Should I increase their food intake?

The boys are STTN and take 3 good naps during the day. They are eating 4 times a day for a total of 28oz of formula. The are approximately 15 pounds and according to the food guideline, they should be eating about 37.5oz. Should I make 8oz bottles instead of 7oz? They seem satified with what they are currently getting.

Thanks for the input,
jenn

 

I can't remember how much a day my boys ate at 3 months, but I know I was always trying to get them to eat more. We were trying to get them off their own growth charts though. It doesn't sound like you have that problem. I would try to increase one bottle a day and see if they drink it. If so, then the next day try 2 bottles of 8oz.

 

I agree with Megan. Just try increasing one bottle & see if they will take it, then go from there. Sounds like they are doing great!!

 

If they are consistently finishing the 7oz, I would bump it up an oz. Sounds like they are doing great!

 

I agree if they are consistently draining bottles then bump it up an ounce and see if they'll finish it.

Kudo's on them only eating 4 times a day, mine are just now down to eating 5 bottles a day of 7-8 oz!

 

Hi Jenn,

Our babies are about the same age...Kyle was just weighed two days ago and he weighed 14lbs, 14oz. He drinks 7oz bottles too but more than 4 times. He usually gets between 30-36 oz. a day. Now he can barely make it to 3 hours inbetween feedings (instead of almost 4 hours) so I thought about bumping him up to 8 oz. as well. Addison on the other hand drinks 5 oz bottles and weighs 11.5 lbs. She seems ready to be bumped up too. Sounds like it wouldn't hurt to try with your boys.

As for your boys STTN and taking three good naps.... :woman: Addy will STTN, but Kyle wakes up consistently around 3am, will not fall back asleep until around 6am and takes 30-45 min. catnaps throughout the day. :gah: Wish I knew your trick! ^_^

 

I dont know if they are tricks but this is what I do. First of all, I am always home for naps. Second, I did CIO. When DH went back to work, I had no energy left to give the boys when they went to bed. I would put them to bed at 6:30 and if they started to cry, I went outside for a half hour and played fetch with my dog. They were asleep when I got back in the house. I did the same thing for naps. They just started to sleep. I do not have a monitor in their room and they sleep on their bellies. They can lift their heads very well.

Yes, my ways are not great. But I fully believe that when I pick up one of my boys, I had to be in the right frame of mind. DH is never home during the bewitching hour, so I was exhausted by the time they went to bed. Yes, I checked on them to make sure they were not hurt, but I never picked them up after I put them down.

They started to STTN. Probley because they knew I was not going to do anything about it.

Jenn

 

I don't remember amounts at what age, but I'd say if they seem satisfied, then you're good. Mine always let me know when they needed more (by wanting a bottle sooner, by crying when it was gone, etc.)

 

oh my... 7-8 ounces at 3 months? how do you do it? mine were eating about 3-4 ounces, not always, at that age and until about a month a ago, every 3 hours. Then I moved to 3.5 - 4 hours so I could make them eat more at one meal, and only a few times they ate 180ml (6oz). most of the times they eat between 4 and 5 ounces. I don't know what to do with them...

 

Jenn, I am having the same issues with questioning whether they are eating enough. About 3-4 weeks ago, they were eating 5-6 oz a day, 5-6 times a day. I keep records, and went back and did the math. They were eating 30-35 ounces a day. Then, we had some reflux issues... formula changes and med changes. They went to 15-25 ounces a day, and my 2 days of STTN were GONE. I have figured out the formula and meds., and a few days ago they started to drink more again, but they are still getting up at night, but usually just once. I am so torn on the bed time. I have tried all different times, and don't notice a difference. One of my LO's will go to be at 6, and falls right to sleep, but my other LO will scream no matter what time you put him to bed. At first I thought I was putting him to bed too early, but when I put him to bed later, he still cries. Sometimes he will fall asleep and then wake up 15 minutes later screaming. I have played the song and dance of thinking he is still hungry, and sometimes we go in a give him a bottle. We have been doing the check and console method, but we haven't been really consistant. I feel guilty because I am not sure if he is too young for CIO. They are 4 months actual, 2 months adjusted. HSHHC says you can try CIO as early as 8 weeks after due date, which would be now, but I hear people waiting until 6 months. The past 2 nights we have done the graduated extinction, which isn't working very well (at least yet). So what is your advice? Sounds like you have it down. I was wondering what you thought of my situation. Also, how did you get them to larger bottles, fewer times a day? Did they do it on their own, or did you guide it?? It sounds like they are on a schedule as far as bed time... are they on a schedule for feeding and naps as well?

 

You really can't make a baby eat more than they want. Some babies are big eaters, some are not. 4-5oz is fine for their age.

2 months old is too young for CIO. My ped recommends 4-6 months at the earliest.

