4Week Old Eating Every 2 Hours - Mom Needs a Break!

He's growing. He's going to eat like a little piggy right now. There's nothing you can do to slow him down other than feed him. You may be able to hold him off a tiny bit longer by giving him a little water to drink, but don't go nuts with it. At this point in time you're what he REALLY needs. Congratulations :)

Ahhh, but parents don't get a break. Infants need to be fed on demand for the *entire* first year of life. You don't stretch it out, you don't offer an infant that young water-ever. You feed on demand. We've all been there and you will survive. I promise.

It will often seem like less than 2 hours because you start timing from when you start feeding not when you finish. He is perfectly normal and he is working to get your supply regulated and getting your body to make just what he needs for about the next 5 months or so. If you add formula or water you are tripping up that process.

Also-a breastfed baby almost never needs water-ever. By offering water you are filling their tiny belly with something that has no nutritional value and can actually be harmful if too much is given. Baby gets everything he needs right from you.

***Add-pumping is in no way reflective of what you actually make and never go by that. Baby is far, far more efficient than a pump will ever be. There are some women who can't pump or pump very little because their body just doesn't respond very well to it but their babies grow and thrive because baby is very adept and getting milk from mom. Imagine if those moms went by what they pumped!? They'd think their baby was starving.

Eating every 2 hours at this age is normal. Formula isn't going to help him go longer. I understand that you're tired, but it's a part of motherhood. This stage will pass soon enough. Stop waking him up during the day. See how long he sleeps. It's too early to start sleep training. Little ones need to be "on demand" at this point; fed on demand, changed on demand and put down for a nap on demand. If you let him get into a natural schedule, you'll find your life is a lot easier.

We formula fed and even then our kids ate every two hours at that age. We joked they were Similac addicts! It's super exhausting at first, but it will get better over time.

Yeah, totally normal. My first 2 nursed every 2 hours around the clock for the first 8 months...get used to it :) Once they get a little heftier they're able to go longer periods of time without eating. Just hang in there...you're doing great!!

If you're committed to exclusively breastfeeding I would caution against starting to supplement with formula for a number of reasons:

1. your milk supply could suffer. Your baby suckling is the best way to get more milk; pumping hardly ever yields as much milk.

2. your baby could become lazy at the breast. Artificial nipples are designed so that babies hardly have to work at all; this will make both you and baby frustrated when he's at the breast and DOES have to work.

3. giving your baby a bottle because he's not getting enough at the breast may become a habit that neither of you will be able to break.

Now, I'm not in ANY WAY saying that formula and bottles are bad. I was never breastfed and turned out just fine and I know many women to breast and formula feed successfully. But if your goal is to exclusively breastfeed then that's what you have to do - ONLY breastfeed.

Hi Danielle, at just 4 weeks his tummy is still too small to hold much more that 2 hours worth.

But can you pump enough to have bottles in the fridge for dad or Grandma or someone else to take a couple of feedings a day?

(Especially considering you also have a preschooler to keep up with all day)

I will say all three of my kids had formula in bottles, mixed with breast milk, and nursed and didn't seem to mind either way.

I'm sorry you're so exhausted, I remember! But the next year will go by like a flash of light and soon you'll all be sleeping through the night again! (Unitl the NEXT baby anyway, tehehe)

Don't be afraid to ask for some help Momma!

:)

its normal.

Breastfeeding is arduous. And it is all the time. This is normal.
Especially during growth-spurts and cluster-feeding, which is normal and common in babies.
Both my kids did that too, they had GINORMOUS appetites and I just fed on-demand. And 24/7 day and night.

If you give him Formula, in lieu of breast, then your breastmilk supply will get affected... so bear that in mind.
AND, some babies will then ONLY want a bottle (and reject breast), because sucking from a bottle is much easier, than from a breast. It requires 2 different 'techniques' to drink from a breast v.s. a bottle. Bottles are just by gravity. My son was like that.... after awhile. Though I still would nurse him.

Your baby IS normal. This does happen.
He is only... 4 weeks old.

You need to always feed on-demand.... NOT by a "schedule." Because, each day, appetites and growth fluctuates. And you cannot "predict' the needs of a baby's intake. A baby ALWAYS will need to feed/nurse. And sometimes it is even EVERY SINGLE HOUR. My kids did that too. Cluster-feeding. And they grew like weeds and were happy and were very healthy. I just always nursed on-demand.

At 4 weeks old, you cannot make them, feed or sleep by a schedule. You need to go by your baby's cues.... and needs. It just is. Every baby is different... but all need to feed on-demand.

Couple of things might be going on:
1. Cluster feeding for a growth spirt
2. Do you have a baby scale? Prob. not most people do not. Have someone other than yourself weigh themself then get baby subtract the too, then you feed the baby and repeat the weighing process, just for one day. Compare how much baby eat in oz in the morning verses in the evening and also if you can pump for just 2 mins after each feeding. This will tell you how much you are making. I had an issue that in the evening I made significantly less milk then in the morning so My son woke up ever 1 1/2 to eat because he wanted 6 oz every feeding and in the evening I only has 4oz so he ate more often. If this is the issue drink plenty of water, and get lots of rest (I am a working mom who works full time)

Good Luck

What your son is doing is totally normal. All in good time. :)

Best wishes.

couple of things - 1- if baby is preparing for a growth spurt they suddenly are hungry all the time. - 2 - make sure your milk supply is adequate. Are you drinking enough water? Your body needs fluids to make milk. Whenever you nurse you shouldn't sit down until you have a glass of water - by the time baby is done you should have finished a large glass. If you don't like water use a straw. Now you're drinking for two!!!

