1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

dd is 2 weeks old, and her eating is all over the place. there are times i make a 3oz bottle for her and an hour later, she seems hungry for more - and there are other times i make the bottle and she'll only take an ounce or two. i feel like i'm dumping formula and it feels like such a waste with how expensive it is. i use bottled water room temperature with powder formula...
if she doesn't finish a bottle, can i refrigerate the rest and heat it up for another feeding or no? and if so, i am clueless how to even heat up a bottle
is there any rule of thumb on how much she should be eating at this point, or every baby is different and i just have to feel her out and find my way? i don't know if you can overfeed a baby... do i just give in any time she's hungry, even if it's only after an hour? there have been a few times (2 or 3) that she's taken more than 3oz at one time, and has thrown up. the pediatrician isn't concerned... but obviously i want to prevent that, bc when she throws it up, she's just hungry again! any tips/advice for a 1st time mommy would be greatly appreciated - i'm feeling a little lost.

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Congratulations! Remember you are doing a great job. I felt exactly like you when I first had DS but I was breast feeding and supplementing with formula.

You can't save any milk :( Its a waste but I think they say that it can start growing bacteria and I wouldn't chance it. However, I would give your DD maybe 2 oz at a time and if she still seems hungry give her another oz. At 2 weeks old I would feed her whenever she seems hungry. Just give her smaller amounts more often.

Babies reflux are very sensitive and immature at that age. If she is not overly fussy and she is gaining weight- I think spitting up is normal. My DS spit up all the time when he was that age. My doctor referred to him as "happy spitter upper". Eventually they will out grow it. Is she is spitting up, very very fussy, not gainning weight then have her checked out for an allergy.

If you think its a comfort thing for her to suck and she is not really hungry, try giving her a pacifer. That might help.

And to warm up bottles, before I bought a bottle warmer I used to take a mug of water and heat it for one or two minutes in the microwave. Then I would stick the bottle in the hot water for 2 or 3 minutes.

Hope this helps! Congrats!

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

It is very difficult in the beginning. Every baby is different. Some newborns will go 3 hours between feedings & others want to eat around the clock. My ds ate every 1 - 1 1/12 hours all day & night. I mainly bf'd but supplemented with formula due to low supply so I don't know exactly how many ounces he drank. But when he did have just a bottle it was about 2 ounces at a time. As far as reusing a bottle that was already used you can let it sit for an hour & see if she wants anymore otherwise you need to dump it because of bacteria.

Hang in there it will get easier

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Posted by apwmjc

It is very difficult in the beginning. Every baby is different. Some newborns will go 3 hours between feedings & others want to eat around the clock. My ds ate every 1 - 1 1/12 hours all day & night. I mainly bf'd but supplemented with formula due to low supply so I don't know exactly how many ounces he drank. But when he did have just a bottle it was about 2 ounces at a time. As far as reusing a bottle that was already used you can let it sit for an hour & see if she wants anymore otherwise you need to dump it because of bacteria.

Hang in there it will get easier

1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

I would try to be a little more scheduled with the feedings. After a few days you will hopefully fall into a routine and tints will figure themselves out.

Try every 2-3 hours at first. Give her 3oz and make sure to burp her often. Even if she is sleeping when it is time for her next bottle, wake her up by changing her diaper. This will also help her body clock to differentiate between night and day. After her last bottle at night let her go as long as she wants without eating and then start the every few hours for the next day from there.

As far as water...there is no fluoride in Nassau or Suffolk water (there is in the 5 boroughs) it is not necessary at such a young age, but starting at 6 months your ped might start a fortified multi vitamin with it. My ped said that Brita filtered water is better then bottled water because you don't know where the bottled water is coming from, nor do you know what is or isnt in it. In a pinch when out she said that she would use it, but also suggested using Poland spring.

Good luck!!

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Posted by Justcantbe

Posted by apwmjc

It is very difficult in the beginning. Every baby is different. Some newborns will go 3 hours between feedings & others want to eat around the clock. My ds ate every 1 - 1 1/12 hours all day & night. I mainly bf'd but supplemented with formula due to low supply so I don't know exactly how many ounces he drank. But when he did have just a bottle it was about 2 ounces at a time. As far as reusing a bottle that was already used you can let it sit for an hour & see if she wants anymore otherwise you need to dump it because of bacteria.

Hang in there it will get easier

This...plus....I recommend either using a brita or faucet filter attachment in lieu of bottled water....bottled water does not have fluoride in it which is vital to your baby's tooth development. The only way around this is to either use the bottled 'nursery water' (sold in cvs, babies R us
etc) or let your dr know so they can give you vitamins with fluoride in them.

