3 week old eating 4 ounces every 3 hours?

Question

My son weighed 9lbs 10oz when he was born 3 weeks ago and now is 10lbs and 2oz. He is eating 4oz every 3 hours. I don't want to make him sick or give him gas. I try to hold him off but he screams until I feed him. Is this normal?

Answer 1

As long as he's not spitting up, feed him when he's hungry and let him have as much as he wants.  My son did the same and he also weighed about the same - 9-13.  He is 3 months now and eating 6 ounces every 3 hours.  

If he is curling up in a ball when he cries, it might be gas - the pains can also make him think he is hungry.  

A 3 week old baby should be eating about every 2 - 3 hours and can eat about 3 - 4 ounces.  Hopefully he will begin sleeping a little longer at night - like going 4 hours or more between feedings.  Don't worry about holding him off until it's exactly 3 hours.  Try to use that interval of 2 - 3 hours and if it's within that interval and he's hungry, let him eat.

It sounds like you are trying to schedule him.  I wouldn't worry about that until he is at least past the 6 week mark.  Then you can try a very simple routine like eat, play, sleep and stretch those feedings a little longer.  

Answer 2

my baby weight 9lb 6 oz  that was 28 yrs ago   we had big babys they are hungry go ahead feed him its  ok

    

Answer 3

i had my boys on cereal at 2 1/2 months old. my boys were downing 8 oz bottles ever hr. my youngest was breastfed and bottle fed and nursed and would eat ever 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. they were on actual baby food when they were that age, and i would give them like a jar of peaches and they would eat the whole thing. then i would try a jar of pears and they would take like 2 or 3 bites and they were done. my boys were big eaters though. my boys are now 4 and 3 and they are healthy and fine. i would try to give him half jar and see what happens. if he still seems cranky try for some more and see what happens if he still eats give it to him. you don't want to have your kids malnurished or have them fed 2 much.  my boys were big eaters.  they were eating like crazy and at 6months old they were on table food.  i would give them quartered up hot dogs, mac and cheese, and cut up green beans.  my boys were both 6lbs. when they were born and now there 4 and 3 and they are 32 and 40 lbs.  i would feed him as much as he will eat.  i wouldn't push the cereal yet but, i would give him a full 8 oz. bottle and see what happens.  

good luck

Answer 4

My newborn ate 5 ounces every 2-3 hours and i always fed on demand...

Your son could be going through a growth spurt so he might be eating alot anyway. My little girl put alot of weight on every week but it slowed down when she turned 3months and she doesn't feed hardly as much as she used to..

Don't worry, he wont get sick, he knows when he's hungry so feed him whenever he likes! It just means he's a very healthy boy!!

Do you breastfeed or bottle....breastfed babies may eat a little more as its not filled with as much c**p as the formula so it doesn't fill them up as much...

Don't worry...my doctor says as long as she is eating, shes healthy...its when they don't feed that you should worry!!

Congrats on your new bundle of joy x  

Answer 5

This is totally normal. I had two large baby boys that were eating that much if not more early on. One is a healthy 8 yr old and the other is a healthy 3 yr old. I now have a 2 month old girl that started out tiny compared to them that likes to eat slow and all day. All babies are different. Congrats!

Answer 6

Probably, but you might have him checked for reflux.  When babies have this it feels better when they eat.  Does he arch his back after feeding and/or spit up excessively?  Does he seem to be uncomfortable when lying flat?  Otherwise, he's a bigger baby so maybe he's just hungry.  Call your doctor on Monday and get their advice.

Congratulations on your new baby.

Answer 7

if he's hungry for it then it's totally normal.  Some babies have bigger appetites but in the end most of them end up in the normal range.  Don't worry about it right now.  Your doc will let you know if/when it becomes a problem which I'm sure it won't.  He's got lots of time to even it all out.

congrats on your new little one:)

Answer 8

Congratulations on your baby boy!

Your son is eating well within normal limits for his body size. If he is hungry at 2 1/2 hours or 3 hours don't try to hold him off longer. Since he's a bigger baby his body burns calories faster. Plus holding him off longer, makes him upset and causes him to scream ends up causing him to have more air bubbles and gulp his bottle which will make him cry from gas pains. Its a vicious cycle.