https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:12:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2533311 Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:11:49 +0000 natalie403 2533311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: Maybe I will need to up solids to more than once a day soon... we are just kind of winging it so I wasn't sure when I should do that. It's been about 2 weeks on solids (before last bottle).</p> <p>@Tanjowen: Thank you, that sounds like it may be it!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2532680 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 06:51:09 +0000 Tanjowen 2532680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@natalie403: At 6 months, my LO went through a major growth spurt and ramped up to eat 40 oz a day for 2 weeks! It was crazy and I felt like we had a newborn again that wanted to eat all the time, but I've always tried to go with the theory that he is the best judge of his hunger and to roll with it. After 2 weeks, he dropped back down to his normal amount and we started trying solids. My vote is growth spurt :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2532656 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 05:17:50 +0000 Charm54 2532656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@natalie403: we still aren't super scheduled with her solids..</p> <p>2 days ago she had oatmeal and 1/2 banana around 8:00, a couple of ounces of butternut squash around 12:00, and at 5:00, an ounce of strawberries and an ounce of carrots.</p> <p>Yesterday though she just had oatmeal for lunch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531933 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 08:45:00 +0000 natalie403 2531933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Good point! :) Thank you!</p> <p>@Charm54: How much solids are you giving her? </p> <p>Ours has usually been (though during day might be off by a half hour or so due to naps):<br /> 6:30a 8oz (was 7oz for awhile, just upped this wk)<br /> 9:30a 8oz<br /> 12:30/1p 8oz<br /> 3:30/4p 8oz<br /> Solids around 5:30 (still new to solids, only getting like half of a 4oz jar)<br /> Last bottle around 7:15ish but he hasn't finished bottle last few days since he passes out... so maybe getting 5-6oz? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531874 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:57:49 +0000 Charm54 2531874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is 6.5 months and formula fed and also STTN, so it means she eats more often during the day (which I am more than okay with haha) She usually has:</p> <p>7:00 am - 8oz<br /> 10:0am - 6oz<br /> 12:30 pm - 4oz<br /> 3:00 pm - 8oz<br /> 7:00 pm - 6-8oz</p> <p>I tried cutting out the 12:30 feeding, but she was waking up from her afternoon nap early because she was hungry. So I added a smaller feeding in. I'm thinking as she eats more solids we can drop it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531867 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:54:30 +0000 MrsSRS 2531867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@natalie403: I think the every three hours is him tanking up so he can sleep through the night. A perfectly reasonable trade off. What a good baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531861 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:51:33 +0000 natalie403 2531861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had read it was 2.5 x every lb. So according to that 37.5 oz is what I should be aiming for. He at most gets 40oz and it seems to be rare... he hasn't been finishing his last bottle now so I guess by then he is finally full. I think I was more concerned on how often he was eating and not stretching out but he also sleeps through the night.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531282 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:13:05 +0000 looch 2531282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: well my husband is very much by the book so he called the parent hotline for the particular formula we were using, got their advice and cross referenced with our ped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531276 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:10:19 +0000 LindsayInNY 2531276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Doctor/health websites are the worst. So many are out of date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531272 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:06:16 +0000 looch 2531272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: not sure, to be honest. We had this issue with my son and basically, we couldn't add more formula so we had to add in food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531239 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:39:25 +0000 LindsayInNY 2531239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I googled. I think it's because formula has high fat calories in it and it can lead to overweight issues later in life? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531235 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:37:16 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2531235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is 6 months old and she still nurses every couple hours during the day and twice overnight. She's also eating solids twice a day. I don't think she's consuming much of the solids, but she wants to eat when I eat. I think if you were over feeding him he would be spitting it back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531210 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:20:56 +0000 Dahlia 2531210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about formula quantities, but my breastfed 9 month old still wants to eat every 3 hours or so. She also eats tons of solids. The only time she goes longer is if she takes a really long nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531190 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:09:07 +0000 looch 2531190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a limit though, on how much formula they should be consuming...at least that is what our ped advised at the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531178 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:03:02 +0000 natalie403 2531178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caterw: Thank you that makes me feel better! He is definitely a string bean! I think he may be having a growth spurt cause he's been such a pig this past week! </p> <p>@Truth Bombs: Thank you for replying! My sister I think is making me worried because she keeps saying "kids eat like every 4-5 hours by now, you're doing something wrong" but he clearly is hungry on the dot at 3 hour mark! He's only 7th percentile weight so maybe he is just catching up :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531161 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:56:27 +0000 Truth Bombs 2531161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since he's on the smaller side I wouldn't worry about over feeding him. My babies were breastfed but my older LO didn't get off the every 3 hour schedule until she was a year old and we switched to cow's milk and cup instead of bottles of breastmilk. 