Having been there, I know how exhausted you all are with twinfants. But, for the first few months, they need that nutrition at night and to know that you are there for whatever their needs are.

 

I totally agree with Becky. It is absolutely exhausting & I always felt like I was desperate for a few more hours of sleep during those first months, but they really do need to eat at night when they are that young. Their little bodies are just not mature enough to go that long without food plus they need to feel that security of Mommy being there in the night.

 

I know how hard it is and my methods may not be appropriate for some people because my behavior likes to question authority. I take Dr's advice, books I read, friends advice and TS as a guideline. It is not the gospel or the truth, it is what worked for them. With that being said, you need to make decisions for you. If people get mad at you...well they don't live in your house. If you want to try CIO, try it and see how it goes for your family. We did it at 7 weeks because and we used the check and console method. Went in at 5 minutes, then 10, then 15, then 20....etc. But we never picked them up. I have to admit it is easier for me to do this than DH. Then at 9 weeks when DH went back to work...that is when I went outside with my dog to play fetch.

Well, I started to do naps. Jonathan is very social and will be awake until he goes in his crib. He just loves everyone so much that he gets over tired if he is not in his crib. I think that because I am doing 3 naps, it made the amount of feedings per day decrease dramatically. This is what our day looks like:

wake up on their own usually around 6:30
bottle (8oz) then quiet play
8:30 nap for an hour
9:30 bottle (7oz) then serious exercise.....for two hours: activity mat, tummy time, swing time, sitting in front of me to work on core strength and head control.
11:30 nap for 3 hours
2:30 bottle (7oz) and more exercise
4:30 nap for an hour
5:30 wake up and cuddle with mommy and read books
6:30 bath and bottle (8oz)

This is our day and sometimes we have happy boys and sometimes, they do not know what to do with themselves.

GL,
Jenn

 

I appreciate your feedback (along with everyone elses). I think it is important to remember that every baby is different... I have heard of babies sleeping through the night at 7 weeks, and some not doing it until they are toddlers. I think it all goes back to nature and nurture. In other words I think it is internal and our parental choices can influence it as well. Everytime there is a post on here regarding STTN, the replies are ALL over the place. I think it depends on the child and the environment their parent provides as well. Some babies will STTN no matter what you do and on the contrary, some just won't STTN no matter what you do... and then there are those in between. I have even heard of moms of twins on this board saying one of their LO's does and the other doesn't - case in point. I appreciate your advice (that's why I asked for it ), and I take others in appreciation as well. Like you, I take it all in and make my own decisions. That is what I love about this site. The opportunity to hear so many different point of views.

With that being said, one more question for you: Did they do this (schedule/naps/feeds) on their own, or did you guide them? At night, did you, or do you swaddle them... and what do you do for naps... are they in bouncy seats/swings, or do you put them in their cribs. And last, are they pretty similiar in their demeanor, or is one a better sleeper than the other.

P.S. I see you are in Cali as well... what part?

 

I guided them with the sleep, feed, play routine from day one. Somedays they only play for 20 minutes and somedays they will play for 2 hours. Once they become fussy, I settle them and put them in their cribs right away. I will have to admit, they sleep on their tummies. Jonathan has a minor flat spot on his head and it was getting worse by the day. So, I flipped him over onto his belly and his flat spot is getting better. I noticed that both of the boys slept better on their belly. But I did not start them sleeping on their stomach until I knew that they could lift their head completely off of the mattress. I have never looked back at them sleeping that way.

I do not swaddle any more. It is over a 100 here most days (I am north of Sacramento) so, I worked to get them out of their swaddles early June. They sleep in sleep sacks at night and during the day they have onezies on. I also have a loud fan in their room for white noise. Both of the boys love it. When it is off they are a little restless and when I turn it on, you can see them start to relax. Have you tried somesort of white noise? Oh, I do not have a monitor either. I just did not want to hear every noise they make while I try to rest or get some sleep.

I do the never wake a sleeping baby thing too. But if one eats, so does the other...but I have never had to worry about keeping their weight up.

David is a much better sleeper than Jonathan. Jonathan is a social boy and wants to be around people know matter where we are and how tired he is. He has to be in his crib. Otherwise, he does not rest and I pay for it later. It is okay if there is noise in the house, but not when he wants to be apart of it.

I hope this helps you. I can totally relate of how frustrated you are. Just think of it this way, your babies are 8w adjusted right? Hopefully soon you will find your friend....sleep again soon.

Jenn

 

Oh, I forgot to add that in the early days they slept in anything and everything. Bouncy seat, swings, anywhere they slept I was fine with that. But then I realized that Jonathan (7wks old) was not sleeping as long as he used to. So, I started to put them in their cribs and that is when I realized that they should sleep there because they slept for more than 1.5 hours at a time.

Jenn