" and wasting formula

I should have seen it coming but as I am trying to figure out the problems to our day (and somewhat night) I realized my girls have turned into snackers. Because of this I am WASTING so much formula. I am pretty sure it is not a growth spurt as this has been going on a couple of weeks now.

I think another problem is I don't really have a "set" schedule.

Do you think I should aim for a set schedule (ie, not feed until it is the scheduled give or take feeding time?)

(The title should say "Snacking and wasting formula", but snacking was deleted some how )

 

At 5 months, it's time to start working a schedule - it doesn't have to be crazy strict...and you can work up to gradually, but it will make your life easier.

We weren't super great schedulers - and with Jake he was fed on demand for a long time due to his IUGR, but Becca eventually settled into a routine.

 

I think my girls around your age were decreasing their bottle intake and with two babies who have followed the 5th and 3rd percentiles I was a worry for me. The doctor suggested I increase the calcium in their foods to make up for the formula -- so here they have baby custard, yogurt, and I found a recipe to use up that formula they don't use. I actually do the following recipe in the microwave... add the arrowroot to the unused portion, heat for 20 sec, stir, heat for another 20sec. stir. I warn you it turns out to be various forms of gluey... you just try to shoot for less gluey. I put it in the fridge and later mix it with veggies, or cereal and fruit, etc. I figure they get their formula just in a different form. This technique is often used for elderly people who can't swallow liquids -- they thicken their food --- so jello, custards, etc. I will add a second recipe for making baby jel I'd recommend a stronger flavoured juice than say pear -- my girls found the pear a bit plain. This gives them a bit extra liquid in their diet and a unique feel sensation in their mouth.

Baby’s own custard
Serves: 2 serves

Ingredients:
100mls baby’s regular milk – breast milk or prepared formula
2 teaspoons custard powder or arrowroot.

Method:
Pour breast milk or prepared formula into a small saucepan and heat gently. In a small bowl mix custard powder with a little water to a thin paste. Add to milk and stir until mixture thickens.

Spoon out required amount into baby’s bowl. Allow to cool. Refrigerate remaining portion.

Hint:
Serve with pureed or mashed fruit.



Apple and blackcurrant jellyIngredients:
125ml HEINZ BABY’S OWN Apple and Blackcurrant Fruit Drink
1 teaspoon gelatine

Method:
Place gelatine in a cup and a small amout of HEINZ Apple and Blackcurrant juice.

Allow to swell for about 5 minutes. Gently dissolve gelatine by standing a cup in hot water until melted and dissolved. Add to fruit juice in a thin stream. Stir thoroughly.

Place in 2 small jelly moulds and refigerate until set.

Hint:
For variations use other Heinz BABY’S OWN Fruit Drinks.
To add texture for older babies, add small pieces of soft fruit before setting.


I find now my girls are more interested in the bottle again. I was able to get so much more into them with the food than I ever was with a bottle.


Heather

 

I would set a schedule and try to stick to it as close as possible. Mine usually eat every 4 hours, with their last feeding around 9:30-10pm and first around 4:30-5am. It seems to be a good one for us.

 

I would also work up to a schedule. We've been on a schedule since they were a couple of weeks old (not super strict--we never let a hungry baby go hungry to satisfy the clock), and they've done great. Frankly, they pretty much scheduled themselves from pretty early on. I don't think I would have ever left the house if I didn't have some idea, within reason, when they were likely to need to eat again.

We're still pretty much at 3 to 3 1/2 hours, but I'm trying to work up to 4--though for us it will require dropping a bottle to work with our wake/bed times; and they aren't quite there on the volume per bottle yet.

Good luck!

 

I guess I should clarify...

At about 4 months we tried a schedule but they just were not quite ready yet. I wanted one sooo badly for my sanity!

Now, we have a "rough" schedule. I could tell you around what time they eat everyday but it can be different depending on naps, etc. I think I need to get their wake time figured out, their nap time and an appropriate time to eat.

Before I was trying to get 5 feedings in a day, but I think what was happening was I (still am) too worried about getting enough down them in a day that they were not taking a full feeding, instead of maybe waiting a little bit longer (they were not showing hunger signs but I was trying to keep to a 3-3.5, I would/will always feed if they are looking hungry).

Anyway so what I guess I am getting at is the 5 feedings a day are backfiring on me as they are not taking as much because they are not hungry, thus I am wasting instead of doing 4, where hopefully they will take more/not waste a bottle as they should be hungry enough.

(I am thinking out loud on a lot of this

 

There is that trial and error to it all, and eventually usually around 6 months you can start to look at the clock for their nap times, eating times, and bedtimes. The best way to not make yourself too insane is to watch their growth chart not their intake. If they seem to be holding a line (no matter what it is...) then that seems to be the best. Keep in mind every weigh station can measure slightly different. I remember reading on here were a twin mom (from Canada) who bought some baby weigh scales. How great not to truck the babies out to weigh them !!

heather

 

QUOTE(akameme @ Jul 25 2008, 04:26 PM) [snapback]896575[/snapback]
At 5 months, it's time to start working a schedule - it doesn't have to be crazy strict...and you can work up to gradually, but it will make your life easier.

We weren't super great schedulers - and with Jake he was fed on demand for a long time due to his IUGR, but Becca eventually settled into a routine.



I think so too. You can let them set the schedule, sort. Try to guide them toward a schedule, if that makes sense.