• Knowledgebase: Infant Feeding Problems

    Questions about nursing, formulas, spitting up, and colic.

    2. 18 day old eats too much - Top

    Question: My 18 day old baby has much gas and abdominal discomfort. I could not breastfeed her and she is now on infant formula. She is thriving, but drinks much more formula than most infants. The pediatrician told me to feed her on demand. She was born at 5 lb 11 oz and is now 6 lb 6 oz. She will drink 6 oz. of formula at a feeding--very quickly. She will sleep for a few hours and wake up to feed again. She drinks over 24 oz of formula in a day. The iron in the formula may be too much for her, I am told. Since she drinks so much formula and so quickly, should I try the low iron formula? Where can I find such a formula?

    Answer: Some babies have a tremendous desire to suck, and will suck on a bottle until they are truly stuffed and in pain. Such a baby may benefit from a pacifier. Try stopping feedings after each ounce or so and giving the pacifier for a while so the baby can get more satisfaction. Or, try a different nipple that requires the baby to suck more to get the milk.

    Six ounce feedings are very large for a baby this age, and may lead to more spitting up which can cause other problems.

    Low iron formula should ONLY BE USED for SPECIFIC medical conditions (and probably should not be sold without a prescription). - Updated: July 2, 2001

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    • James L Horwitz, MD

    David C. Thomas, MD

    Barbara Lindberg, PNP