Holy Cow 9 Ounces!

At 4 months my daughter started drinking 8-oz bottles. I think as long as they aren't spitting back up, they are getting what they need...but I'd ask the pedi I guess about the inconsistency in amounts. Good luck, sounds like you have a good little eater on your hands!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi L.-
ALl my sisters have big eaters.
I know 9 oz seems like alot, but I asked the one sister with twins, and she said she was told a full tummy equals a happy baby. If they are hungry and will eat it, feed them. If they refuse it, they are done. Babies are the mini version of us, and sometimes they go through spurts where they need more.
You pediatrician should be able to assure you. As long as it's not eat and throw up. And as long as he is eating regularly, the amount may vary a few ounces here and there.
Hope this helps
-E.

my babies were very fat and ate a lot....i had people tell me i should feed them less but how can you say no to a hungry baby? Just as a point of reference for you they are 8 and 11 now and have had no problems with weight.
p

Hi L.,

My little one only had breast milk until she was 6 months, and I didn't pump so I don't know how much she actually ate at each feeding. But she was a HUGE baby, so I know she had enough. I think babies self-regulate, so you shouldn't worry about him eating too much or too little, as long as he is healthy.

I'd agree with what Susie G wrote in her second paragraph, though. If you are supplementing with formula, your breast milk supply might be decreasing. The more the baby sucks, the more your body produces milk. Sometimes your body has to catch up with the needs of your baby, but he will be fine waiting until your body produces the milk. If he is full of formula he won't suck as much, so your body won't produce enough milk. Visit the La Leche League site if you want to learn more about this.

Happy breast feeding, and congratulations on your baby boy!

H.

Hello There L.: I have 5 children ( 4 birth and one we got as a teen) and several foster children that I nursed. I have also supplied milk for babies that were premie.
Each child was different.
I know that a nursing child will get what they need and will take all the time in the world they need doing it too!So don't worry that it is all in different amounts as long as the child is healthy and happy. God Bless, Nana G

I'm a peer counselor with Nursing Mothers Counsel, and we get this question A LOT!! My biggest piece of advise is to look at how we, as adults, eat throughout the day and from day to day. We may have a HUGE breakfast one morning, then just a banana on our way to work the next morning. After that huge breakfast, we may not be hungry enough to eat lunch at the "normal" lunchtime, so we snack, then eat later. Or we may find we're really hungry and eat a huge lunch as well, only to find that we aren't hungry for dinner and opt for a bowl of cereal.

It sounds perfect normal, and congratulations on a GREAT eater!! If you have any breastfeeding questions, feel free to use Nursing Mothers Counsel as a resource! Our website is http://www.nursingmothers.org, our warm line number is 650-327-MILK, or you can email me off-list. Happy nursing!!

He knows when he's hungry just like we do! Let him eat as much as he wants, when he wants. If he is not getting near the total amount recommended by your pediatrician in a 24 hour period then start to worry. If he's healthy, happy and meeting his growth milestones then don't worry. Over time you may have to try and get him on more of an eating schedule so you can get some sleep at night, but other than that all sounds well! Congrats!

You've gotten some great responses. I just wanted to say that I have a small daughter - around 5th percentile in weight even with average/above average height. There were days she downed 8 to 10 oz of breast milk in one sitting (when fed by a bottle by the nanny while I was at work).

So even small babies can eat a ton some days. Babies do not really overeat nor are they designed to starve themselves. They are fine. There will be days they seem to be surviving on air, and others (growth spurts) when they eat like an adult :)

It was around 3-4 months that both of my boys began eating so much that I couldn't satisfy them with breastfeeding and had to switch to formula. I think every baby has different eating requirements, just like we all do :O) As long as he is handling it, then he needs it. Just make sure he burps properly to avoid any extra spitting up.

This is was when we began calling our boys "grubbers" :O)

Today at 13 & 7, they are healthy, not over-weight boys, who are very athletic. So, I don't think it means anything when they eat that much so young, except for that they are growing and need a little bit more some days than others.

Hope that helps you understand your little one's eating habits better.

