Newborn feeding question

Julia will be 3 weeks on Thursday and the doctor told me she shouldn't have more that 3.5 onces of formula. She has been on a hunger rush lately and sometimes we cave in and 4 ounces doesn't fill her up - her hands are in her mouth and she's so cranky. We give her the pacifier and she spits it out.

I haven;t asked my peditrician yet - but lots of people are telling me to give her alittle bit of water - I wanted to know what your experiences have been.

Is it really ok to give a 2.5 week old alittle bit of water?
Thanks

Re: Newborn feeding question

is there a reason why her doctor said 3.5 ounces max?? i rmeember even in the hospital when my son was first born, there was never a limit as what to feed them, especially if they seem hungry.

Re: Newborn feeding question

Why the limit? Did he give a reason? I mean, think about it, if you were breastfeeding there would be no way to know how much she was eating and no way to limit, so why impose a limit with formula feeding? Alex was born small (6lbs) and she had such a HUGE HUGE HUGE appetite right from the start. I never questioned it and just fed her everytime she was hungry, on demand. Babies rarely, if never, overeat. She'll pull off the bottle when she's full and satisfied... go with your mommy instincts. And remember, every baby is different. Alex would never eat 4 ounces at one sitting - she was and still is a grazer, eating about 2 ounces every hour or two in the beginning. But, your little one may have longer stretches between meals, so it would make sense to eat more each time...

Re: Newborn feeding question

Re: Newborn feeding question

I wouldn't give her water. If she's hungry, she needs to eat. I was always told that he should never completely empty a bottle because that probably means he needs more.

I agree wholeheartedly with what the other mommies said, trust your instincts. If she's hungry feed her. All babies are different.

At three weeks old Jake was definitely taking between 3 and 3.5 (though not quite four) ounces of formula at a sitting. We just followed his cues as far as increasing the amount in his bottles.

Re: Newborn feeding question

my daughter is 10 days and my ped told me her formuls intake should be between 16-32 oz. a day

Re: Newborn feeding question

You should never give a newborn water without a dr telling you too. I know that water was given by OUR mothers, but the new thinking is that water is not okay without a medical reason for it.

If your daughter needs an extra .5oz here and there I don't see the issue. If she is spitting up or has any other stomach issues then I can see it being a problem. If not, I am sure she is fine.

Re: Newborn feeding question

Thanks Ladies. I can't understand why the peditrician told me that - she did mention that her stomach is so small and can only accomodate so much formula - but she isn't spitting up and usually needs more than 3 ounces of formula - so we give it to her - thats the only way she will fall asleep and be satisfied.
She has been getting horrible gas pains the past couple days and i don't know if its because shes eating too much (according to the peditrician) - but it concerns me - it might be the formula also ( we are using Similac Advance w/Iron) - so im going to give it a couple more days and see if there is any improvement.

Im going to call my ped. now and let you know what she says.... I can't imagine giving a baby water at this early age would be okay - but people have been recommendating this to me. They tell me to give her no more than 1 to 1.5 ounce of water - if the 3.5 ounces of formula does not satisfy her. Ill keep u updated.

Thanks for your input ladies.

Re: Newborn feeding question

How much does she weigh? My doc told me to give my son 1/2 of what he weighs in ounces. So for example, when he weighed 10lbs, he was getting 5 oz of formula. Now (at 4 mos) he drinks 6.5 oz of formula 5 times a day and my ped told me not to go over that and if he wants more to give him some water. Prior to that, the ped never limited me on how much formula to give him and actually told me not to give him water b/c water has no nutrients. I agree with the girls above, if she's hungry, she should get formula.

Re: Newborn feeding question

I agree at her age my dr was saying up to 32 oz (give or take) was totally fine. I know when he was slight older he said I could give water if I wanted to try to stretch him between bottles but not in place of bottles/formula. He meant more to make him go longer between meals and have bigger bottles when he did eat. He was on a 3 hour schedule and my dr suggesting trying to get him to a 4 hour schedule. Since my baby was a reflux baby - smaller bottles, more often though worked better. They also told me there is absolutely no reason for water at this age otherwise.

In your case I would consult your dr if your baby wanted more than what was recommended.

Re: Newborn feeding question

I would def give more food.

Re: Newborn feeding question

Re: Newborn feeding question

OKay - I spoke w/my peditrician - she said she now shouldn't have no more than 4 ounces - if she is still hungry and she should be feeding every 2.5 hours (alittle more frequent) - but water should not be given to her because it doesn't have any nutrients for her.
People have been biting my head off = telling me to give her water - good thing I didn't listen to these people!!
Im going to make sure she is satified with whatever amount she wants for now - and make sure she is well burped and hopefully the gas will go away.

Thanks again ladies.

Re: Newborn feeding question

Sara is one month and is drinking 4 1/2 ounces at a bottle. Doc said the MAX is 32 ounces a day

Re: Newborn feeding question

You're welcome. Glad everything got straightened out.

Re: Newborn feeding question

I was having the same issue with Ryan. He is 7 weeks now and is taking 6-7 oz per bottle every 4 -5 hours. I told my ped and she told me that he should have no more than 36 ozs per day- aiming for 30 per day. We figured it out and ot doesnt go over the 36 but she told me if he wants more to give him water also. I honestly do what I feel is right and when he is hungry I will give him the formula. I was always told you can't over feed a baby.

Re: Newborn feeding question

Re: Newborn feeding question

I gave Alyson water to help make her poopies less formed and softer for her. Julia may be on a growth spurt and need more....

Alyson last week would **** a 5 oz bottle dry and this week...I'm lucky if she takes 3-4 oz!!

Re: Newborn feeding question

from what i know, there is no reason to give water at that age. how much does she weigh? my doctor said that a rough estimate is 1 ounce for every kg. which is 2.2 pounds. My dd was 9 lbs 8 oz. at her 3 week visit and we were giving her 4 ounces. He said that should be enough, but if she is sucking every bottle dry and we feel she is hungry, we can go up to 4.5 and then 5 ounces. Unless of course, the baby has reflux or something, then that would change things.

Re: Newborn feeding question

They go through spurts... sometimes they eat more, sometimes they sleep more.


I wouldnt give her more than 4 ounces at a sitting. You might have to feed her more frequently... say every 2.5 hours but she is too little to eat more than that at a time... IMO

Good luck