grazing baby

[alison]

Hi moms and dads: M is formula-fed (before you get all excited, I do give her good ol' fashioned mama's milk that I've pumped off). So, I see exactly how much she's getting at each feeding, because I see the index on her bottle. M tends to graze -- she takes in about 2 oz, and then wants to do something else (sleep, look around, etc.). Then, about 2 hours later, she'll want another ounce. And so on and so forth. She never eats what's she's supposed to 3-4 oz/feeding every 3-4 hours or so. This means she's up throughout the night much more often than if she were to just f-ing eat a full portion at each sitting!!!

Any tips?

[Chrisada]

No tips,but that has been both of my babies. They have never had scheduled feedings. They just kinda eat a little here and a little there! I feel like I am always always nursing.

[Michele]

Maybe really try to "force" more in her at one time. And then try to drag out the time between feedings?

Honestly she's still so young that it seemsnormal to me. And she'll probably change things up again in a few weeks. Not everybaby's stomach is the same size.

But if you want to try to "force" more in, spin the bottle, squeeze the nipple, stroke her cheeks, tickle her feet to try to get her to keep drinking. Then if you can push off feeding her for an extra hour by distracting etc, she might be more willing to take more at the next feeding

of course this could all backfire.

[Auspicious]

But if you want to try to "force" more in, spin the bottle, squeeze the nipple, stroke her cheeks, tickle her feet to try to get her to keep drinking.

Also stroke very lightly, almost a tickle, under the chin or along the underside of the jaw bone--can sort of stimulate them to swallow, and if they're half asleep they may remember "hey that was some milk--that's right, I was in the middle of eating."

[Pollyanna]

Honestly she's still so young that it seemsnormal to me. And she'll probably change things up again in a few weeks. Not everybaby's stomach is the same size.

I agree, this seems pretty normal. She is not necessarily "supposed" to eat 3-4 oz per feeding, that is just a guideline. All babies are different but I will tell you that most of ours have been grazers. At six weeks I usually try to squeeze in extra feedings during the day to try and hold them over a bit in the night. I think she is still figuring things out. Our babies are usually not "settled" until about 8 weeks, but even then they really don't have a sted fast routine.

[alison]

Thanks, everyone! I read your posts earlier, just before heading out for a walk. I bumped into a nanny at the playground who suggested that during the day, when M wants to be fed, to try to distract her for a few minutes and delay the feeding, unless of course, she screams her head off. This way, she'll be more apt to really gulp down the formula. What do you think about this? Is this jus cruel at 6 weeks? Do I just need to follow M's plan? Am I being selfish? I'd just like to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time....

[Urowife]

Sounds normal to me! My DD would eat almost hourly, just a bit at a time. It gets better!

[Urowife]

Thanks, everyone! I read your posts earlier, just before heading out for a walk. I bumped into a nanny at the playground who suggested that during the day, when M wants to be fed, to try to distract her for a few minutes and delay the feeding, unless of course, she screams her head off. This way, she'll be more apt to really gulp down the formula. What do you think about this? Is this jus cruel at 6 weeks? Do I just need to follow M's plan? Am I being selfish? I'd just like to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time....

If it were me, I'd just keep following her lead, but others might feel differently. But, you could try squeezing in an ounce here and there during the day (particularly during the evening hours) to try to tank her up a bit before bed.

[Pollyanna]

I would follow baby's lead. An overly hungry baby does not necessarily mean they will eat more, just that they will cry and fuss more before they actually start to eat. Give it time and remember that she is still only 6 weeks old. Hang in there, I understand your need for sleep. But one morning you will wake with the sun and freak out because you didn't hear the baby all night. That time will be here before you know it.

[alison]

I would follow baby's lead. An overly hungry baby does not necessarily mean they will eat more, just that they will cry and fuss more before they actually start to eat. Give it time and remember that she is still only 6 weeks old. Hang in there, I understand your need for sleep. But one morning you will wake with the sun and freak out because you didn't hear the baby all night. That time will be here before you know it.

I'll follow her lead. I wouldn't want holding off on feeding her to bite me in the rear when she's a teenager and decides she hates me.

I'll follow her lead. I wouldn't want holding off on feeding her to bite me in the rear when she's a teenager and decides she hates me.

That will happen anyway.

I'm an 'on-demand' kind of mom (for feedings). There is a 'schedule' school of thought, but I can't really speak to that. Tara also had a really good point about a hungry / fussy baby not necessarily eating more. She'll just be more riled up and possibly less settled.

[PrincessFiona]

Oh, Alison, Aidan was the same way! I used to joke that he ate like a little bird...but it was really painful in the middle of the night. I felt like I didn't sleep for months.

Aidan is still a teeny, tiny thing, btw.

And...I'm with Jenn...once they are teen-agers, they'll find any excuse to hate you. Most recently, Andrew is blaming me for his B in band and theology because I didn't "put enough pressure on him and let him be a slacker!" What? Last year I was a "life ruiner" for supposedly putting too much pressure on him.

ETA: You are doing a great job, btw....you are such a good mom!!!

Kris