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Infant feeding

FF: How long should my 3.5 month old be going between feeds?

5 replies

u32ng · 20/05/2013 07:38

Currently DS averages 2.5-3hrs between feeds & taking 6 x 6oz which is more than what he 'should' be having for his weight (14lbs).

I am longing for the days of being able to go 4hrs between feeds!!! I know all babies are different but is it normal to want to feed so frequently at this age?

(Also he does have a bit of reflux so I thought there was maybe a bit of a comfort element to it, so sometimes I try & offer a dummy if it's been a short gap but he 99% of the time does seem genuinely hungry as he will protest if he gets the dummy, but not when he gets his bottle)

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BikeRunSki · 20/05/2013 07:49

DS went 4 hours, had 8 oz at a time at that age. DD went 3 hours, also had 8 oz. She never went to 4 hour feeds. Even at 19 months she's never much more than 2 hours between meals/snacks/milk, although had now given up milk at night (fingers crossed).

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beckslovestimmy · 20/05/2013 08:16

DD is 18 weeks and 14.5lb and is about the same 2.5-3.5 hrs between feeds, occasionally longer. I try to distract her before a bottle to make sure it is definitely hunger. She has 4x6 oz bottles and 1x 7oz bottle before bed then sleeps 8-8. Maybe try giving more formula in each bottle 7 or 8 oz and you may find she goes longer between feeds and drops a bottle? The guidelines on the tin are only guidelines, it also says to feed on demand so as long as baby is happy and healthy I wouldn't worry too much

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u32ng · 20/05/2013 08:46

Yeah I have thought about going up to 7oz but DS has been quite sicky lately & I thought maybe he was taking on too much milk. Also worried that he won't go much longer between feeds & then be on 6 x 7oz bottles!

I do try to feed on demand generally but I sometimes wonder if his eyes are bigger than his stomach...

He's a little Mealer Chops!

I do wonder if the reflux issue is confusing things though by making me think he's having too much when he's just refluxing??

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mummytopoppy1 · 20/05/2013 13:38

My DD is 6.5 months now, but before we started weaning she never went more than 3 hours. I think 4 hours is a long time to eat/drink nothing and some babies just don't do it. She got to 5 x 7oz bottles before weaning. Perhaps try and offer him a little more in each feed, he won't take what he doesn't need.