My baby is 3 weeks old, and it seems like she's always hungry?

Question

i was breast feeding her, but now she's on formula during the day and i breast feed her at night. she has 4oz milk in bottles. my health visitor says to put her milk up to 5 oz but it seems to much to me for a 3 week old. what do u think? did anyone else have this?

Answer 1

When Emma was 3 weeks old she was eating 6 oz per feed, she has never been a fat baby either.  Don't worry about over feeding your baby.

Answer 2

My daughter was eating 6 oz at 3 weeks, her doctor told me to feed her when she is hungry.  I tried to do the average norm and it wasn't enough for her.  She was underweight too.  So I fed her 6 oz and she was happy and she is at the average weight she should be now.

Answer 3

I would increase the amount you give her as the health visitor recommended. Baby's won't over-feed themselves - if they have too much they'll just sick it up.

There's no such thing as "too much" with babies. They are not greedy. They'll take what they need.

Answer 4

Growth spurt.  Feed her more often, not larger amounts, as her tummy might not deal well with that.  Breastfeed her as often as possible, *especially* at night, when your milk will be more plentiful.  

Three weeks is a prime time for a growth spurt.  It's completely normal.

Answer 5

It's easy.   FEED HER!  Not all kids are alike.  My 2nd child is almost 3 months old and eating like my 1st child did at 6 months.  Put more formula in the bottle than you think she needs, and if she's full she'll quit eating.

Answer 6

It can't be too much if 4oz isn't enough though can it? Ask your health visitor for a recommendation of hungrier baby milk.  

Answer 7

It doesn't matter how old she is, all that matters is that her hunger is satisfied,  I gave my  6 day old son cereal...he weighed 10.5 and was HUNGRY  so I fed him.  He is very  healthy now....grown.

Answer 8

Your baby just needs more than most kids do.  It's fine to feed her 5 oz.  My youngest was taking 2 oz. of formula the 1st week in addition to breast milk.  I thought it was a lot, but he was hungry and I fed him. He's a healthy eater now too.

Answer 9

All babies are different. There is nothing wrong with you putting baby's milk up to 5oz. If she takes it thats great. My 2nd was hard to feed at that age. I know one baby that was so hungry they had to get baby rice or rusks put in their milk just to thicken it up, he was only 5 weeks. And he was absolutely fine and very healthy. x

Answer 10

I would keep feeding her. It will adjust later.  

Answer 11

Yes, I agree with increasing the bottles a little bit. If she breast feeds steadily for approximately 20-30 minutes (actual amount will vary depending on how intensely she suckles) then she is getting the equivalent of 6~ish ounces. At least that's what I remember my doctor telling me 'back in the day'. Good luck!  

Answer 12

I had my first 3 months ago, and when he was born he was 8.7 lbs.  He was eating between 30-50 oz of formula and breast milk per day!  I was a little worried.  When we went into the doctor for his 2 month check up, he had doubled his weight since birth and grew 3 inches----all in one month!  Since then he has returned to much slower growth rate and his eating has slowed down.  The doctors say this happens and is nothing to worry about.  Thus, if they're hungry, there's a reason such as a growth spurt.  Don't worry and good luck!

Answer 13

Just feed her until she seems satisfied and not hungry anymore. When baby is happy, mommy is happy :) Babies do not overeat. Don't worry.

Congrats on your new baby girl!

Answer 14

My 3 week old baby drank no more than 2 oz every 1-3 hours and now have a healthy 7 month old.  Babies tend to drink less but more often.

I not the baby's dr. but 4-5 oz seems like a lot to me.  If you give her too much her stomach will expand too fast.