I don't know what to do now

[SCL]

My 5th old ds2 has been happy and content and drinking about 28oz per 24 hours. He has suddenly upped this to in the region of 50oz - excessive - and is draining the bottles. I am giving him water too but don't know what else to do.

He stopped using a dummy 2 weeks ago - do you think he is trying to use the bottle as a dummy? But then again after he finishes a bottle he doesn't settle, he just whinges on for a while. I am sure he is ridiculously full but he really seems to want the milk. I am not a strict 4 hourly person but that is what he was falling in to but now I am all over the place and feel I have really really lost my way. Do the heavier milks work? I'm just feeling hopeless.

[EffiePerine]

It sounds like a growth spurt - there is a big one at about 4/5 months. Up his milk and see if it settles down. Haven;t any experience of bottle feeding, but DS was breastfeeding v frequently at this age. Good luck

[sandcastles]

So how many oz is he having per feed?

He is 5 months, yes?

Maybe offer a few more oz per feed , he may just be having a growth spurt & need more.

Water won't help fill him up.

[Buda]

No advice as I can't remember that far back! But you may get more answers if you post this in Breast and Bottle Feeding rather than AIBU.

Actually my thoughts would be that he might be hungry but when DS was a baby the guidelines were solids from 4 months not 6 like now. May be worth thinking about and doing some research on here.

[UnderRated]

This might be better in the breast/ bottle feeding section. I don't know about the different milks but I'd be inclined to let him drink as much as he wants unless you think there is something wrong - does he seem ok? Is he having a growth spurt? Is he gaining weight?

You could check with HV if you are worried. 50oz does sound a lot but I've seen babies drink that much and they were fine.

[BouncingTurtle]

I would assume growth spurt
The hungry baby formulas have the same amount of calories as normal formula, they are just harder to digest.
Second posting this on B&B feeding board.

[SCL]

Thanks for your messages. He is drinking 8oz per bottle. I took him to the hv yesterday who thought the milk intake was enormous and made me feel as though I was forcing him to drink this (why would I???). He is gaining weight at a steady rate.

He has only increased his intake over the last couple of weeks. She didn't mention a growth spurt but actually that would make sense.

[lulumama]

you can offer 9 ox of milk, and / or the hungrier baby milk, but be aware it can give baby a bit of tummy ache...

he is clearly having a hungry time..

you cannot force him to drink and he would be vomiting it back up if he was full.