Infant Feeding - Tampa,FL

You just feed on-demand, 24/7, day and night.... for the 1st year at least.
6 months will be coming up and that is also a 'growth-spurt' time...and a baby will then become hungrier and more often. Normal.

For the 1st year.... breastmilk or Formula, is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition... NOT solids and NOT other liquids.

You need to feed on-demand... because everyday, a baby's intake needs and appetite varies. Feeding on a "schedule" is not good. It does NOT address a baby's varying appetites nor their growth-spurts and intake increases. And you cannot arbitrarily decide 'when' to feed a baby...because they don't feed according to a schedule. Nor can you predict when they will be hungry or how much they will drink...

Is he drinking breastmilk or Formula? Regardless, a baby needs to feed on-demand....

For spit-up... they should be burping him.... and keep him upright after feedings.
Also though, some babies just spit-up a lot. My son was like that and he was in the 95th percentiles.... and he had a GINORMOUS appetite and fed a lot... and often... and more so during growth-spurts.

Growth-spurts in babies, occurs about every 3 months...

all the best,
Susan

4 moms found this helpful

My 5 month old daughter was breastfed up until about a month ago and she ate anywhere between 2 -4 hours. They digest breastmilk easier and so they need to eat more.
She's now on formula and has a better "routine". She eats every 3-4 hours and sleeps through the night (9pm-7am). She eats about 6 ounces at each feeding (sometimes less) and we just started giving her rice cereal.

It always concerns me when parents feel that their baby should be on a feeding schedule. I don't feed myself on some schedule. I do not look at the clock and say to myself, "It's been 3 hours since my last meal, I should eat now." What if I am not hungry, should I eat anyway?

Babies are very different from adults. They eat, and should be fed because they have given cues that they are hungry. I have 3 children and another on the way and all of my children have been fed because they gave me cues they were hungry. Not because I determined for them when they should eat. In other words, I feed on demand.

Your baby is 5 months old and therefore may be ready for solids. Have you introduced baby cereal yet? All of my children began baby cereal at least by their 5th month. If your baby is not ready, don't force it but your baby could be ready. Why not try? You mentioned you are concerned about your baby's height and yet you want to stretch his feedings from every 2 hours to every 3-4 hours. I'm confused.

I would not restrict what your baby eats to follow some schedule. Allow your baby to eat because he is hungry and watch for those cues for hunger. Also, is your pediatrician concerned that your baby is not eating enough? I would discuss your concerns with the ped.

in my humble opinion your son should be eating when he's hungry and eat until he is full. sometimes it will be 3 oz and sometime it could be more. follow his lead and make sure your care providers do so as well. over feeding, underfeeding and feeding on schedule (other than our son's) can only lead to issues later on. dont worry about any weight/height scales unless there are issues with his growth progress. as long as he is taught to follow his own body's signs of full/hunger you will be giving him the tools to be a healthy eater. good luck