finishing 8 ounce bottles

i never thought i'd see the day when our refluxy preemie guys would be clearing 8 ounce bottles without a hitch but here we are. this is what their feeding schedule is like:

6:30 - 7 ounce bottle (drinking between 5 and 7 ounces depending on mood)
9:00 - 3 ounces of solids (sometimes more)
10:30 - 8 ounce bottle (always finished)
1:00 - 2 ounces of solids (sometimes finished, sometimes refused, we're still working at this meal)
2:30 - 8 ounce bottle (always finished)
6:30 - 7 ounce bottle (drinking between 5-7 ounces depending on mood)

worst case scenario is a 5 ounce meal at 6:30 and 6:30 and we end up with a total daily formula intake of 26 ounces. best case is when they get 29-30

so here's what i want to know, and i feel silly having to ask. up until now every time they started clearing an amount of formula we would bump it up a half ounce. now that we've hit 8 ounces, and that's the largest quantity our bottles will hold, do i start offering a second bottle? if they seem like they could go a little further, do we offer more? or is 8 ounces the ideal amount to eat?

and with solids, they're finishing 3 ounces easy, so tomorrow i'm sending them to daycare with 4 ounces for their morning meal. same question: if they're finishing it, do i keep bumping up the quantity?

it's the preemie mom's perpetual quandry: could i be packing in a few more calories? or is this enough?

 

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that there are bottles available that hold 10 ounces. I believe they are the Nuby brand. At least if you do decide to feed them more, you could feed it all to them from one bottle!

 

Ours were finishing their 8 ounce bottles at each feeding for about a month but with three solids meals a day and oatmeal with two of them they were getting plenty and no real need to add more. Suddenly they started (about two weeks ago) taking very little in their bottles as they were so curious about everything going on but eating. I was concerned and talked to my doctor and he said to just make sure they are getting at least 18 ounces a day - they are still at about 30 when considering the formula used to make the oatmeal so we're fine. Just my opinion that I bet this quandry won't last long and getting a larger bottle or making a habit of preparing another one is just a waste of money and an unnecessary hassle. Soon, I bet you will be worried that they aren't taking enough!

 

I think if after 8 oz they are happy and not screaming for more, then that's plenty. Even at 8 months their tummy's aren't that big, as big as their fists or so. If they are fussing like they are hungry then you could try giving a little more.

Looking at your schedule tho it seems they are going the right amt of time between feedings. As long as they are getting between 24-32 oz of formula a day they are golden.

As for the food, again, if they are acting like they are still hungry, try feeding a bit more. But at 8 months of age their main caloric intake needs to still be formula. If you find after feeding the extra solids that they aren't drinking as much formula, try cutting back your solids again. Solids are still for "fun" and not for "nutrition" yet!

 

My girls have only started cereal once a day so far, so I can't totally compare... But, when they finish 8 ounces, we do offer more. We usually just add 1-2 ounces of formula to their emptied bottles until they are full. One of our daughters took 10 ounces this week at a feeding - amazing that that much fit into her belly! They usually end up with about 32-36 ounces a day (it did hit 40 once). I'm sure it will be a bit less once they are eating more solids. I will want to hear what others say about increasing the amounts of solids as I am trying to learn about feeding the girls real meals.

 

Little piggies you have! That is great! I would add another oz, or maybe you can give another oz or two in a sippy for practice?

 

QUOTE(piccologirl @ May 21 2009, 10:02 PM) [snapback]1323777[/snapback]
i never thought i'd see the day when our refluxy preemie guys would be clearing 8 ounce bottles without a hitch but here we are. this is what their feeding schedule is like:

6:30 - 7 ounce bottle (drinking between 5 and 7 ounces depending on mood)
9:00 - 3 ounces of solids (sometimes more)
10:30 - 8 ounce bottle (always finished)
1:00 - 2 ounces of solids (sometimes finished, sometimes refused, we're still working at this meal)
2:30 - 8 ounce bottle (always finished)
6:30 - 7 ounce bottle (drinking between 5-7 ounces depending on mood)

worst case scenario is a 5 ounce meal at 6:30 and 6:30 and we end up with a total daily formula intake of 26 ounces. best case is when they get 29-30

so here's what i want to know, and i feel silly having to ask. up until now every time they started clearing an amount of formula we would bump it up a half ounce. now that we've hit 8 ounces, and that's the largest quantity our bottles will hold, do i start offering a second bottle? if they seem like they could go a little further, do we offer more? or is 8 ounces the ideal amount to eat?

and with solids, they're finishing 3 ounces easy, so tomorrow i'm sending them to daycare with 4 ounces for their morning meal. same question: if they're finishing it, do i keep bumping up the quantity?

it's the preemie mom's perpetual quandry: could i be packing in a few more calories? or is this enough?


I upped solids at that point, but mine were a little older by the time they were polishing off 8 oz.

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ May 22 2009, 08:57 AM) [snapback]1324101[/snapback]
Little piggies you have! That is great! I would add another oz, or maybe you can give another oz or two in a sippy for practice?


yes, my huge 8 month 15 lb piggies! i like the idea of offering them more in a sippy cup. they're intrigued by the sippy cups but they haven't yet got the coordination to guide the opening into their mouths. this could be good practice.

 

I was told that 8 oz. is the max per bottle, in terms of tummy capacity. Are they 8 months adjusted? By 9 months solids become about as important as formula/breast milk and then by a year solids are the most important thing. It sounds like they're doing well. If you're worried about nutrients and feel formula is superior to food, then you can add it to their solids (add a spoon of powder to their purees, etc.).

How does that sound?

 

Great question! Ours recently dropped their nighttime feeding and now that they're having just 4 bottles a day, they have 7-8 oz most times, sometimes 9 (we do just refill if they pass 8. Ours can hold up to 9 though) but at their bedtime feeding DH has given them up to 10. Our pedi never told us a max amount; maybe we should ask! (Their total daily intake is still generally 30-33 oz though, nothing crazy).