Just hang in there girl!! The first three months you are like a zombie and then it gets so much better! My pediatrician told me that before three months they don't have the ability to have their days and nights straightened out, but I will say that about 7 weeks or so both mine were going for like 6 and 7 hour stretches at night. My first had reflux so he ate ALL the time, like every 1.5 hours sometimes for like the first 5 months!! It was crazy, but now he is 3.5 and it seems like a long time ago. I wouldn't try to do anything about his eating schedule now. Just feed on demand, because he needs to put on weight and many babies need to feed a lot in the beginning. There is plenty of time to sleep train and all that good stuff in a couple months. What we did with my first was my husband would get him and bring him to me and take him and burp him to put him back to sleep. So all I would do is lay there and nurse and then pass him off and then nurse on the other side and dad would burp and put him back down. It helped when he was feeding so much. So maybe try that, and just remember that as tired as you are, this will end and you will sleep again!!! Hang in there and congrats on the new little one!!

Sorry to say, but this is pretty typical especially for breast fed babies. The breast milk is thinner than the formula and they digest it quickly and easily (which is part of why it's good for them)! Make sure that you are completely empty on each side when you are feeding her and know that this too shall pass!

I wouldn't suggest mixing formula and breast milk without checking with the doctor or a lactation nurse first. I don't know enough about how formula is callibrated, but you don't want to end up with "too much" of something and "not enough" of another!

This is completely normal. Your baby is only 4 weeks old. When he sleeps during the day you need to sleep too. You could also try co sleeping you will probably get a little longer then 2 hrs. Even formula fed babies can wake every 4 hours to eat so giving formula won't do anything except possibly upset his belly. (nothing against formula but if he is used to breast milk formula could cause some belly issues) Try a dream feed before you go to bed maybe that will give you a good stretch.
edited: sorry I did not realize you had another little one to chase around during the day. Maybe you can give the older child a quiet time during one of baby's naps and catch a little nap during the day for yourself. Also, please do not give cereal this young like someone else recommended that is so bad for so many reasons. He is also probably having a growth spurt around now maybe once its done with he will sleep a longer stretch for you during the night.

What works for me is putting my baby to sleep at the normal hour (about 8) and then pumping a bottle as soon as I have some milk built up again--I then feed him when I get into bed (about 10) "a dream feeding" I think they call it. I then have my husband give him the pumped bottle the next time he wakes up (say at 1). That should buy you a longer stretch...and by the way...I hate the "a tired mom is a good mom" type arguments that you get with breastfeeding...it's hard enough to begin with!

The formula could help. My boys both got both breast and bottle, and I had them sleeping through the night by 8 weeks, but at 4 he still needs a couple more weeks of not going more than 4 or 5 hours without food.

My mommy friends were just discussing this last night. The new thing is not to switch breasts in a feeding. With my first 3 kids nurses said to nurse each breast 15-20 minutes each. Now they say to NOT switch( in 1 feeding). They are finding the baby is getting the "foremilk" or first milk which is sweet and watery to get them to nurse and never enough of the 2nd milk which is rich & fatty.
So feed on one side. Then the next feeding use the other breast. Keep the baby on one breast for an entire feeding, but switch breasts throughout the day.
Now some moms mentioned they felt funny with one small breast & one large breast after a feeding, but your body adjusts and become the same size in just a few days. You could also feed on one side and pump the other.
Hope that makes sense. You might want to google foremilk and hind milk.

If you need a break, pump right before you think he'll be hungry and then have your SO (if there is one) give a bottle. This shouldn't decrease your supply because you're still keeping up with the feedings. I wouldn't give formula at this point in the hopes that it will keep him fuller - it might, but I honestly never noticed a substantial difference with either of my kids.

I know, the beginning is really tough. He'll stretch out soon. Good luck.

yeah that's what your baby should be doing. I think it's hardest when it's your first cause nothing can really prepare you for all the time it takes to really take care of a baby. But really eating every two hours is what your baby should be doing right now. He needs to first eat that often to insure that he is getting enough and will do all the growing he needs to do but also he is helping you keep your milk supply up. Which is what you need too. If want to only breast feed your baby then don't start formula. Cause yes then he will take a bottle and if you start giving him more and more bottles your milk supply will drop. If you didn't plan to breast feed for very long then yeah you can start some formula. Just remember though at this age he still might want to eat every 2 hours even on formula. Some babies will only drink like 2 to 4 oz of formula at a time so then after about 2 hours they are ready for more. I am a for the breast feeding and only breast fed my babies for the first year of life. No formula, cereal or baby food. So I know you can do it but it is hard at first. But as your baby gets older he will go longer stretches and sleep better and you will get more breaks. hang in there.

At 4 weeks that is absolutely normal. If you give him formula, you might reduce your supply - that usually leads to a downward spiral to weaning...
I would suggest just laying down with your little one for a day or two and do nothing but rest and nurse. This is one of those times, where if you have other children, you should call one of your friends or family members that offered their help while you were pregnant and have them come over to take care of siblings or urgent household needs.
Good luck!

Remember, your baby is only four weeks old. Every two hours is normal. Right now the size of his stomach is like a grape. There isn't much room for him to eat, which is why babies need to eat so often. Hang in there, it will get easier and less frequent.

One theory if they are eating often is to wake them during the day so they get the calories they need and then they will go longer during the night. Another theory is that if you feed them often during the day, they will expect the same at night and continue to wake often to eat -- this way says let them go longer during the day. I'd try both ways and see if either one works. Good luck - it's so hard at the beginning.

I started both my boys on cereal at a younger age.