1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Congratulations on your new bundle :)
DS was fed on-demand for weeks. I used to get the nursettes which are 2oz each and supplement BF with formula. They will eat as much as they need. Once they start drinking from a bottle, you have to throw it out after 1hr so you cannot re-use the uneaten formula.

I did'nt use powder, I used RTF but I did keep a gallon of nursery water from BRU in case he needed it.
Once baby starts teething (around 6 mos) the pediatrician prescribed vitamin drops with fluoride.

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Hi!Congrats on your baby!!

I was told by my ped you cant overfeed a baby. My DD ate alot and never over ate. I sort of just went by what she would eat. For ex, I started with 3 oz bottles and just would go by what she would take. Then I started making bottles that amt. I forget how often I fed her honestly! Seems so long ago.

But never reuse formula that they have drank from. it can spoil quickly if eaten from already. Try bottles of 3 oz to start and see how much she takes.

As for heating a bottle, I just used to take a glass of hot tap water and place the bottle in that for a few mins. Works perfectly.

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Posted by Justcantbe

Posted by apwmjc

It is very difficult in the beginning. Every baby is different. Some newborns will go 3 hours between feedings & others want to eat around the clock. My ds ate every 1 - 1 1/12 hours all day & night. I mainly bf'd but supplemented with formula due to low supply so I don't know exactly how many ounces he drank. But when he did have just a bottle it was about 2 ounces at a time. As far as reusing a bottle that was already used you can let it sit for an hour & see if she wants anymore otherwise you need to dump it because of bacteria.

Hang in there it will get easier

This...plus....I recommend either using a brita or faucet filter attachment in lieu of bottled water....bottled water does not have fluoride in it which is vital to your baby's tooth development. The only way around this is to either use the bottled 'nursery water' (sold in cvs, babies R us
etc) or let your dr know so they can give you vitamins with fluoride in them.

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Burp frequently. Sometime the belly can fill up with air, not formula and then DC will need to eat again sooner. Even if DC doesn't burp in the middle of a meal it slows feeding down. And some spit up is normal. I always think of this bib I saw that said "Spit happens"

You should discard formula after 1 hr of the starting of a feeding due to bacteria growth. DCs immune system is just starting out so this is really important to stick to.

DH and I were told that FF babies should only eat every 3 hours... yeah, worst advice ever. Babies are growing so quickly, feed when DC seems hungry and don't force to finish the bottle.

At 2 weeks I offered DD 3 oz at a time. She was pretty consistant, she ate every 3 hours like clokcwork. She's up to 4oz but sometimes more frequently, and no she doesn't always take the 4 ozs. It's frustrating I know! DD doesn't tolerate powdered formula yet so I spend extra $$$ on RTF.

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Thank u for all the replies...
I do know about not using the formula after an hour - i wont even stretch it that long just in case... but i was asking more in terms of - if i make a 3oz bottle, she takes 1.5 oz and i know within 30min shes not taking more from it, could i dump the rest into a clean bottle & refrigerate to heat up for another feeding? Just thought there might be a way to not waste it.

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

I think the best way is to offer smaller amounts. Like 2 ozs. if she's still awake and hungry heat up another oz while you burp her.

It stinks wasting, I know. But I look at it this way, I want to make sure she's getting what she wants and needs and I want to keep her safe. Even still I'll warm up 4 ozs because she's screaming and that's her usual amount and she'll take 1-2ozs just to top off. ugh! Or she'll take the 4 ozs and look hungry after, by the time I'm ready with more formula, she's asleep! It's frustrating but you are doing a good job keeping her fed and not over feeding!

Re: 1st time mommy questions about formula feeding

Once the baby starts drinking you can't reuse that bottle. But what I was always told was...If the baby is completely draining the bottle..you need to add more. There should always be some left so you know she is done eating. If she is draining the bottle then u won't know if she wants more unless you refill the bottle. If she always finishes two oz..then always filling with 2.5 or e oz.

Feed on demand but make sure sheis eating enough at each feeding,,,hence making sure she isn't draining the bottle.

My son is four and half weeks...sometimes he goes two hours..sometimes there'd or four..and when he's really annoying... He'll want more after an hour!,

He drinks 3-4oz during the day and most nights feelings hell only drink 2-3.


Good luck!! We have all been there and have wondered and asked the same questions. Feeding is the most confusing and frustrating aspect of being a mom at this stage. You are doing great