Feeding Question

Hi everyone. I have 6 week old fraternal twins. My son weights 11 lbs and my daughter weights 8 lbs. 14 oz. Maybe I’m being over zealous, but I can't get either twin to take more than 2.5 to maybe 3.5 oz.'s every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. If I try to feed them more to hold them over longer, they just spit it up or fight me to keep the bottle in their mouth so obviously, they don’t want more.

My pediatrician recently (in the last day or so) recommend I put them on Similac Isomil Soy due to upset/really gurgly bellies. They seem to be responding well to it and take it ok.

They seemed to be eating more and could go longer when they were eating regular Enfamil Lipal so I’m wondering maybe this Soy is less filling. I dunno...

Just wonder for those of you who have 5 to 6 week old babies…how much are you feeding them and how often?

Thanks!

 

Our babies were on Similac Advance when they were born, but could not keep it down so the ped. put them on Similac Isomil. After about 3 weeks they were constantly spitting up and not eating very well. At 6 weeks we changed to Target brand Enfamil AR and since then they would take between 5-6oz. They are now taking 6.5-7oz!

 

I think at 6 weeks old we were doing 4 ounces every 3 hours, but they didn't always eat it all.

 

4 ounces every 3 - 3 1/2 hours right now @ 6 weeks

 

Great weights!

As far as I know, there is a general formula that doctors use in order to figure out the appropriate amount every baby should take and it is based on the weight - 2 1/2 ounces of formula a day for every pound of body weight. Every baby is different though.

So based on your weights your son should be taking in 28 oz & your daughter 23 oz of formula a day (24h) to "sustain" their weights. They might eat less or more, every baby is different but this is just a general guideline.

Also generally, 3-8 week old babies eat 6-8 times a day taking in 3-4 oz of formula per bottle.

I would suggest not feeding them earlier than 3 hours from the start of last feed, maybe they'll finish a bit more.

Oh and I would try Enfamil Lactose Free before switching to soy. There is a lot of controversy with it. Unless your babies have been diagnosed with milk allergy, I think Lactose Free is a better option. It helped my son with his digestive issues. If not, Enfamil also has Thickened formula for spit up issues, but I would try Lactose Free first. i did miracles for me.

 

Mine were taking 2-4 oz every 2.5-3 hrs as well. Not many babies go longer than 3 hrs between feedings (from the start of the feeding). And they will gradually take more as their tummies get bigger. Keep in mind their stomach isn't much bigger than their fist, regardless of how much they weigh. It doesn't hurt to make them wait 5-10 mins for their next feeding, to be sure they are hungry, but I wouldn't expect them to go longer than 3 hrs or so.

Even now, mine still eat every 2-3 hrs. We just add solids in instead of all bottles.
10am bottle
1:30pm solids (this is the only long stretch they have between feedings)
3pm bottle
6pm bottle
8:30pm solids
10pm bottle.

 

When my boys came home they were just over nine weeks old. I could only get them to eat 1-2oucnes ever 2&1/2 hours. This continued for a long long time. My sons also had trouble with different formulas and after trying 6 they ended up on enfamil gental ease. I would say that they didn't eat more that three ounces until they were five months old or so and they only started going more than three hours between feeds at 7 months and they only started sleeping through the night at nine months. Every kids can be different. As long as they are still feeding and growing I would think that there shouldn't be a problem. Hang in there it will eventually get better. :hug:

 

At that age my babies were getting 2-3 oz every 2.5 hours or so. Take it easy. once their body will need more formula they will let you know by continuing screaming. My pedi's advice was to add a liitle more formula every week or so to see if they take it but not to force them to drink more.

Good luck :hug:

 

Our little ones get 2 bottles a day and they get 3 ounces. We have tried bumping it up to 4 but they don't eat it all. Course last night they probably would have as they both sucked their bottles completely dry. We use good start per our lactation consultants recommendation and it works well for these 2. They usually go between 3 and 4 hours (usually it's 3 but it's 4 if we are on the go and they are lulled to sleep by the car or stroller etc.)