Formula and Schedules

Hi P.,

My kids ate every three to four hours on formula and every two to three on breastmilk. We fed on demand, but it was still about the same time difference. By 2 months my kids were up to 4 to 5 oz. per feeding and they still ate at night.

With both our kids, we pretty much fed on demand. BUT it seemed like every 3-4 hours was the norm, and I might not remember the amount real well, but it seemed like somewhere between 2-4 ounces.

Keep in mind that about 6-8 weeks, they go through a growth spurt. With both our girls, once that growth spurt kicked in, we couldn't keep them fed because they were going through it so fast!

I remember with our oldest, once she hit 6 weeks, one day she was just screaming. I fed her, changed her clothes, changed her diaper, and she just kept screaming. I called the doctor's office in tears, and they said, "How old is she? 6-7 weeks? Feed her." I argued for a bit because I had JUST fed her, but finally did while the nurse was on the phone, and my daughter finally realized what was going on and drained the bottle. I couldn't believe it - she said, "Growth spurt!" and giggled.

For what it's worth....and good luck!

We fed on demand (I only breastfed until 5 months old) and she seemed to feed about every 2-3 hours. At nighttime it was longer, but about every 3 to 4.
Schedules are really tough at only 8 weeks. My daughter (now 9 months) seemed to be up and hour, down an hour at that stage.
For nighttime, keep doing the routine. The really love the routine and depend on it..but it take AWHILE before they "get it"

At 2 months they are pretty much on automatic. Babies have an amazing capacity to eat when they are hungry and spit it out when they aren't. Don't force feed him/her. As long as the baby is holding or gaining weight - don't worry about it.

Hi P.,

I would suggest heading to the book store and picking up the book Babywise. It is a great scheduling book that helps you get your baby to sleep through the night as soon as possible. It has great helpful tips and such.

The best advice we got with both kids (from our pediatrician) is that babies are amazing self-regulating creatures.

Our son was a snacker - we NEVER knew when he was going to eat or how much. At a year old, I'd only use 6 oz bottles because he'd barely get through 4 oz at one sitting. Because I nursed for the first year, it was even harder to gauge for the babysitter.

Our daughter, on the other hand, would suck it down and engorge herself - thus more ended-up on her clothes and outside her mouth. At 3 months we had to go entirely bottle-fed because of my chemo - we had to anticipate what she'd eat at daycare, and they often threw much of it away.

I've seen friends have their babies on a schedule because it was easier for them. They'd adjust the feedings by an ounce or 2 every couple of months and push it back an hour or so.

Good luck. What our pediatrician did say, though, is that kids will never eat more than what they need - it's us as parents who force that upon them. Both of our kids ended-up being chunky but are thinning out the older they get.