when do you add more formula?

My girls are 6.5 weeks and I'm giving them a bottle w/ 3 oz. They tend to look for it every 3 hours w/ the very occasional 4-5 hour stretch. Sometimes they chug all 3 and other times only 2-2.5.

Both tend to spit up a lot and more so when they drink more.

When should I be giving them more formula and less feedings? Do I base this on age, weight or signs from baby?

It's getting harder to keep them on the same schedule,

thanks

 

In my own personal experience less formula more often is the way to go. Especially if they puke alot with more formula. My boys only at 1-2ounces every 2-2 1/2 hours for a long time, then they were stuck at 3 ounces for a long time to. Hang in there I know it can be frustrating but when they are ready they will let you know by wanting to eat more frequently then they already do or by spitting up less with larger feeds. Best of luck

 

If they were consistently emptying bottles & keeping most of it down, that was when I would try adding a bit more formula to the bottle. Sometimes with big spitters smaller bottles more often is the best way.

 

That's what I do too, if they are consistently draining the bottles or wanting to eat more often (every 2-2.5 hrs instead of 3 hrs), then I would up the amt you are trying to feed them.

Mine ate 2-4 oz every 2.5-3 hrs at that age.

 

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. This would be the amount 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 upped the amount of formula when they showed me they wanted more. Basically after a feeding they would still root around for food. I tested whether or not they wanted more by giving them the other twins bottle and seeing if they would eat. If they did, I made them another 2 oz. Mine also started taking more formula after they hit growth spurts. One thing though, mine still eat every 3 hours during the day even though they are taking more formula in. They sleep longer at night (they go 7 hours now for the first stretch), which is fine with me.

 

I agree. My LOs were drinking between 4-5oz at this age but every 4 hours. They went through a growth spurt. I´d normally give them 4oz but DD started asking for an extra ounce. I knew as she´d cry after her feed. If they are sucking the bottle dry and seem fussy afterwards, then I´d offer some more but smaller amounts and more often may be the way to go as the PP I´ve quoted above says. GL!

 

Ditto this.
Mine drank every 2.5-3 hrs for the first 2 months; then within a week, they both transitioned on their own to a 4-hr feeding schedule. They are big spitters but they were doing well that way and it didn't seem to affect their spitup.