Every baby’s needs are unique, including the amount of formula they require. As they grow, babies generally consume more formula. Newborns may need 1.5 to 3 ounces per feeding. Older infants might take up to 8 ounces every four hours. But how can you tell if they’re getting enough formula for proper nutrition? Planning to feed your baby with formula, breast milk, or both? Here are ways to prepare formula for your baby.
How Much Infant Formula Does a Baby Needs?
Healthy formula-fed babies typically consume prepared formula every 2 to 3 hours after the first few days of life. Feed most babies on-demand—whenever they show hunger signs—to ensure adequate nutrition.
As your baby grows, you’ll notice that your baby can hold more milk than usual. When this happens, you’ll need to feed them every 4 to 4 hours to satiate your baby’s hunger. They’ll soon become more adept at their feeding routine and even go longer without formula feeding.
How Can You Tell When Your Baby is Hungry?
Most formula-fed babies will show signs to let you know if they’re hungry or full. Although it may take some time to get used to, you’ll eventually learn how to distinguish these signs to know when to feed your baby.
- Moving their heads to each side
- Putting their fingers, hands, and fists to their mouths
- Opening their mouths
- Puckering their lips mimicking sucking
- Nuzzling against their mother’s breasts
- Exhibiting more alertness
Most parents think that crying is the only sign that they need to feed infant formula to their babies. However, crying is already a sign that your baby is stressed. Learning to distinguish these hunger cues will help you learn when to feed your baby and how much formula milk your child needs.
How Can You Tell When Your Baby is Full
To give your baby a more balanced nutrition, it’s equally important to know when they’re full. Here are a few signs that your babies are done with bottle feeding:
- Baby tends to fall off your breast
- Baby turns their heads away from your nipple
- Baby starts relaxing their body and opens both their fists
Once you notice these signs with your baby after breast or bottle feeding, consider burping your child and changing their diaper afterward. If you notice that your baby isn’t showing signs of interest even after offering the other breast or another baby formula, it means that they’re no longer hungry. Some babies may consume breast milk from both sides after every feed, while others prefer to only eat from one side.
Recommended Feeding Guide for the First Year
During your baby’s first months, giving them the right formula amount is essential to ensure their growth spurt. You may start with at least 60 to 90 milliliters of milk in the first few weeks of their birth. Then, you may consider giving them more as they grow, depending on their hunger cues.
Most newborn babies consume at least 1.5 to 3 ounces of milk every 2 to 3 hours. The amount of formula tends to increase as your baby grows. Once your baby reaches two months, you may consider increasing the bottle feeding by at least 4 to 5 ounces every 3 to 4 hours.
At four months, consider increasing the amount to 4 to 6 ounces every formula feeding, depending on how often your baby eats. Once your baby reaches 6 months, your baby may be capable of drinking 6 to 8 ounces at least 4 to 5 times daily.
It’s highly recommended to monitor your baby for any hunger cues. It’s best to respond appropriately to these responses and let your baby stop once you notice they’re full.
Why Does My Baby Seems Hungrier Than Usual?
Remember that the amount of formula or breast milk that your baby consumes will depend on their months of age. So, technically, their age will determine how much they need to consume with each feeding.
There are times when a baby may be going through a period of rapid growth called a growth spurt. It usually happens when the baby is between 7 to 10 days old, 3 to 4 weeks old, 6 weeks old, and around 4 months and 6 months of age [1].
So, during these months of age, it’s best to continue formula feeding them on demand and increase the amount, especially when your baby is hungry.
Signs That Your Baby’s Getting Too Much Formula
Excessively feeding your baby, especially during the early months of age, may cause them to swallow air. Thus, they feel uncomfortable because their growing body still can’t digest all the breast cow’s milk you gave them. Babies also tend to become gassy when fed too much formula.
Overfeeding a baby can cause them to produce more gas and increase their discomfort in the belly area. Thus, leading to crying and excessive fussiness. Formula overfeeding can cause them to spit more than usual and experience loose bowel movements.