~N. :O)

L.,
I don't know but I always made bottles that were 4-6 oz to start then if they drank it all I would continue with that amount or increase it a lil at a time....
Our grandson & my own kids were drinking 8 oz by the time they were 4 months old, but then we have BIG babies so I'm not sure if it's "normal" or not.
I wouldn't worry too much mom. The baby will take what he needs.If he wants more he will let u know.There is no set amount....I don't care what anyone says. Every child is different so just try to "listen" to what your baby needs....there is no wrong. I keep telling my daughter in law this but it's the only advice I give unless asked.
Good Luck Mom & enjoy your happy lil boy.....
p.s. If, like u said you have a "Happy" baby then you must be doing everything right mom, don't worry like I said there is no wrong.....

What a great eater you son it! I wouldn't worry about it. Most babies will just stop when they are full, and will keep going if they are hungry. If he seems to be acting totally normal otherwise, I would just go with it.

Have fun!

My daughter is also 4 months old and is the exact same way. Although her big feeding is in the morning and she can drink 8-9 oz. the rest of the day is usually 4 oz or so. This is my 3rd and my 1st child was a similar eater is now a totally healthy 9 year old. So deciding not to worry :-) I'll check in w/ her pediatrician at her next well baby visit to make sure she does not gain to much weight too fast, but other than that, I think she's fine.

Do you always eat exactly the same amount at every meal? I don't think so. The amount he eats will depend on his level of activity and how long he has gone between the meals and it will often vary.

Be careful about supplementing with formula, you could end up decreasing your milk to the point that it stops altogether. Your milk will only increase as his sucking increases, thereby stimulating your milk glands to produce more. Sometimes there is a lag between how much he wants and how much you produce on a given day, so you just need to nurse more until the production catches up with the need. It is not a precise science!

Bigger babies also eat more. My first son was 9lbs 2 weeks early and was eating 5oz at 6 weeks and 8oz at 2 motnhs. I also rotated breast and formula for the same reasons. There were some days he would eat 8oz and then an hour later eat another 6oz. It can be a growth spurt too. the Pedi told me let them eat what ever they can get down and if it stays down, great. Babies who eat more also sleep better. My son was sleeping in his crib in his room at 7 weeks for 12 hours straight. He was 31 lbs on his first bday but off the charts since birth 98% title for weight and height. He is almost 4 (next weeek) very happy, healthy never sick at 44lbs very active and full of life. THe crazy part Im dealing with since he was 2, he doens't like food now. Ugh!!!! Hang in there and enjoy this time. It zips by so fast.

SAHM, 40yrs old with 2 amazing funny little boys. 3yrs old and 16mos. (walking at 7mos)They take my breath away.

I've worked with another little boy that drank the same amount-
However, he threw up sometimes-

He might be in a growth spurt right now!

Miracle Nanny

I think this is totally normal. My son hit a growth spurt around this time and was eating tons. It was also around this time that our Doctor suggested starting solids.

We noticed that in the late afternoon our son was very hungry so that is the time we started offering baby oatmeal. It was mixed with formula like soup but he loved it and would always seemed satisfied.

You might ask at your next appointment or give your doc a call and see if they think you should start a little solids.

Sounds like my little guy! He jumped to 8 oz. bottles at around 4 months and gained a ton of weight between then and 10 months. Now he's 21 months and not overweight at all (he's actually tall and lean)!! He just needed a lot to eat back then to fulfill his 'chunky baby' potential, I guess. They always say that babies can't overeat - they spit up if they take in too much.

Young babies will sometimes just keep sucking until their need to suck is satisfied. They also tend to cluster feed in the evenings and want to take in more calories, so I wouldn't necessarily be surprised that your LO took 9 oz at the 4-5 PM feeding.

Are you only bottle feeding, or are you letting him nurse directly? If he's only getting the bottle, I would try feeding him his usual amount at 4-5 and then put him on the breast to see what he does (even if you've just pumped). It would probably help ease his need to suck better than a bottle would, and should help increase your milk production.

H