Any helpful input on how much a baby should be eating?

Question

Since my daughter was 3 weeks old, shes been having trouble eating. The pediatrician said she has acid reflux and prescibed her zantac. This hasnt helped at all. It was so bad once that we had to take her to the ER because she refused to eat. When she was about 8 weeks old, she started to eat 5 oz every 3-4 hours and a week later it stopped. She weighed 8 lbs 13 oz at birth and now weighs 13 lbs 7 oz. She got weighed last week and came down with a cold 2 days ago and went to the pedi again yesterday and still weighs the same. She hasnt gained anything in a week. Shes only eating 2 oz every 3-31/2 hours and refuses anymore than that. How much should she be eating and could this be something that we are all overlooking? I really appreciate any input and helpful advice. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you recently visited the doctor a week ago I would of asked them. You could also try a soy based formula. Be persistent and ALWAYS burp her after about 2 ounces. Again, a doctor's advice is always better than someone on Yahoo!. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Your doctor has got to help you determine what the problem is, on average a baby should take,

3 months - 30 fl oz per day

5 months - 34 fl oz per day

6 months - 38 fl oz per day

A baby should drink from a bottle of formula for about 5 to 25 minutes at a time. Common problems when refusing to feed for a long time are, ear problems, swallowing or reflux problems.

IF you have ruled out ear infections and/or swallowing problems (hiatal hernia, inflamed esophagus or sore throat due to reflux), you may want to consider moving to solids, with the approval of your pediatrician. Personally, i introduced my baby to rice cereal when he was 3.5 months old because he refused to drink from a bottle or a sippy cup.

What you must do, is arrange a meeting with your pediatrician and ask whether you can feed your baby solids. Doctor's refusal to introduce solids at early age have grounds on babies being more prone to develop food allergies if they start too young, but if the benefit outgrows the risk, you should consider it.



EDIT: something really simple and that is overlooked a lot of the time is the size of the holes in the nipples. A newborn's nipple should not be used on a baby who is over 3 months, since the effort of sucking harder might be making him tired. Look for AVENT bottles and nipples, they have the age they are recommended for printed on  the box.