Conference moira::parenting_v3

    If she's taking 24 oz. of formula a day, is digesting it well, and
    not spitting up or anything, she's probably fine.  Have you tried
    putting another ounce in the bottle and seeing if she'll drink
    that?  Is she finishing every single bottle?  She may want more but
    is too polite to squawk for it.
    
    Good luck.  There's no end to the worries, is there.

    Re: .1
    
    I did put an extra ounce in the bottle, but she wouldn't 
    drink it.  Looks like 3 oz is all she needs.  I also try
    to wait a little longer between feedings.  She will take
    4 oz every 4 hours, but still that's 24 oz per day.
    
    Wendy
    

    I would say that if Monica is contented, healthy, and gaining weight,
    she's probably ok.  My older son used to drink just about exactly 3 oz
    of formula per pound of his weight, just like the books say.  In fact,
    I could fairly accurately guess what his weight would be at each checkup
    by keeping track of how much formula he drank in one day!  My younger son,
    on the other hand, has consistently been drinking much less (closer to
    2 oz per pound of his weight).  That's all he wants - he stops drinking
    when there is still formula left in the bottle, he sleeps 12 hours
    straight through at night, he is gaining weight at a normal rate (slower
    than David, but then David was *very* big for his age all along).
    And Gregory (the younger boy) actually weighed more at birth than David
    did (8-12 vs. 8-8).  So be reassured, different babies can eat very
    different amounts and still be fine!

					cheryl

Wendy, when Kathryne was an infant she never took more than about 2-3 oz.
I always thought this was really low but she's a happy healthy 3 year old!

    I have a simalar question but it's the opposite. My 10 week old
    daughter is up to 7 oz every 4 hrs. I think it's alot to give, but she was 8
    pounds at birth. Maybe she just requires more. I beleive she's up
    around 12 pounds by now! She has a dr's appt. next week so will find
    out her weight and if this amount of formuls is too much or what. She
    was drinking 5 oz. at 4 weeks.
    Do these amounts seem like alot to any of you or is it just me?
    I didn't think most babies drank that much untill at least 4 months
    old.
    
    
    Sandy

    I think this is one of the benefits of nursing....you don't know
    how much they're getting, so you can't worry about it!   (this is
    in no way meant to advocate one form of feeding over another; just
    an observation).

    I firmly believe, as a previous noter, said that as long as the
    baby is healthy and happy, not spitting up, etc., then whatever
    they take is whatever they require.   However, I would consider
    adding solids (cereal) once the formula intake got over 32 oz.

    carol

    re: .6
    
    I thought the same thing about adding solids.  Every book I've read
    said to add solids (cereal) if the baby weighed over 13 lbs. or has 
    doubled their birth weight.  My son would drink at least 40 oz.
    of formula a day if I didn't give him cereal (he's 3 1/2 months
    old and weighs about 14 lbs.).  Last night I called the pediatrician
    because the baby has been sick and he said that I should not be
    giving my baby cereal at all until he's at least 6 months old. 
    When I told him that he's drinking at least 40 oz. of formula a day
    and went down to 24 oz. a day when I added cereal (about 2 tbsp. mixed
    with about 2 oz. of formula), he said that 40 oz. of formula was o.k. 
    (he can pay for it too! :-] ).  So I guess it just depends on the
    pediatrician.
    
    Lori B. 

    Pedi's are sooooo very different aren't they.  My first son's pedi back
    in early '87 told me to be careful not to give him more than 32 oz of
    formula a day because of the amount of sodium in the formula.  So, with
    that in mind when the kids were just thirsty and not needing a feeding,
    I just gave them some 1/2 strength pear juice. That was usually in the
    afternoons after a nap.  Also, to keep down the formula intake you can
    mix the baby cereals with juice as well.  
    
    The problem about having too much formula will only last until they
    find out they can get wonderful gratification from solid foods.  Then
    you'll wonder if they are getting enough formula!
    
    Good luck,
    Donna

    My 8 week old son Griffin, is driking 6-7 ounces every 3 1/2 hours.  He
    was 8lbs. 3 1/2 ounces at birth and was just under 12 lbs at his last 
    checkup.  My Dr. says he is perfect.  I was wondering how soon I can
    start him on cereal, cause he's going through formula so fast.  I
    actually did try a little cereal and banana a couple of days ago and he
    seemed to like it, I just don't want to start him too soon, if there is
    such a thing as too soon.     

    I would add this note simply as a point of experience.  The amount of
    formula your baby it taking is not as important as the level of
    alertness.  I base this on the fact that AJ was hospitalized at 18 days
    due to a septic infection that had been brewing since birth.  I too had
    problems getting him to take anything over a couple ounces of expressed
    milk each time, and infact had to wake him to feed every 4 to 6 hours.
    Once the infection had been identified he still only took a few ounces
    at a time, but at least he was awake for them, and even demanded to be
    fed every 4 hours.
    
    I too was worried if he'd ever grow, every ounce seemed to be a
    milestone, but today he eats me out of house and home and is well
    above the 50% percentile.  This is a child who was barely 5 pounds at
    birth, and still barely made it into a 12mo size for his first
    birthday!
    
    Lyn
    

    RE: .9   Your note put my mind at ease a bit!! My 7 1/2 week old,
    Daniel, has been drinking two 6 oz bottles of formula, plus nursing for
    15 minutes on each side every 2 - 3 hours, every day since he was 4
    weeks old.  The pedi suggested I introduce the formula, as I needed a
    break from nursing so that my breast could heal!! 

    We have the 8 week check up tomorrow. I'm going to ask about cereal.
    Something tells me Daniel will chow down on that too!!
    
    To the base noter.... Don't be too concerned, just check with your pedi
    for advise.
    
    Norma

When it comes to milk, my daughter has had just about every experience.  When
I was nursing her, I gave her an occasional bottle but she would only drink
2-3 ounces up until about 4 mos old.  At the time I thought "why is her appetite
so small" especially when the nurse told me to "work her up to 5 ounces" (easier
said than done!).  Then at about 4 to 5 months, all of a
sudden she shot up to 8 ounces within about 2 weeks time!  This was when I was
weaning her so maybe that had something to do with it.  At 5 months I decided
to start solids but now at just over 6 mos old she has *just started* to
need less milk (about 25-27 ounces per day plus milk in her cereal vs. up
to 32 ounces per day plus milk in her cereal).  Her weight is fine but I
sure liked breastfeeding better because I didn't have to worry about amounts.
The books say let her drink as much as she wants but sometimes I think if
they made a 20-ounce bottle Michelle would drink the whole thing at one
sitting!  She almost never stops sucking until the bottle is empty.

Kyra

    To the basenoter.
    
    My daughter is 9 months old.  She still will only drink between 4-5
    ounces at one time.  Granted she is eating solids, but even before she
    started to get solids, she still only drank 3-5 ounces.  Kelsey is
    petit.  She is only in the 15th percentile for her weight.  She weighs
    about 15-16 lbs at 9 months, but she is extremely healthy.  I used to
    worry alot about her not drinking much formuala.  My doctor told me to
    forget about it.  She would drink when she was hungry and when she had
    enough she would stop.  Your baby will let you know when she has had
    enough.
    
    :)
    
    Kris