My LO is 7 weeks old & is taking 6 - 6 oz bottles and still doesn't seem to be getting full. At our 1 month check-up the pediatrician mentioned putting rice cereal in his bottle but I really didn't feel comfortable with it at the time. But now that he just seems so hungry I'm not sure if I should.
Has anyone done this or is it generally thought of as a no-no?
persimmon / 1396 posts
Are you formula feeding or BF? If you are formula feeding, Enfamil has a formula type, AR, that is thicker and is supposed to reduce spit up. It has rice cereal in it. Maybe that is a better option than trying to add cereal to a bottle.
nectarine / 2132 posts
I am formula feeding but he is currently on Enfamil Gentle ease because he was extremely gassy and very uncomfortable. I worry if I switch to the AR he will get gassy again & I just can't go back to that, it was miserable, for him & me!
grapefruit / 4278 posts
I would be hesitant too, I've heard putting rice cereal in the bottle is a no no unless needed in cases of reflux. What is happening that you think he is so hungry still? Is he growing well? 36 oz already sounds like a lot for such a young baby, but why couldn't you just increase the amount of formula in the bottle?
nectarine / 2132 posts
36 oz is a lot! That's why I don't want to just increase the amount in his bottle. He seems satisfied after his feeding it's just barely 3 hours before he is hungry again, and I would think after 6 oz he should be able to go 4-5 hours. But he may be going through a growth spurt, I will try to stick it out another week until his 2 month check up & talk to his pediatrician.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
@jmarionsmith: Does he go for longer stretches at night? I don't think that every 3 hours during the day is abnormal at all. My 5 month old still eats every 3 hours during the day.
pear / 1728 posts
Eating every 3 hours is normal. but I feel like that is a lot of formula. I dont know what size bottles 7 week olds take though, except for BM. Id wait until the next appt. I can tell you though, that my pedi suggests never giving rice cereal due to the arsenic, and substitting infant oatmeal instead. Its the same consistency as the rice cereal, without the arsenic.
coconut / 8498 posts
3 hours is a very normal stretch between feedings. I BF, but LO would often eat that much from a bottle at that age. If he is satisfied, I don't know that you should increase the amount. And I definitely wouldn't add cereal unless he has reflux issues.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Pediatricians would probably tell you these days that offering rice cereal early raises the risk of obesity and diabetes. Go with your gut mama!
pomelo / 5178 posts
DS was eating 30+ ounces from about 6 weeks on. He's just always been a big eater. He also ate every 2-3 hours until he was almost 3 months, despite being on formula. Some kids are just built that way!
Fwiw, DS is still a big eater. He normally does 30-35 ounces a day plus two containers of purees (he's 6.5 months). We actually have to cut him off from eating sometimes because he won't stop himself. My DD always had a good sense of control, but I guess not all kids are born with those limitations.
nectarine / 2132 posts
@livsmama: the pediatrician told me that by 2 months, most ff babies are taking 5-6 oz bottles every 4-5 hours. So, oz wise I don't think he is taking too much, it's just the time in between each feeding that is worrying me.
@kiddosc: he will usually do one 4-5 hour stretch at night.
Thanks ladies, I definitely will hold off on any cereal.
papaya / 10560 posts
Wow!!! I have a 6 week old who I feed every three hours or so during the day and pretty sure he takes nowhere near 6 oz!! Do you think he's just snacking and not really that hungry? I'm amazed.
grapefruit / 4817 posts
My 6 month old only eats 30-32 oz a day and has regularly been in the 60-70th percentile, so I can't imagine your 7 week old actually needs any more than what he's taking in. I wouldn't add rice cereal unless you really feel its the right thing to do, but I'd be more concerned that something else is going on. Has he always been a big eater? Is he gaining weight properly? Dsheets ever seem in pain or uncomfortable? I know before we had my LO's reflux handled an he was consistently in pain, he overate because for a short while, having his belly overly-full made him feel better. But then reflux would flare worse than before and he's want to gorge himself again.
persimmon / 1396 posts
@jmarionsmith: Every baby is so different. If the baby is showing hunger signs, feed him. My LO is 5 months and still takes 3oz every 2 hours. She can't handle any more without a ton of spitup and is still hungry after 2 hours. I was super worried about this until I decided it wasn't worth it. She is growing the way she should, and its not worth worrying over.
squash / 13199 posts
@jmarionsmith: How can you tell if he is really hungry, Does he cry for more food? Have you tried just letting him suck on a pacifier after the bottle?
eggplant / 11824 posts
I wouldn't be too worried about the time frames since every baby is different. My LO is just over 4 months and takes 6oz. at every feeding and still eats every 3 hours; sometimes every 2.5 hours. I’ve tried putting more in her bottle, but she likes to eat just the 6oz. and then eat more often throughout the day. BTW, my LO is on the same formula as your LO; for the same issues.
pineapple / 12526 posts
My daughter was a big eater when she was little and then tapered off around 5 months. She also gained 10lbs and 7 inches in height in that time. Don't let people tell you he's eating too much. Some kids just eat more because they need a lot to grow in those early months. My daughter was up to 40oz a day at 3 months and now at 6 months, it's more like 26oz. Her growth has also finally slowed down. She STILL eats ever 3 hours. She eats 4 bottles in a day 6oz at 9am, 12pm, 3pm and then 8oz w/ rice cereal at 6pm. She also eats about 7oz of baby food.
I will say, honestly, we started doing rice cereal in her bedtime bottle at 3 months old. Just the one bottle. I don't think it's harmful, especially considering they blame childhood obesity on just about everything nowadays, but I don't think I would do it at 7 weeks old. 3 months was my minimum.
pomelo / 5178 posts
@zippylef: I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a hungry kid on their hands! DS was taking 40-45 ounces a day at 4 months, and he only decreased his formula intake back down to 30 ounces when we introduced solids at 5 months. He's just hungry! Like C, he's also really big for his age (95th percentile for height), so I think that has something to do with it.
pomelo / 5178 posts
@zippylef: They're such similar sizes! DS is 6.5 months, 28.5 inches and 18 pounds.
pineapple / 12526 posts
@Honeybee: Did your LO have a high birth weight? C was 10lbs8oz and 22in.
pomelo / 5178 posts
@zippylef: No, he was on the low side of normal at 7 pounds 6 ouncess, although a little long at 21 inches in length. DD is also really tall for her age, always around 80th percentile, but she's never been higher than 50th for weight (usually around 40th). Apparently I breed them long and skinny!
pineapple / 12526 posts
@Honeybee: Funny thing is that C is NOT chubby! She's just very tall! You'd think she'd be a super chunk by how big she is, but she's really not. I think as soon as she starts being more mobile, we're going to a have a serious little string bean on our hands.
pomelo / 5178 posts
@zippylef: As soon as they get mobile, they usually thin out. C has never looked chunky to me, though; she's really well proportioned.
I LOVE chunky babies, so I was always a little sad my kids never had cute little baby rolls. 
Ah well, they're cute and squichy anyway!
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