My 6 Week Old Is NEVER Full

She may be getting ready to go through a growth spurt. Every two hours is pretty normal. I suggest hanging on for a week before you try putting rice cereal in her formula. Her body isn't ready to digest the rice cereal at this stage in the game.

Hi N. - When my second son was about 6 or 8 weeks he started to do the same thing. I took him to our pediatrician and talk to him about MSPI (Milk and Soy Protein Intorlerance). The symptoms are frequent slimy and green stools, belly pain or needing pressure on their bellys to comfort them, and constant eating. They eat constantly because it makes their tummies feel better when they're full, but when they put whatever protein they're sensitive to in their tummies the pain soon returns causing a continues cycle. You may want to talk to your pediatrician because MSPI is very prevalent in the mid west. He may recommend that you try soy formula and see how that goes. If your still having problems you may have to try formulas that don't contain ANY milk or soy proteins at all. Hope this helps you.

The baby is much too young to start on cereal in her milk. You could try changing her formula, and it may improve her "fullness" response. Really, every two hours for a newborn is not that uncommon, give the baby a little time to grow and she will be able to hold more at each feeding.

I am not sure why your daughter never seems full, you may want to bring this to the attention of her pediatrician. As for the cereal, she is far too young to start. Certain parts of babies digestive system is not fully developed, which is why they say to wait until 4 months. Giving her cereal this early could do more harm then good. If the situation does not improve then definitely bring this to her Dr. attention.
Good Luck
K.

We went through this same thing with my son...what ended up happening with him was that he couldn't tolerate the formula he was on. He really wasn't hungry...it was a tummyache. Our PEd had us give him gas drops before everyfeeding and we switched him to soy formula. It was an overnight change. He was happy with a smaller bottle and content. He was taking in 40oz. a day before and that was way too much for a little baby. He went down to almost 20oz. a day.

I started adding cereal at 2 mo. of age. My daughter wanted to eat and eat and eat, but realized she just wanted to suck. Have you tried giving your baby a pacifier. This really helped.

Talk to her doctor. I don't think she should be eating that much.

Hi N.,
I was told from my oldest daughters dr. to that it is ok to get her started on cereal at her 2 week check up. With my youngest I was told to start feeding her cereal at 4 weeks cuz she was not full either. I started with rice cereal I didnt put it in her bottle I spoon fed both my girls it. Rice would be ok at this time. Just give it a try. hope that helps.

Six to eight ounce bottles seems a bit much for a six week old baby. Have you seen a doctor about her fussiness? Sounds like it might be colic. My daughter had colic very bad until she was three months old. Initially, I thought she was hungry as well because when I fed her she stopped crying and took what I was feeding her. But soon after her feeding, the crying would start again. I wouldn't start cereal at this point, I would talk with your doctor first. Good luck.

N.,
I am a mother of six with a brandnew one almost 12 weeks old. I am thinking that the formula is not agreeing with her. My baby will not poop unless I give her a laxative every two days. When she cries alot and acts like she is hurting for some reason she thinks that she needs to eat more. that's when i have stop her from eatingand make her poop. I think that your baby may be telling you that her belly hurts ands needs something. I can't recommend a formulaqbecause everyone is different. Go with your instincts .You may have to try many different formula's or get a suggestion from your doctor.
A.

Hi N.

Yes, like both responses said, it sounds like what she is eating is not agreeing with her. My children also all had allergies, and when the formula or breast milk wasn't agreeing with them, they always wanted to eat as well. Their little tummies hurt when digesting the food, so they think they want to eat again. You could try a different formula (soy), but if she's like my kids, it was dairy and soy allergies, so even that didn't work. Unfortunately, that's when you have to get into the more expensive formula's. The good news is they usually outgrow it before too long.

before you start treating an allergy that possibly doesn;t exist, keep in mind that some babies WILL overeat when formula fed. With breastmilk they seem to stop when they are full, but with formula, you just have to feed them what is recommended for their age.
Keep in mind that just because they are crying doesn't mean they are hungry necessarily. It could be discomfort from lots of things.
If she is peeing and pooping fine, she isn't going hungry. She should be eating every 2 hours or so though, That is normal at her age.
If you think it may be gas, try some of the homeopathic tablets for gas and tummy discofort (also called Colic tablets)- you can find them anywhere- Walgreens, Target... They work well and help them sleep- they have Chamomille in them. Dissolve them in a teaspoon of water and give them to her by dropper- she should suck on the dropper.
With my twins, one of mine seemed to have this problem as well.