40ounces in a 24 hour period definitely is on the high end, but he may just need it to catch up on weight, and will likely taper off once he's eating solids more regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531153 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:52:17 +0000 caterw 2531153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you are feeding him perfectly fine- that doesn't seem like a ton to me. He isn't overweight and he seems to be hungry! Babies are pretty good about knowing their own cues. They will sometimes be really hungry and eat tons and then will kind of taper off for a while, depending on when they are about to have a growth spurt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2531141 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:47:44 +0000 natalie403 2531141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6m-old-eating-too-much#post-2530598 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:31:20 +0000 natalie403 2530598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel silly asking this but I feel even sillier asking pediatrician so I figured I would ask here first... My 6 month old is formula fed and weighs 14 lbs 14 oz (he's small for his age but ped is not concerned cause he's growing appropriately and was 5 lbs at birth, at his 6m appt he was taking about 35oz on average a day and no solids yet). </p> <p>Anyways, he is now up to 8 oz bottles but still wants to eat like every 3 hours! Shouldn't they be more spread out by now?? He has one when he wakes up, 3 at daycare and 1 before bed, we also started solids (only puree and he takes about a half a jar if that- the smaller store bought jars... about an hour after we get home). I should note he hasn't consistently been taking 8 oz... we just upped it maybe a week ago? And sometimes his first or last feeding is more like 6.5/7 oz cause he passes out. But regardless.... is that a lot and often?? He was so much more content when we upped his bottles to 7 oz and finally stretched to 3 hours rather than 2 hours I just thought with 8oz he should be going longer but he gets hangry. Sorry for rambling! :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-262235 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:50:27 +0000 purrpletulips 262235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: glad that you were able to talk with your pediatrician and are feeling better. I had to supplement with formula because I wasn't able to pump enough for DD and it killed me emotionally until I realized that not everyone has the luxury of a long maternity leave (especially here in the US) and although DD was dropping/holding steady at a low weight percentage she was physically and developmentally on track and growing like a week (by height-one inch each month for pretty much her first year; she takes after daddy, tall and lean).</p> <p>I wonder if his take on being anti-bottle is somewhat influenced by the long maternity leave that Canadians get? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-262229 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:46:01 +0000 irene 262229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I think I am going to hold off on formula for a while.... I'll still buy some just in case. Our pediatrician also said I need to make myself eat in order to produce good quality milk, even though I may not be hungry. (She's a breastfeeding mom too) I should try doing that.</p> <p>I also asked about adding olive oil to LO's purees (!) and she is OK with it. She said it may or may not help with his weight, but that's ok to try.</p> <p>And to be honest, I think it is more my husband's issue / worry now. He wants to make sure his son is not "below average" / small when he grows up. His worries stresses me out and he's the one who wants me to wean LO off breastmilk and do formula because formula make chunkier babies.. And since it is his son too I can't ignore him. Sigh. I bet if my LO were a girl, he would have been fine with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-262224 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:41:52 +0000 irene 262224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all ! This really helps me emotionally...</p> <p>We went to the pediatrician today and get the weigh-in again. He makes some progress between 6-6.5 months. It seems to still track along the "new low" he is at. Doctor is not concerned. I think it is me and my husband who worries more.</p> <p>I asked about formula and she explained to us that formula and breastmilk contains the same amount of calories. And like @sweetkate said, since LO started crawling at 5.5 months, he's burning more calories. She even showed us her own baby's chart and how it also slowed when he starts crawling. </p> <p>I also asked about the chart they used, and they do use the CDC chart. She pulled out the WHO chart and say his weight closer to the 50%.</p> <p>@chopsuey119: @pastemoo: @LivsMama: @HeatherlovesKenny: @blackbird: @mrsjazz: Sorry I misled you guys - it was our takeaway based on the chapter we read on his book, not Dr. Newman's "advice" on my case. Like @prettylizy: and @MsMini said, Dr. Newman is a well-known expert in the breastfeeding area. Actually La Leche League, Kellymom, IBCLC lactation consultants all would refer to Dr. Newman's researches and studies. He has articles on KellyMom and many Kellymom articles referenced and credited his publications. He was nice enough to even respond back and send me a chapter of his book which he thinks is / could be relevant to my situation. </p> <p>But I have to say though..... if La Leche are "breastfeeding nazis" (you know how they insisted breast is best and how everyone is able to breastfeed and no mom should do formula...etc.), Dr. Newman is "breastfeeding Hitler" :-) He doesn't even think babies should be given bottles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-261191 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:53:37 +0000 brownie 261191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think, you have a lot of GREAT advice from the other posters.</p> <p> I just wanted to add some of my personal story. My son is Failure To Thrive. He dropped from the 50th percentile to 0.5 percentile on the CDC chart (so a formula fed chart). He also dropped drastically on the WHO chart at the time (he was still on that chart though). I wouldn't have worried EXCEPT that he had green stools and seemed to me to be in pain. I went back to work when he was 8 weeks old and pumped and nursed him. I made a point to nurse every day at lunch. I feel we had a supply problem at about 6 months BUT I have increased my supply since then (like at 12 months). I didn't feel like he was actually getting nutrients from my milk. Now he has the little buddha belly and is very healthy.