Still Trying to Figure out How Much DD Takes in BM Bottles

eggmankate · March 2014

DD started daycare 4 weeks ago at 12 weeks. I started the bottles with 3.25 ounces of breastmilk and she had bottles about every 3 hours. Some bottles on some days wound up just having a little bit more and she'd willingly drink it all so I started gradually increasing the amounts each week. Last week she got a 4 ounce bottle and she just guzzled it down. So I decided this week to give her 3-4 ounce bottles. Apparently she guzzled all of them down today. She finally spaced her feedings out today so that she went 4.5 hours between a feed today. So now I'm not sure if she's drinking her bottles too fast or if I should keep increasing the amount in bottles. How do you decide when it's time to increase the amounts in bottles?

Dreamingmommy4 · April 2014

I increase the amount of BM if DD still seems hungry after she eats everything I have given her. Typically (not always) with BF babies though, you shouldn't need to adjust the amount too much, since the calories of the BM change to meet the demand. With formula the calories don't change, so to increase the calories you have to increase the amount. At 4 months old, DD eats 4-4.5oz. of BM when she is given a bottle. Eta. To clarify

look1nbeyond · April 2014

My LO isn't in daycare. So I don't know how they handle feeding.

But generally i set up 4oz bottles of BM for him while I'm at work. If I'm told he still looks for more I set up a little more in the bottle. between 2mnth- now (5mths) He's had times where he just wants more. I've even gone to 8oz for a little while, then he went back down to 4oz (growth spur).

Mayb your LO is going thru a growth spur? Or just plan GROWING lol

Ask them about how she's reacting after the bottle is done. Franticly looking for more? small complaint and then mellows out?

I think if they want it, then give it to them. They know when they don't want any more. I'm not going to stress about "calories" at this point. The pedi has no problem with how the LO is developing.

tisunge602 · April 2014

Dreamingmommy4 said: I increase the amount of BM if DD still seems hungry after she eats everything I have given her. Typically (not always) with BF babies though, you shouldn't need to adjust the amount too much, since the calories of the BM change to meet the demand. With formula the calories don't change, so to increase the calories you have to increase the amount. At 4 months old, DD eats 4-4.5oz. of BM when she is given a bottle. Eta. To clarify

This. Also, @look1nbeyond, I think you mean growth spurt.

eggmankate · April 2014

Thanks everyone! I get so confused about BM not needing to be increased. I get that BM composition changes as baby ages, but it seems like I also hear people say that they increased breast milk bottles to such and such amount at a certain age so it seems like sometimes babies need more? I will try to stay in tune with DC about whether seems satisfied after her bottles or starts asking for more.

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Still Trying to Figure out How Much DD Takes in BM Bottles

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