Hellobee Boards

I was sending about 15 oz when F was that age split into 4 bottles. I asked them to feed him on demand, so I'm not sure what "schedule" they had him on, but I think it was every 2-2.5 hours. When he was older and started solids, I was able to start sending less (about 12 oz at 6 months and 9 at 10 months).
I think you should tell them that he last ate at 7 and to please not feed him until 9. How does he nap? If he's fussy at 8, maybe he's just tired.
It's so confusing and frustrating to figure these things out! I think sending the small amounts of formula is a great idea until he works himself into a schedule. It's alright if he takes them, but remind the teachers that it's not part of his "normal" schedule (since you still want to nurse at 5pm).

@septemberlove: I would just have them feed every 2.5 hrs maybe he is getting more then 4 ozs nursing so that is why he can go 3 hours at home.

How long has he been at daycare? I agree it sounds like they are feeding him early in the morning. Maybe once he's more adjusted they can push that back a bit?

Also have you confirmed he's finishing every last drop of te 14 ounces. Is any leaking from the bottle or dribbling out his mouth?

My LO's daycare also wanted more milk (18oz!) and everyone here helped me out. I found specifying feeding times really helped. I feed LO right before drop off, around 6:45, and ask that they feed her at 9:30, 12:30, and 3:30. They seem to want her to get another bottle in the afternoon but I made it clear that I will nurse her right after pickup, around 5:30. After a few days they said it was "just right." I give 4.5x3=13.5.

@septemberlove: I'll probably continue sending 5oz, because I am able to pump enough to cover it and that's what we've been sending ever since he started daycare. But I'm not going to let myself be pressured to send more AND I'm going to try to insist daycare stick to the 3 hour schedule (although they've been doing that anyway despite telling me Xander's hungry sooner).

I suspect that you're right that your LO doesn't need more than 4oz, but seeing an LC and doing a weighted feed might be able to confirm that for you. You could also (if you felt up for it) just feed him bottles one weekend to see how much he actually eats and if he does seem hungry earlier to you. I think it's hard for daycare (especially THIS early) to know what hunger cues really look like compared to boredom/wanting attention/wants to suck on something/wants to be held/etc.

Also, 6-8oz/week is AWESOME. Xander's only gaining 4oz/week and he drinks 15oz/day at daycare! So your LO is doing great!!!

AND don't worry about being a PITA with your daycare! You're PAYING them - they work FOR you. You want to try to work WITH them, but if you feel really strongly about something, definitely don't let them pressure you into doing something you don't want! When my daycare accidentally fed Xander all 4 bottles one day (we send a 4th extra bottle), they were acting like they did me a favor because then I wouldn't have to feed him for another 3 hours (they fed him literally MINUTES before I arrived). I was like "That's not helpful - now I have to pump when I get home." I don't know about your daycare, but mine isn't really used to dealing with breastfed babies, so it's definitely been a struggle to work the feeding issues out with them! I hope you're able to figure it out!

@septemberlove: I'm curious how often they are actually stopping him to burp him while feeding and how long they give him little breaks. You should ask how long it takes him to finish a bottle. Maybe he's still eating them too quickly to realize that he's full.

I suspect he's transferring just fine with you. If he seems content after and he hasn't just fallen asleep, I suspect you're fine! How long between feeds does he usually go with you?

I bet what happened was that he was fussy and they just assumed he was hungry when really he just missed you or wanted some attention or something, and they stuck a bottle in his mouth, and he just started sucking on it because that's what babies do! You could also ask if he spit up at all - if he spit up most of it, that might be a sign he was overfed.

*hug* Dealing with daycare (or really anyone that watches our babies) can be frustrating. I totally understand.

@septemberlove: I definitely think it's easier for them to just give him a bottle than to try to figure out what he REALLY is looking for. Maybe he just wants to be held, and so he's getting that when he gets a bottle, so they think that's what he really wanted, when just holding him might've done the trick all on it's own!

How old is your LO again? I think it should probably take him 15+ minutes to finish a bottle. Anything quicker than that and he might not be registering that he's full and he'll eat the whole thing up. I found this link helpful for timing:

http://www.babycareadvice.com/babycare/general_help/article.php?id=10

Of course, my daycare lets Xander guzzle his bottles in 5 minutes or less, but they're also keeping him to his 3 hour schedule, so it hasn't been as much of a problem for us (besides them trying to tell me he's hungry when he's not).

How does your daycare usually handle feedings? With mine, they plan to feed every 3 hours, but will feed earlier if necessary. When we drop off Xander in the morning, we have to fill out an activity sheet and list when he was last fed and last had a diaper change. Then they use those times to determine when his next bottle and diaper change should be. Does your daycare do something like that? I've also discovered that I get the best results when I actually LIE on the activity sheet. Xander can always go four hours after his first morning feed, so I tell daycare that I fed him an hour later than I actually did so that they won't feed him too early in the morning and throw off the rest of the day. Could you do something like that? And maybe you just need to be really firm with them. Say "I just fed him at ____, please do not give him a bottle before ____." If he usually goes 3 hours, maybe tell them 2.5 hours, because it seems unlikely he'd be hungry MUCH earlier than that, but you want to give them a little leeway in case he goes through a growth spurt or something.

I hope you get this all sorted out!!!

@septemberlove: I know what you mean, but don't worry! He definitely won't starve! Even if he doesn't eat enough at daycare, he'll make up for it at home. I think lying so that they push back the first feeding is okay. And it'll take a little time for everyone to get used to each other and he gets more comfortable there, so just give it a little time! And if your daycare is anything like my husband, I'm sure they'll just assume he's hungry when he's fussy! That's what my husband does!!! I think once he's been there longer and they've gotten to know him better, they'll get a better sense for when he's actually hungry vs when he's tired, bored, wants to bed, etc.

Let me know tonight how it went today!

@septemberlove: good news! Maybe he likes that brand of pacifier better?

@septemberlove: ha, I am the same way. In the beginning she was having a hard time adjusting and I was so worried all the teachers didn't like her but I really think she is one of their favorites.

@septemberlove: Glad to hear things went much better yesterday!!! That's weird about the pacifier though - do they sanitize them every night and make sure they never give the same one to different kids? It's odd that the daycare has their own pacifiers... but oh well!

@septemberlove: Yeah, that's weird! My daycare requests that you provide a pacifier if your child uses one, and they even asked me to bring in a second one for Xander! Maybe if they try to send it home with you, you can say "Oh no, that's for him to use here! We have others at home!" or something like that?

FWIW when I first went back to work my caregiver and I had a hard time with the whole 'he's hungry' thing. I used to fib about what time he last ate because I knew he wanted attention.

My LO was taking 4, 4oz bottles at 4mo which was the max amount ever. We were at 16oz a day until about 8mo, then 15oz, then 12oz and now at 13mo he gets 10oz in two bottles.