Formula Feeding

I also breastfeed and formula feed my children, What I found most important and had my sitter do was feed one bottle mid morning, lunch and 1/2 a bottle mid afternoon and nothing from 3:30ish. I picked up my children just after 5:00 and went home and feed. I could always tell if she feed them late because they did not eat at 5:30ish. Some people who are not aware how important breatfeeding is and how you feel when you need to feed so you just have to try and explain it is better for you and you daughter for her to have breat milk at 5:30 and a small bottle than lots of formula. Hope this helps.

let your baby tell you how much she wants. When she does not want more she will move her head away.

I heard the way to figure it is, multiply their weight by 2.5 and then divide by how many times they each per day, and that's how many ounces they should take at each feeding. Also, if she eats everything her grandma feeds her and doesn't throw half of it up, then she's probably having just the right amount. If babies over-eat they don't keep it down.

Call the wonderful ladies at A Woman's Work, ###-###-####. They can take the age and weight of your baby, and they can tell you how much you should be giving her. You can even weigh your baby there, if you want to go to their shop in the village.
My mother was keeping my daughter for the first several weeks after I went back to work, and she was WAY over-feeding her!!! I got the answers I needed from the people at this shop. If you don't get through the first time, keep calling. If you still don't get through, call the alternate number that's given on their voicemail.

For that age, I would do only 2-4oz per feeding. It depends how long she goes inbetween feedings. SHE will let you know if she is full at 2oz, or if she'd like to continue on to 4oz. Definitely burp her every 2oz, though! That was important for my son. Otherwise, he would get so bubbly, he'd end up spitting up the last 2oz he ate. Ha ha.

Your baby will tell you if you feed her too much. She will start spitting out what her tummy can't handle. Why do you think she is being fed too much?

I know when my son was the age of your daughter, he was eating about 4 oz per sitting every 3 hours. Some days he would want a little bit more, but others he would only eat like 2.5 oz. As long as her grandmother is burping her every couple of oz, she will "tell" her when she's full. Go by her cues. Good luck!

Just ask your pediatrician. They can tell you exactly how much.

I personally believe that you should feed them if they are hungry. Perhaps you should try putting cereal in her bottle or in a bottle feeder (found at Babies R Us) if you feel she is hungry too often. I think you should not limit a babies food intaken they are growing! I wouldn't want someone to tell me I couldn't eat if I was hungry.

If she is spitting up and she doesn't have acid reflux...she is getting too much. But if she is hold her food down and still wanting more...give her more or give her something with consistancy (cereal). Our parents fed us cereal when we were "brand new" and there is nothing wrong with us!!

My son was a very hungry boy...I started feeding him some cereal at 7 weeks. It held him over. Otherwise he was wanting to eat every 2 - 2 1/2 hours. The doctors are going to tell you not to do that. He is 2 years old now and wonderful. He is not over weight at all!! And he still has his appetite. :):)

Go with your gut. My mother-in-law actually gave me this suggestion but, I didn't want to believe her. I think maybe you should listen to her and maybe add in the cereal.

Good luck!

Here's an article I found... Hope it helps. BabyCenter.com. If you don't know about this yet, It's a good source.

http://www.babycenter.com/400_how-do-i-know-my-baby-is-ge...

http://www.babycenter.com/0_bottle-feeding-basics_752.bc

How often should I feed my baby?
As with breastfeeding, most experts agree that you shouldn't follow a rigid schedules in the early weeks, though you may be able to work out an approximate pattern for feeding within a month or two. Offer the bottle every two to three hours at first or as your baby seems hungry. Until the baby reaches about 10 pounds, she'll probably take one to three ounces per feeding. Don't force more than she seems ready to eat. Your pediatrician should advise you about suitable amounts for your baby as she grows.

J., are you pumping your breast for milk while your baby is with her grandmother?

If you are using formula while you aqre at work, your baby is probably not satified and may be crying for more. If she is crying sometimes people think a bottle is all that will help.

Usually a baby needs to be fed evey 3 to 4 hours depending on the age. As they get older they should require less milk if they are satisfied. If you think your mom in law is overfeeding your baby sit down and lovingly ask her how much she is feeding her. If you feel it is too much ask her to please cut back on what she feeds her. You could make up only so many bottles to leave with her. I am a mother in law and a grandmother, raised 6 six my own. Hope this helps some. J.

Your doctor should know how much is enough for your child. But I have always heard that kids only eat til they are full and then they won't eat anymore. My son is 4 1/2 months old and he eats a 2 ounce formula bottle in the morning after he eats his bowl of rice cereal that is mixed into a ounce of formula, then he eats a 6 ounce bottle at around 11am, then a 3 ounce bottle with a jar of baby food at around 2pm, then another 6 ounce bottle at 6pm and then a 5 ounce cereal bottle at 9pm and then sleeps all night til about 8am and then starts all over again. When he was 3 months old he ate 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours during the day and then would wake up at around 6am in the morning and start all over again. But every child is different.

My son took 4-6 ounces about every 3 hours or so at ttat age. I would call your pedi and ask them. They can tell you what is appropriate for her height and weight. But remeber that is just a guide. Your baby will let you know if they need less or more.

Definately call your doctor on this one!

My sil bottle fed her and she said you take their age or weight (can't remember which) and double it for the amount of total formula taken in a day. So if say they weighed 12 pounds it would be 24 ounces. So that could be 24 divided by feedings every 2, 3 or 4 hours, but equal to 24 oz in a 24 hr day period.

But having said that...I fed nursed mine fed them to where they were satisified enough to burp and not spit up a lot. When they spit up a lot it seemed they were not quite full enough for a good burp...or they were too full and some was coming back up. It depended on the kid too. My youngest would eat more when coaxed (like you are thinking) but my other two would not. They would eat not enough or just right. So it is partly just the babies personality and how you go about feeding them. When I had to wait to feed the youngest and he ate too much then he spit up more too.

Good luck