Becoming a mom or dad means that doubts about your parenting skills spring up more frequently than you’d like to admit. At the top of the list, is whether they are feeding their babies adequately. Are you giving you babies too much or, an even scarier thought, too little? When bottle feeding is thrown into the equation, things get even more confusing.
While these are common questions, it’s good to keep in mind that all babies are different when it comes to feeding and the amount they consume will depend largely on the baby’s needs. This also includes how much your baby will consume in a single sitting. Some babies like drinking a lot of formula in one go, allowing them to stay satiated for a longer time. Others prefer consuming small amounts often. Even then, babies aren’t a bottomless pit and whether they choose to eat heavily or lightly, they can only consume so much. A good place to begin is stomach size.
How small is my baby’s stomach?
Between birth and 2 days old, your baby’s stomach is about the size of a walnut. Between days 3 and 9, it grows to about the size of a plum and at about day 10 it’s about the size of an egg. Your baby’s small appetite in the first few days after birth has more to do with stomach size and less to do with your own efforts.
How much formula should my baby get?
Most newborns will get hungry every 2 to 3 hours. This can add up to about 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period. For the first couple days of life, a newborn will only take in about a half ounce at a time. However, in the days following, this will be bumped up to 1 to 2 ounces per feeding. Then, when they hit 2 months old, they usually take in about 4 to 5 ounces at a time; 4 months, 4 to 6 ounces; and at 6 months, up to 8 ounces.
The one true guide is to feed your baby whenever he or she becomes hungry. However, there’s a difference between how much your baby’s belly should hold compared to how much it can hold. When breastfeeding, it’s near impossible to overfeed a newborn. However, bottle feeding changes things. The design of the nipple makes it more difficult for babies to control the flow of milk from the bottle. When given formula, your baby may take in more than necessary, especially in the early days of feeding.
How do I know if I’m overfeeding my baby?
The signs of overfeeding will be pretty obvious. Your baby will fussy and spit up or vomit often. They may also have sleep problems. Your baby may also have frequent, smelly bowel movements and they may be downright crabby.
How do I avoid overfeeding my baby?
The first step is learning when he or she is actually hungry. Babies will give you cues to let you know when they are ready to eat. Typical hunger cues include licking lips, sticking their tongues out, putting the hand to the mouth repeatedly, opening the mouth, and of course, fussiness.
Paced Bottle Feeding Method
You can also use a feeding method called Paced Bottle Feeding which gives the infant better control of how much they consume. Paced bottle feeding takes into account how quickly milk flows from the nipple and gives you the tools to help slow it down. This allows the baby to take breaks and eat at a slower pace. Your baby will also quicker recognize when they are full, helping you avoid overfeeding.
Feeding your baby adequately
As with other parenting skills, feeding your baby adequately will take some getting used to. Once you learn the signs of both hunger and satiation, you will be better equipped to ensure that your baby is well fed and happy.
THE SPOTLIGHT
We’d like to highlight just a few popular products that you could try as you navigate bottle feeding your baby. While we are not medical experts, we are offering these based on recommendations from moms that have used them and from Amazon’s ratings.
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