How Much Should My Baby Eat?

Every baby eats a different amount, and they change how much they eat depending on whether or not they are going through a growth spurt. The average amount for a 24 hour period is 32 oz, but there where weeks when my son ate 64 ounces and the pediatrician assured me that is normal for him. As long as you are not feeding your baby all day long when you simply want her to be quiet or leave you alone, or forcing her to finish bottles she doesn't want, then you cannot overfeed her. You should never restrict your baby's food unless the Dr tells you to. Instead, you can make sure it is food she is asking for and not attention or a nap. Your baby being Roley-polly (like mine) is genetically programed in her, not the result of too many calories. Instead, it is the other way around. Because she is so big, she requires more calorie and thus eats more. A baby is born being able to regulate how much food they need.

Just one more note, in case someone is another post advises you to give her water... Water can be toxic to young babies and should never be given to a baby under 6 months. It can damage the kidneys, cause malnutrition, and mess up the balance of electrolytes in her body.

Hey A.!

I think your baby is eating just fine!

I wanted to give you a link to an article about breastfeeding/pumping moms that really helped me when I was working part time and my little girl was in daycare.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

One of the things that may happen is that your daycare provider(s) may start comparing your baby's milk intake with babies who take formula.

Formula intake will steadily increase with the age/weight of the baby. This is not true of breastfeeding babies - most babies will settle down to 3.5 to 4 ounces of milk per feeding and STAY at that amount until they began to eat solids - at that point, breastmilk production will naturally drop off.

My daycare provider was watching two babies - mine and a little boy who was formula fed. She began to pressure me to provide more breastmilk because the little boy was drinking greater and greater quantities of formula (based on the formula's instructions), but I kept providing the same quantity of breastmilk.

I was a new mom and began to worry that my body wasn't producing enough - even though my baby was growing and gaining weight normally. Anyway, this article helped me and my daycare provider understand that my daughter was getting the right amount of breastmilk even though the quantity was always less than the formula fed baby's quantity.

I just mention this because it's possible your daycare providers may be feeding your baby more of your breastmilk than your baby needs - they may mistakenly believe that the quantity of breastmilk a baby eats should match the quantity of formula feedings.

Congratulations again!

M.

As long as she is gaining steadily and has noral bowell and wet diapers I wouldn't worry about overfeeding/underfeeding, Especially since you are feedingon demand in the evenings. And I also wanted to add KUDOS to you! for taking on a daunting task of pumping and working! You are doing a fabulous job!

-K

My daughter (3.5 months) is home with her dad eight hours a day, and eats almost exactly the same amount...15-18 oz. during that time period. I'd say no worries! -- G.