BM at daycare question

LokiLahve · December 2013

Yes, another thread on this.

I feel like lo isn't eating enough...but it's so hard to tell how much she gets when nursing.

She is at DC for 8 hours and only takes 2, 4oz bottles during that time. How much bm does your lo take at DC and how long are they there?

I know babies are different, I'm just curious. She has plenty of wet diapers but I feel like she's not gaining as fast as she previously was.

MommyKristin88 · December 2013

That does seem a bit low.

LO is there 10 hours, and takes four 5 oz bottles.

carrotcake06 · December 2013

Do you feed her right before drop off and then right when you pick her up? If so, that seems about right - my boys get three 4oz bottles while I'm gone, which is about 10hrs.

They BF at 7am, bottle at 10, bottle at 1, bottle at 4, BF at 7pm, BF 10pm (times are approximate). I leave at 8am and get home around 6pm.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

Yea, that sounds like very little. Mine inaway from me for 10 hours and she takes 4-5 (rarely 5) 4oz bottles each day.

Carnation77 · December 2013

That's low but maybe she's reverse cycling. Does she eat a lot when she's with you? More than before?

Why is she only eating 4 oz's every 4 hrs? That just seems like a long time between feeds but I don't know the rest of her feeding schedule. Is that based on her cues? A schedule you or the DC set?

DS eats 4 oz every two hours at daycare, and feeds 8-10 times a day, but he actually eats more at DC and uses me more for comfort nursing. He gets 3 bottles at DC, and I nurse when I drop him off and over lunch. His feeding is totally based on his cues so sometimes he eats more frequently, sometimes he won't finish a bottle, etc.

BlueJewelM · December 2013

That sounds right.

If the "average" baby takes about 25 oz of BM a day, 8 oz for 8 hours isn't abnormal, on days I work DS2 will sometimes only have one or two 4 oz bottles, but I do feed him right before leaving and as soon as I get home.

Mine cluster feeds in the evening and still wakes to eat at night too.

Childcare providers seem to over feed IMO, whether it be a family member or a professional, it always seems the first thing they try for a fussy baby is to feed them. As long as they are gaining weight ok and having enough wet and dirty diapers I wouldn't worry. And be glad your provider isn't just putting a bottle in her mouth everytime they cry. If They are happy it sounds like their needs are being met.

V&G101808 · December 2013

LO is at the sitter for 9 hours and eats 3 - 5.5oz bottles.

V&G101808 · December 2013

And in regards to not gaining as quickly - I feel that's pretty normal. Nicholas gained SO much during the first 2 months, slowed down during the 3rd, and has slowed down even more during the 4th month. But he's still in the 75th percentile, so that makes me feel like it's normal not to be gaining as quickly as he did in the beginning.

LJUTCMommy · December 2013

DD eats exactly the same as yours -- 2 4oz bottles in a 7-8 hour period. But, she still nurses about every 2 hours when I'm home (day and night). How often does your LO nurse when you're home?

DD doesn't act hungry, and if she does, our nanny just offers her 1 extra ounce and that normally satisfies her. She's only had the extra ounce twice though.

She's fed on demand, but yesterday our nanny just fed her after 4 hours with no hunger cues, because she felt like it was a long time between feeds. I do try to nurse her right before I leave and right when I get home. However, sometimes DD refuses.

I think that if your baby is hungry, they will let you know. I wouldn't stress about it.

LokiLahve · December 2013

I always feed her right before DH takes her to dc in the morning...and she does eat a LOT in that feed. She also nurses right after getting home.

Our schedule over the last 2 weeks has been:
motn nurse around 3-4 am
morning nurse @7
2 - 4oz bottles between 8am-5pm (timing depends on naps & her cues)
Then nurse @5pm, 7pm & 9pm.

I don't feel like she gets much at the 5, 7 & 9pm nurses...my supply is low then from pumping. But the motn and 7am nursing sessions are pretty good.

Ok typing this out I'm feeling a bit better. She has her 4mo check up on jan 2nd so I'll also be discussing with the pedi.

With more details does this sound a bit more normal to any of you?

cinderin · December 2013

DS is at daycare 10 hours and eats 4 bottles, 4 ounces each (16 ounces total). Which I think is over feeding him. Dh watched him the other day and he only had 12 ounces.

But I am ok with the over feeding. DS is small (5th percentile or lower) and we have been trying to get his weight up. So if eating comforts him when we aren't there and he gains a little extra, that's ok with me. The only tough part has been trying to pump enough for him, but I am working on it. I have a small stash (about 90 ounces). Also, I think when he starts having some solids around 6 months he will stop the overheating at daycare and just eat the more normal amount (average of about one ounce per hour). We will see though.

One thing to think about is the bottle - which one at you using? Does he like it?

karabear11 · December 2013

My LO takes the same as yours. I feed before work then she has 2-4oz bottles while I am gone. I am gone for 8 hours. She seems fine and not hungry so I think its enough.

Hhaber · December 2013

We figured out our LO needs 4 5oz bottles while in gone 8:30-6. I was shocked she took that much but she is much happier since we upped the amount.

ELauren88 · December 2013

Anytime we leave LO anywhere we leave at least 1 oz per hour. That being said, we typically give a 3 oz bottle for every 2-2 1/2 hours. Sometimes she'll wait 3 hours to eat, sometimes not, and sometimes she'll only eat 2 - 2.5 oz. But, it's better safe than sorry, IMO. I wouldn't want her to go hungry.

LokiLahve · December 2013

Thanks everyone for the replies. I always send 3 - 4oz bottles but majority of the time she only takes 2 of them.
I know the general guide is 1-2 oz per hour...I guess she is happy at the lower end of that scale.

carrotcake06 · December 2013

Your schedule sounds just like mine. When I'm at home w them on the weekends, they'll go even longer between feeds - often the 10am doesn't happen until noon, etc. I practically shove boob in their face by the end of the day to get 6 sessions in.

MitsB707 · December 2013

My little guy drinks 12-15oz from 8-4:45. It's usually every 2-2.5 hours and between 3-4oz a bottle.

magdalina.h · December 2013

She could be refusing at day care and then getting everything she needs from nursing. Some babies do that.

To answer your question, Alexis takes 12-16 oz with grandma

NikkiD522 · December 2013

I wonder if the variance in amounts of BM at DC is related to them STTN? ie.. those that eat more during the day sleep longer at night? That may not be true for everyone ... myself included.. but it's just a random thought I just had.

Anyhow, LO eats 2- 4 ounce bottles and has one nursing session (I come home at lunch) between 8am and 6pm... he also gets one supplemental bottle of formula around 630 or 7 bc I can never pump as much as he eats. Then I nurse him roughly 2-3 times between 10pm -7 am. Geez - when I type that out it sounds like a hot mess...

girlmama83 · December 2013

I'm in the if your pedi isn't concerned then don't be concerned camp.

H is only up a little over 5 pounds from her birthweight and I was worried that our pedi was going to tell us at her 4mo appt today that she hasn't gained enough but she was very happy with her growth.

She takes 2-3 4oz bottles in the 6 hours that she is with my aunt. Very rarely does she take the 3rd.

cg0112358 · December 2013

I've been told the general rule of thumb is 1-1.5 oz per hour away from you. Babies STTN will be on the higher end and those still waking to feed at night will be on the lower end.

ETA: oh, and she could be reverse cycling

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