How do you know when to increase your child's formula amount?

I am breastfeeding and supplementing with formula, but my milk is strangely drying up. I have noticed that DS seems to be still hungry after he drinks a bottle. I have been giving him 2 oz of formula when I don't have him on the breast. How do I know when it's time to increase his bottle size? Also, how do I know how much I should increase it?

TIA!

Re: How do you know when to increase your child's formula amount?

If your DS still seems unsatisfied or is looking to eat frequently (more than every 2-3 hours) I would say he needs more.

I always increased a 1/2 oz at a time. I never BF so I don't know how to advise you there.

Congrats and welcome

Re: How do you know when to increase your child's formula amount?

If DD finished her bottle consistently for at least week or two i upped the bottle by an ounce, then see how she did.

I found when she was young she would eat whenever i gave her, but she would spit it all up cause her tummy couldn't handle it.

Eta: With the breastfeedinig, make sure you drink lots of water, water keeps the milk coming. Also bf'ing is supply and demand, if you take DC off the breast cause he isn't drinkikng, you aren't going to make more

What goes out, your body makes up for.

I think i heard oatmeal helps with supply and other things

Try kellymom.com, great tips there for increasing a diminishing supply.

Message edited 4/3/2007 12:55:30 PM.

Re: How do you know when to increase your child's formula amount?

Re: How do you know when to increase your child's formula amount?

Every child is different, but for DD we knew it was time to increase her formula when she went from eating every four hours to being hungry every three hours. At that point, we would up it an ounce and she would finish the whole thing, going back to eating every four hours.