</p> <p>For us, we did formula for about 4 weeks to supplement the breastmilk. The formula reformulated his gut and he has been digesting better. But, he ultimately started refusing formula and eventually all bottles. So, we went back to 100% breastmilk (and solids). He has gained 1 pound every month from 11 months - 15 months old. That is on solids and breastmilk only. He also reverse cycles, this means we co-sleep and nurse throughout the night. I am not sure I personally could work full time and feed him enough without that. We started that at 6 months old.</p> <p>Moral of my story: you can choose formula, breastmilk or a combination for what works best for your family. A breastfed baby that was low weight can rebound back. There are options for you in whatever area you want to go through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-261172 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:30:55 +0000 erwoo 261172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MY LO is 4.5 months and he's always distracted if I don't find a "quiet" place to nurse him or cover him in public (not that I would openly nurse - haha!). Also, when they start solids they may drink a little less milk as well. I wouldn't completely stop based on that doctor's advice. Do what makes you feel comfortable and less stressful. You can do both. I know many moms who do. Some moms only nurse morning and night and formula throughout the day. Some breast milk is better than nothing. Also, you can always talk to your son's pediatrician to see what his/her thoughts are. A lactation consultant can also help with how to efficiently nurse/pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-261139 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:00:19 +0000 prettylizy 261139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: thank you!!! I was just going to chime in and stand up for Dr. Newman. He is brilliant as are his books and videos. I'm sure the book said things like, nurse as often as you can, spend time skin to skin, allow the baby to eat whenever s/he wants to keep your supply up, etc. </p> <p>To the OP, if you love nursing, just stick with it. Your body will make milk, the more you pump and nurse the more it makes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-261093 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:05:31 +0000 MsMini 261093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um, I don't think that Dr Newman actually said any of this directly to her, he emailed her a chapter of his book and this is how the OP interpreted that. Dr Newman is actually a very well respected expert in breastfeeding in Canada. Just because he is a man and his book makes recommendations that some people don't agree with doesn't make him stupid.</p> <p>He doles out a ton of advice, via email for free, and lots of people have been helped by his advice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-260944 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:31:18 +0000 mrstilly 260944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ughl! I feel for you, I really do! I had to switch to formula at 7 months due to no supply, and we had a few issues before then, so I can relate to what you are going through. </p> <p>First, what growth chart is your Dr. using? Like pps said, it makes a difference. On the CDC chart (standard for formula) DS was 98% until 3 months then dropped to under 60%. But on the WHO chart (World Health Organization for breastfed babies) DS was still above 95%. The growth of breastfed babies will slow a bit compared with formula fed babies, but this is not bad and doesn't mean they aren't getting enough or are failing to thrive. </p> <p>Second, no doctor can tell you what is right for your family, regarding when to return to work or pumping versus nursing. </p> <p>When I was pumping, there would be times I had to wait 10-15 minutes for a letdown, but then the milk poured out. Sometimes it takes a while. Usually there is an excess of milk in the morning, so that might be a good time to get an extra pumping session in. I would pump before feeding DS, then again after DS nursed until he was full. Also, have you tried playing a video of LO (with sound) while you start pumping? Or looking at pictures? It can stimulate a letdown faster than pumping alone. </p> <p>Formula is not bad, but if you prefer breastmilk, then you should be able to continue. Even if you do end up supplementing, though I don't see anything in your post that indicates you need to right away. </p> <p>If you are working from home, the best thing for right now might be to have your nanny bring LO to you to nurse during the work day if you don't feel like you are pumping enough. Also you could see if there is a place you can borrow or rent a baby weight scale so you can measure before/after nursing sessions to compare how much he eats nursing with how much he's getting via bottle. </p> <p>I have had amazing luck with International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) in my area. They have been the most knowledgeable and helpful over those who have just had some training, but aren't board certified. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-260636 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:10:49 +0000 pastemoo 260636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LivsMama: Those comments really irked me, too.<br /> Only supplement with formula if YOU want to. Actually formula doesn't necessarily have more calories than breastmilk, so if you LIKE nursing you should stick with it. And consider solids (or cutting back on solids if LO eats a lot of solids).<br /> See @regberadaisy: --she has been working and is doing great!<br /> Good luck with the LC. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-260621 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:00:55 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 260621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I know it's heartbreaking to even think about adding formula when you're nursing. You don't need to do only one or the other - I think a combination of it would be perfect. I work outside of the home, so I don't have the option of nursing during the day. But I pump as much as I can while I'm away, and then supplement the rest w/ formula (if I can't pump enough). On the weekends, I nurse her so I don't usually have to supplement.</p> <p>Oh, and I went back to work at 2.5 months so don't feel guilty for going back at 3 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-formula-and-it-is-breaking-my-heart#post-260618 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:00:25 +0000 mamimami 260618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some breast milk is better than none at all. If you need to supplement, do it. But, I also don't know that it has to be an all or none decision. Maybe you can feed him by the breast at least once during your workday?</p> <p>I wouldn't discount any of the doctor's advice, but it's mostly hindsight which is not that helpful for you at this point. </p>