Another common sign of overfeeding is vomiting. babies tend to throw up any excess food they eat, which may lead to health problems if left untreated. That’s why it’s essential to know how much formula is right for your baby based on their age and body weight.
There are also instances when babies might find it challenging to sleep went they’re overfed. So, if you notice that your baby has difficulty sleeping or tends to wake often, then it’s best to look at how much cow’s milk you have been feeding them.
Potential Side Effects of Overfeeding an Infant
Like everything else, excessive intake can affect a person’s body, especially for babies. Let’s look at a few potential side effects of overfeeding infants.
Obesity
Although your baby’s body weight isn’t an indicator of overfeeding, it is an outcome of consuming excessive amounts of cow’s milk protein in baby formulas. Depending on how much formula you feed your child, overfeeding can cause a person to gain an abnormal amount of weight.
Thus, increasing the chances of developing high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and even heart disease. There are even cases where a baby may develop joint problems or shortness of breath. Some even develop bladder issues even at a young age.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
When your baby constantly feels sick and gassy, there’s a considerable chance that he/she is overfed. This can lead to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). GERD may cause your baby to suffer from frequent spitting up, heartburn or vomiting. As your baby gets older, it can become difficult for him/her to gain weight and develop normally due to the symptoms of GERD.
Vomiting
Vomiting can also be a symptom of an overfed baby. This can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, harming your baby’s health. Vomiting can also affect the level of nutrients and minerals in the body, leading to deficiencies that may cause long-term damage if left unchecked. That’s why it’s essential to determine how many ounces per bottle to ensure that your baby will only have the right amount of nutrients needed for your baby’s growth.
Crying
Overfeeding your baby can also cause them to cry. It signals that your baby’s appetite has been saturated and that giving him more than enough will cause their stomach to get excessively full. Crying can also indicate that your baby has difficulty digesting the food, which could be a sign of acid reflux or GERD.
Baby’s Feet and Hands are Relaxed
When you notice that your baby’s feet and hands are free and relaxed after formula feeding, there’s a considerable chance that your baby is already full.
Tips When Feeding Your Baby Formula Milk
Buy a Bottle Feeding Equipment
It’s crucial to have all the necessary tools to feed a formula-fed newborn with their milk supply. So, ensure that you prepare their bottles, a bottle brush, and your baby’s teat when preparing formula milk.
Sterilize the Bottles
Before you start mixing the bottled water with the formula, it’s highly advisable to sterilize the bottles before giving them to your baby. Please wash your hands thoroughly before handling any of their bottle-feeding equipment to prevent any possible contamination. if you don’t have a microwave or steam sterilizer, giving it a bath using boiled water should be good. Ensure to wait for the boiled tap water to cool before using it to feed your baby.
Never Leave Your Baby Alone
Never attempt to leave your baby alone while using a bottle to feed them. This is because they may choke on the milk if left unattended or fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth and drown. So, supervise your child during feeding times, especially when feeding formula.
Dispose of Any Leftover Formula
When feeding your baby formula milk, it’s best to dispose of any of the remaining unused formula or breast milk. Unlike baby foods, baby formula can be prone to bacterial contamination. So, as part of the disease control procedure, it’s best only to make up the feed when your baby is hungry. Consider getting a formula feeding chart as a guide.
Never Hesitate to Ask
Be bold and speak with your child’s doctor, midwife, or other mothers about bottle feeding, your baby’s weight, or what formula amounts suit your child. Asking questions from other people will give you a different point of view than what you usually experience.
Conclusion
Knowing the right amount of formula is essential to ensure that your baby consumes enough nutrition for a healthy weight gain. So, take the time to look up information on formula feeding, visit a health professional, and use a feeding chart to measure the right formula for your baby. With this knowledge in hand, you can provide your child with the nourishment they need.
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