Is My Daughter over Eating?

Sounds like she is eating the right amount! My girls took about the same amount when they were her age. Keep up the good feedings :-)

you can't overfeed her at this age - you should be feeding her every time she wants to eat.

The most accepted advice for babies' first few months is to feed on demand. Your daughter sounds like a strong, healthy eater.

If the pediatrician is concerned about the weight she gains at her well-baby checkups, he'll let you know. Until then, be grateful she eats so well! Lots of moms would love to have that worry.

If she is hungry, feed her. She is the only one who knows what she needs to eat right now, and her hunger should be your guide. The last thing you need to worry about at this stage is over feeding! If she is comfortable and able to sleep for 4 hours, you are doing the right thing. Babies who are hungry don't sleep and getting babies to sleep is hard enough, you don't want to second guess her demand and keep her awake with an empty belly. Feed her on demand, and don't worry about it any more at all.

Terrific that she is sleeping 4 hours at a time!

M.

Feeding on demand is the absolute best way to go. For sooo many reasons.

But as to your Q... I took part in a lactation study (with fancy schmancy scales that they were weighed on before and after nursing, that would weigh to the gram)... from 2 weeks onward:

Kiddo was drinking apx TWENTY oz of milk every 2 hours. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

The nurses and doctors weren't concerned. They said the only concern with BF babies is if they're eating too little. Now, we were definitely outliers (very few babies eat THAT much). But yah. from 2 weeks to 9months. The rule of thumb was he ate apx 20 oz.

I think you are doing fine. My daughter did the same thing. If she is being overfed, the pediatrician will let you know. Don't worry about it for now and feed her when she wants to be fed as long as she is not using your breast/bottle as a pacifier.

please ask your dr. of course but I dont think she is. each baby is different and as a baby you will eat what you need not like adults that eat for differnt reasons, babies just eat when they are hungry so if she wants to eat chances are she needs too. good luck w/ your new baby! congrats!

You are not overfeeding your daughter. If she sucks down the bottle without spitting the whole thing up - I wouldn't worry about it. Also if she isn't showing signs of upset stomach. My middle child had reflux but enjoyed his bottle. I just had to feed him less but more often.

I don't think you can over feed a baby through toddler. They eat on demand and they stop when they've had enough. Every child will be a little different and it's great yours can eat enough to be able to sleep 3-4 hrs at a time. If you can sleep when she sleeps, you'll be suffering less from sleep deprivation. When my son was born, my husband helped out so much, but it still felt like I went about 8 weeks without much in the way of meaningful sleep and I was such a zombie.

I agree to feed on demand and babies this young won't over eat. I still let my 2 1/2 yr old eat as much as he wants. If the baby's (or toddlers) weight gain is not appropriate, then you can worry about how much is too much, but I wouldn't worry unless the doctor tells you he is over eating. Supposedly babies eat exactly what they need, they don't learn to over eat until later.

In an infant, a "growth spurt" occurs every 3 weeks. Then, at 3 months of age, growth-spurts occurs every 3 months.... so at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months etc.

Feed ON-demand, 24/7, day and night.

Both my kids, had GINORMOUS appetites... and they nursed a lot, THEN there is something called "cluster feeding" where the baby/infant feeds even every 1 hour. You need to go according to their needs and hunger cues.

You feed a baby whenever they are hungry and for as long as they feed. Make sure that she is latching on properly and that you have enough milk production... if not, a baby will not be getting enough intake.. and they therefore may feed more, because they are hungry.

Nursing ON-demand, insures that your body will produce enough milk. Your body goes according to your baby's needs.

Also, make sure, she is nursing long enough to get to the hind-milk. It takes about 15 minutes, to reach the hind-milk. Then often, an infant will nurse longer. Nursing sessions can even take 1/2 hour.
You feed/nurse a baby until they detach or fall asleep. That means they are satisfied.

You cannot "over-feed" a baby. But they can get under-fed, if they are not fed according to on-demand. "Scheduled" feedings for example, leads to under-feeding. Because it is not going according to a baby's needs or growth-spurt needs.

Newborns eat when they are hungry. You can't over feed her. Feed her as much as she will eat.

There's no such thing as over-feeding with breastmilk. Don't count ounces, just nurse whenever she wants it. Most babies that age are eating every 1-2 hours, so the fact that she's already stretched out to 3-4 hours is great! As long as they are gaining, it doesn't matter how much, there's just no such thing as over-eating at that age! That's what is so great about breastmilk:) All nutrients, little waste, no bad chemicals or fake fats.
Keep up the good work mama!

Your three-week-old's eating pattern is totally appropriate. Babies will tell you when they are hungry. Thier stomachs are so small that they eat frequently, especially breastfed babies. Also, don't be surprised if she cluster-feeds from time to time. It's normal. Feed her when she seems hungry and don't force it when she's not, assuming she is normal weight and length on the growth charts.

Feed her when she's hungry. Babies that age need to be fed on demand, whether they're breastfed or formula fed.
And I hope you mean formula, not milk. I'm sure you do, but just wanted to make sure.