How much breastmilk does a 4 1/2-months old infant need?

[FischK]

DS (born May 7) has been in day care three days a week since the beginning of September. He usually goes for about 8 hours. At first, I packed three 4 oz. bottles of BM, but his care giver indicated that may not be enough and asked if we could send an extra bottle. So, we're now sending him with four bottles, and he drinks all of it. During this time, I manage to pump about 8-10 oz at work.

I get home about 90 minutes after he does, and then I breastfeed him. He usually goes through both breasts before he falls asleep. I wake him before I go to bed to make sure he had enough food. I also feed him on demand during the nights (2-3 times) and on the days that I'm home. He hardly spits up at all. I know he comfort nurses, but I am a little concerned about the amount of BM he takes while in day care. What do you think? Is it possible that he needs that much BM?

[snowgirl]

Quite simply, YES! If he is still drinking it, keep sending it. Perhaps send a little more just in case he is getting enough. It will ebb and flow over time as he grows. Trust your baby's cues, not the number of ounces.

[LindsC]

That's almost the same amount that my almost 3 month old takes on her daycare days. I send everything that I pump the previous day with her the next day and it usually evens out to four 4oz bottles or just slighty less and she has always finished it all except for one day. She is at daycare for about 9 hours and I make sure to nurse her right before I drop her off.

I think that the 4 bottles is probably a good idea for now.

[Megan73]

It's quite possible your DCP is overfeeding because she's used to formula-fed babes. Breastfed babies drink an average of 25 oz of BM a day from one to six months - it does not increase as they get bigger - and it sounds like you're nursing tons when you're together.
Check out the milk calculator on Kellymom.com and also the resources there on bottlefeeding a breastfed baby.

[MamaKickyPants]

I agree with Megan73. It IS possible to overfeed a bf baby with bf bottles. Definitely check out Kellymom. What makes the DCP say 'he needs more'? If it's because he's 'gulping down the bottles', that is NOT an indication of hunger, necessarily. It is the nature of how bottles work, that essentially forces babies to 'gulp' them down. There is a handout on Kellymom about bottlefeeding the breastfed baby. I suggest reading it over and discussing it/giving it to your DCP.

[evening start]

DS is a few days older than yours, and he usually takes four 3 oz bottles on the days he's away from me (longer than 8 hours usually). I try and send 5 bottles for days he's extra hungry, or if something happens and he doesn't take a full bottle early in the day and needs more later. My pediatrician was worried that he wasn't taking enough, but I posted here and it seems to be pretty normal amount (the ped had no medical concerns he just felt that a 4 month old "should" take 6 to 8 oz at a time which seemed way excessive to me). It may be worth sending five 3 oz bottles instead of four 4 oz ones, then there is enough milk if your baby is really hungry, but you can save bottles to use for the next day if it turns out that he is just finishing the full 4 oz bottle because it is there.

[JudiAU]

DS always took three 5 oz bottles so I would say it was within the range. He never took more between 4m and 12m when he dropped a bottle. He took more maybe a few times but rarely.

[kriket]

Mine is just now turning 5mo and still eats about an ounce an hour. Luckily daddy is the day-parent and he knows how difficult it is to pump so he knows better then to force feed.
DS will eat probably close to 4oz when I get home, and I pump another 3 off the breast he isn't eating. (I haven't been pumping well at work recently, and have to make up for it with evening pumps )

evening start- 6-8 oz at a time seems way excessive to me too. I always wonder how much people wear after feeding that much.

*I* think he may be a touch over fed. But I'm not the mommy

[Lil'Momma]

I have to agree that he may be overfed, but again, we aren't the ones who are there watching him. I was told, when we were trying to get dd off the bottle and completely on the breast, that bottle fed babies seriously tend to overeat because they get the milk SO fast from the bottle that their little tummies don't have time to register that they are full. My five month old takes 3-3.5 ounces in a sippy cup every three hours when away from me. And she will act hungry afterwards, but my dh just snuggles with her, talks to her, loves on her for a few minutes and then she realizes she's full and doesn't want any more. (I always have extra JUST IN CASE, I don't want to starve her if she REALLY is hungry). DD will take more if it is there though.... when a friend watched her, she gave her NINE ounces because she still wanted it... and then thought she was STILL hungry, but she wasn't and ended up spitting up horribly for an hour after.

Kellymom does have some great resources on bottle feeding the breast fed baby. I definately think you should print it out and discuss it with your DCP. Good luck!

[KangaTwo]

Do you know my MIL?? This is exactly her. "You're not bringing enough, bring more." Suddenly my 6mo is drinking 20oz in 6 hours. I tell her "He goes 3 hours between feedings, he ate just before 8, he shouldn't need to eat again until around 11." When does he get fed? Between 9:30 and 10! "Well, I gave him a bottle, and he kept crying so I gave him another one."

Then my mom had to watch DS for a week while MIL was out of state. For her, he ate around 11 (without being told about when to expect it), acted fussy like he did for MIL. My mom put him off and put him off and finally told DSS (my mom homeschools for us) to thaw another bag of milk for DS. Before he could, DS let out an enormous belch and then was perfectly content. He had one more 5oz bottle in the afternoon before I got off work. 10 oz with my mom vs. 20oz with MIL, for the same 6oz period.

I told this to DH's friend this morning and he was horrified - his 9mo daughter doesn't even drink that much in formula during an entire day, let alone 6 hours. It totally doesn't make sense to me for MIL to use so much milk in such a short period.

MIL says "most 7 mo babies take an 8oz bottle WITH their food (a jab at me for delaying solids), then another 8oz bottle later WITH their food, and another 8oz bottle WITH their food later." Not any babies I've known... I've had to tell her that even completely full babies will accept more milk from a bottle because it tastes good. I don't know if she believed me or not.

I am having to seriously bump up the amount I pump just in an effort to have any milk to take while I am at work. I am NOT happy about my milk! I feel like it's been wasted since it wasn't being stewarded wisely, IMO.

[Xerxella]

Hey FischK!!! How are you doing??!!! I remember you from our due date club! Genevieve was born May 8th!

Anyways, my friend and mom, who were both breastfeeders, who watch my kids on days I work, say Genna only takes about 1 1/2 - 2 ounces at a time. But, she's all over the place with quantity. Some days she only drinks about 6 ounces in 10-11 hours and other days she drinks 14 ounces. She usually settles into 8-10 ounces a day. Maybe you could have a talk with the day care provider and send 2 or 3 ounce bottles. And, then ask her to put at least 1/2 hour between bottles.