Hi ladies. DD is 5.5 months and is in daycare full time. I had been sending her with 4 oz BM bottles every 3 hours. The teachers told me that she was getting hungry before sooner and was crying after her bottles like she wanted more. So I upped her bottles to 5 oz. Now daycare is saying the same thing - she's hungry before the 3 hour mark and is crying after her bottles like she wants more. I'm hesitant to give her 6 oz every 3 hours. And I can't produce enough when I pump to cover 18 oz a day. 6 oz just seems like a lot for one feeding. Should I send her with smaller bottles and have them feed her more often? TIA.
Re: 6oz breastmilk bottles?
you can use the calculator here to calculate how much your LO should be getting while you are away: https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc
if your LO will take a pacifier, they could try offering that first, or otherwise try to console her. sending more, smaller bottles is also a good idea. keep on using the lowest-flow nipples if your LO is not getting frustrated with them.
**DD1 - 7/9/98**
**DS - 11/9/00**
**DD2 - 4/30/13**
The problem is- daycares are most familiar with the eating habits of a formula fed baby, which rapidly increases to 6-8 oz bottles every 3 hours. They might need some information about the changing composition of breastmilk as a baby grows and the fact that increased ounces are not generally needed until things change, like pp mentioned, when baby begins sttn, they may need bigger bottles at that point, but even then, I'd only go up by half ounce increments.