need some opinions…

[Anonymous]

My 7 week old son has reflux. He’s currently on Alimentum formula. He eats on average 4-5 oz. every 3-4 hours. I’ve been getting all sorts of comments from family and friends that I’m feeding him too much and too often. Now, he will only eat when he wants to. It’s not like I’m forcing him. I’d try everything before giving him a bottle. He’d eat it all (like he was starving) and be hungry again in an hour and a half to 2 hours. So, I gradually increased his formula til he was satisfied and sleeping a little longer. I really feel like I’m doing the right thing, but with all of the opinions, it’s making me second guess myself. Could it be the formula, or his reflux that makes him hungrier than other babies?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes refluxers will overeat in an attempt to “kill the burn” of reflux. It could be that he is wanting to eat so often because of this. On the other hand, it doesn’t sound like he is really eating too much for his age at all.

[Anonymous]

If he seems satisfied and it’s helping him sleep I think it sounds fine. My older daughter was a comfort feeder, but she never seemed satisfied. She would eat and eat and eat and would be extremely unhappy anytime you took the food away. Then the large amount of formula would end up causing her to spit up more. We ended up having to cut back on her formula and feed her every 2 hours in an effort to help her keep it down. Your son’s situation sounds really different from that though.

[Anonymous]

Babies will eat what they need–you can’t really deny a hungry infant food!! You’ll get SO many unnecessary and sometimes rude opinions from people, but as long as you and your baby are happy and satisfied, that’s what’s important!

[Anonymous]

if he is satisfied and sleeping better—ignore all the “free advice”.

[Anonymous]

My lo was up to 44oz of formula and taking solids at one point and he isn’t overweight. Babies do know when they are full and as long as his wt is okay and he is happy and sleeping well then don’t worry. Go with your instincts.

[Anonymous]

I think this baby sounds fine, but I definitely don’t agree that babies will stop when they are full. Most babies can tell when they are full and will stop, but Kaelyn definitely could not sense when she was full. Both her ped and ped GI remarked on her ability to eat continuously if we’d let her. The more she ate, the more she spit up, so letting her eat on demand was not an option. She was actually happier when we limited her food. Of course, she’s a very unusual case, but it can happen.

[Anonymous]

my lo Ashlynn also was a comforter eater at the start. She did just fine even though everyone said she was eating to much. She still loves to eat and loves her bottle. I would not worry what everyone else is saying .

Ashlynn 6-3-07 Nexium 20mg—ref;ux since birth

Danika 11-3-05 Loves Elmo gymnastics And OJ

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much. Carter is my first child. I know they’re just trying to help, but all the unwanted advice is getting to be a little much. It’s nice to know I have you helpful Mamas out there for some real advice. I hope one day I’ll be able to be some help too.

[Author]

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