water will even out.

emily0829 · October 2010

I've never given odd number of ounces simply because my mother's friend had a baby that died of water intoxication. I'm not OCD about it, but I just avoid it.

If I need to stretch that formula longer, I'll make the 6 ounces and if he only eats 2, save the rest.

ASmallWonder · October 2010

I give 5 ounce bottles all the time. I don't believe that a baby could get water intoxication because they had a couple milliliters of water more than they should have based on the recommended calculation. Now, I would never just dump "some" formula into "some" amount of water. But if you eyeball half a scoop, the amount you're going to be off by is incredibly small.

msm261 · October 2010

I do odd numbers as well. I just fill the scoop accordingly.

But when you make a bottle, and for example, you do 3 scoops for a 6 oz'er, do you say your LO had 6 oz or what it makes after the powder is added. When I make 6 oz of Similac Alimentum, the bottle has 7 oz in it. It confuses me as to how many oz he is eating.

D_Nett86 · October 2010

I do every day. DS drinks 5 oz bottles so I use 2 1/2 scoops formula. If I make 6 oz then he will most likey waist it since he already doesn't always drink his full 5 oz.

JulzRulz · October 2010

I do it all the time. The amount of "extra" water you'd be giving if you didn't quite have enough formula powder in there is negligible.

ASmallWonder · October 2010

msm261:
I do odd numbers as well. I just fill the scoop accordingly.

But when you make a bottle, and for example, you do 3 scoops for a 6 oz'er, do you say your LO had 6 oz or what it makes after the powder is added. When I make 6 oz of Similac Alimentum, the bottle has 7 oz in it. It confuses me as to how many oz he is eating.

You go by the amount before formula because the "increase" you're seeing is just displacement because of the formula. The amount of liquid you're giving your LO is only the amount of liquid you put in the bottle, kwim?

cherylnicole · October 2010

I do all the time!

apes831 · October 2010

Since birth I've always done odd, usually three ounces, and now at night five. I really never knew it wasn't recommended. I will continue doing it.

apes831 · October 2010

Giving odd number of formula isn't stretching the formula. You keep the water to powder ratio.

apes831 · October 2010

I've always thought of how many ounces I added in the first place, but it is confusing.

driveshorses · October 2010

I have a Dr. Browns pitcher, and that takes all the hassle out of fixing bottles of formula!

soldiersgirl78 · October 2010

driveshorses:
I have a Dr. Browns pitcher, and that takes all the hassle out of fixing bottles of formula!

oooh I saw this just yesterday, would you recommend it?

And yes I do odd numbers, we are on 7 oz bottles now so I just eyeball the half a scoop.

DuckLover · October 2010

Yup, DS is eating 7 ounce bottles now. I eyeball half a scoop.

rubiafaerie25 · October 2010

elmoali:
I give 5 ounce bottles all the time. I don't believe that a baby could get water intoxication because they had a couple milliliters of water more than they should have based on the recommended calculation. Now, I would never just dump "some" formula into "some" amount of water. But if you eyeball half a scoop, the amount you're going to be off by is incredibly small.

This. DD drinks 7 oz, so when I use the powdered I make 7 oz bottles all the time. Nothing against the PP who doesn't want to because they're afraid of the baby having too much water, we all have our little "things" that we worry about more than other mammas but I do 7 all the time, and used to do 5. The amount I may be off by is so small it won't matter. She's either getting slightly thicker formula but a teeny amount or slightly watered down by an itty bitty amount. If pedi's agree it's ok to give very small amounts of water to babies occasionally, I figure the ITSY bitsy I may be off if iover on water doesn't even come close to an extra oz of water a day. If I would have to guess, it would be closer to .25 of an oz if even that. (and that's if there's more water than should be...instead of a tiny bit more formula than should be...)

Lauren9881 · October 2010

I did odd oz numbers all the time. He's up to 6oz bottles now so I don't, but for a long time we did 5 and never thought twice about it. Like a pp said, if it's off it's a negligable amount, and most of our LO's are at an age where they could have some free water.

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