EPers...how many oz?

slh6363 · December 2013

I know this has been discussed before but yes Im asking again...how many oz does your LO eat? I just feel like mine is always hungry and wanting more. My LO is 11 weeks and about 10 lbs and I make 3 1/2 oz bottles...he eats every 2-3 hrs. I've read that babies really only need on average about 3 oz of breast milk every 3 hours. I've also read that babies won't over eat and know when to stop, which he sometimes does leave a half oz or so, but sometimes not. I have been making 4 oz bottles to test it out and he usually finishes. And in the evening sometimes wants to eat every hour and a half...and yes I try to sooth other ways first but he is clearly hungry and trying to eat his hands. So anyway just wondering...he is getting ready to start daycare soon and just want to send the right amount! Thanks!

MissLauraPants · December 2013

I started charting mine and he eats between 25-30 Oz a day, it's on demand. He is probably 13 lbs now and almost 10 weeks

cassey910 · December 2013

My LO is 8 weeks and eats 4.5 during the day and almost 5 at night. He eats every 3-4 hours during the day and every 4-5 at night. His total is about 28 oz a day.

Alexplock · December 2013

My DS usually can't finish 3oz. I've been making 2.75oz bottles and he won't spit any up. At night I give 3.25oz. He also goes 3-3.5 hrs between.

kimbo1216 · December 2013

How much is he sleeping at night? The 3 oz rule comes from baby eating 8x per day and taking in an average if 24oz per day. If baby is sleeping longer through the night, baby will need more ounces in the day.

Also. Are you doing paced feeding? It takes 20 minutes to register fullness. So it should take 20 minutes to finish a bottle. If not, slow it down. Burp LO every half ounce or so. Hold bottle lower so gravity doesn't help. Use slowest flow nipple possible.

Some babies take up to 30 oz per day. If this is the case for your son, he will need more at once. If you are doing paced feeding and he is still acting hungry, you may try upping the ounces. Go to 4 and see how it goes.

kimbo1216 · December 2013

FYI. Everything I wrote above is repeating what AmyG has suggested in the bf sticky. So I'm not just making it up. Lol

Oh and to answer you title question: when I EP'd DD1, she only took about 18-20 ounces a day. 22 max. So she was on the low end for sure. But I think I just had some crazy thick milk.

slh6363 · December 2013

@kimbo1216 thanks I will check out the sticky...didnt think of that! He does still eat 8 times a day...he goes 4 1/2 or so at night but makes up for it eating every 2 in the evening. But I will try the paced feedings...he tends to chug pretty quickly and gets mad when I stop to burp.

slh6363 · December 2013

@dh13 thanks! My local buddy and you EP too?? Never knew!

sooner1981 · December 2013

My daughter was super tall and lanky and downed about 32-34 ounces a day once I returned to work, to the best of my calculations.

This stayed pretty constant until she started taking in significant amounts of calories through solids.

Meeelinda · December 2013

My baby is 7 weeks and drinks 3, 3 in half, or 4 oz still trying to figure it out. He has been wanting to eat every hour and half was two. He weight 10 p 13 oz two weeks ago.

allymp13 · December 2013

3-5oz every 2.5-3 hours. His last feeding around 7:30-8 is formula so I can start buildinh a stash for when I return to work. Total varies from 22-30oz daily. He's been gaining weight very steadily.

Palereadhead · December 2013

LO is 7 weeks today, and eats 3oz every 2 hours, but I mix 1/3 formula and 2/3 breast milk because my output couldn't match her intake.... She was wanting 5oz every 2 before I started supplementing, which offers her more of a thickness to satiate her hunger faster and longer...

Sometimes she does want to eat 2oz an hour after her normal 3oz feeding.

I also give her a 4oz bottle of breastmilk when she seems constipated: it helps her pass a pooplosiom every time, but then she is hungry within 30mins for the formula mix.

25-30oz within 24hours average.