How many milliliters of formula does your baby need to eat?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Phan Ngoc Hai - Doctor of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
How many ml of formula does the baby need to eat?, how many ml each time? or how to know if a child is hungry... There are many issues that concern mothers when discussing children's eating, especially those of first-time mothers.

1. Signs that the child is hungry

In the first 6 months of life, babies need only one food to develop and grow, which is breast milk. Because at this time, the baby's digestive system is still very immature and incomplete. In case the mother does not have enough milk for the baby due to certain conditions or cannot breastfeed the baby, then formula milk should be added to the baby.
Breast milk and formula will be suitable for the baby's physical characteristics at this stage. Children's milk needs are not the same and also change from week to week and month to month.
When the child is hungry, the child will have certain reactions, behaviors that clearly show this, such as:
Crying: This is the most common behavior when the child feels hungry Children hit their mouths with their hands Sucking hand When you stroke your baby's cheek, baby turns towards you Hands to mouth Often opens mouth

After the child drinks milk, if the child still looks around, it is possible that the child is still hungry at this time. Prepare a little more milk for the baby, do not mix too much or the same amount of milk before because often the baby will not drink all of it and you will have to throw away this amount of milk.
During growth, children may be hungrier than usual. This process usually occurs when the baby is 10 to 14 days after birth and about 3 to 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months old.
Crying is not only a typical sign of hunger, but also a number of other conditions, such as a wet diaper, a baby feeling cold or hot, a baby eating too much or simply wanting to be near you.

2. Formula needs based on baby's weight

From the first 4 to 6 months, babies do not need any other foods besides milk, the amount of milk for the baby will increase gradually according to the needs of each child. The assessment can be considered by: after each feeding, does the baby still show signs of hunger? Does the baby gain weight according to age or not? Does the baby have digestive problems when increasing the amount of milk? If the baby is fed enough, the baby will sleep more peacefully, urinate or defecate an average of 4-5 times a day or the child is gaining weight well, is flexible and does not have many problems with vomiting too many times a day. If sucking is accompanied by repeated vomiting, it is important to consider first that the baby is being fed too much at one time. If the condition recurs, the child is slow to gain weight, it is necessary to see a doctor.

3. Formula needs based on the age of the baby

As children grow older, the amount of milk they drink at one time will increase, the number of times a day will decrease. It is important that you pay attention not to give your child too much food to have a reasonable weight. Within 24 hours, don't give your baby more than 32 ounces of milk (refer to milliliters rather than ounces).
Below is the amount of formula baby needs to consume per day based on age (formula is for reference only, depending on each baby):
First week: Newborns eat according to their needs ; every 2 to 3 hours. For the first day or two after birth, your baby may only drink half an ounce at a time. Then, feed your baby 1 to 2 ounces of formula at each feeding. After 2 weeks: 2 to 3 ounces per feeding Week 2 to Week 4: 2 to 4 ounces each, three to four hours apart 1 month old Baby: At least 4 ounces at a time, three to four hours apart Up to 2 months old: 4 to 5 ounces each, three to four hours apart 4 months old: 4 to 6 ounces each meal, three to four hours apart, with longer periods at night 6-month-olds : 6 to 8 ounces at a time, with meals four to five hours apart, with longer periods at night, especially those who don't need to eat and sleep through the night. Your baby's intake will level off as he consumes about 7 to 8 ounces of formula at each feeding. When children are 1 year old, in addition to milk, children will be prepared 3 main meals and accompanied by snacks every day.

4. Signs that the baby is eating enough milk

Here are some signs that your baby is getting enough milk:
Steady weight gain. When the baby suckles and receives enough standard ml of milk, the baby will gain weight steadily. Based on weight gain is the most important indicator to know if the baby is getting enough milk or not. Most babies lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first few days and then regain this weight by the time they are 10 days old. Happy baby: After eating milk, the baby is happy and comfortable, this proves that the baby has had enough to eat. first) the baby has received enough milk. The child's urine is pale and odorless. If your baby's urine is dark in color, it's likely he's still hungry.

5. Signs that children eat too much milk

Here are some signs that your baby is eating too much milk:
Vomiting: A baby vomiting after a feed can be a sign of too much milk being eaten. Colic: Baby colic after feeding can also be a sign of overeating. If your child pulls his leg up or feels his belly, this could be a sign that he has colic. If you are worried that your baby is eating too little or too much formula, talk to your doctor for advice and help you:
Check your baby's weight and growth Tell you if your baby's intake Is it appropriate for the weight and age of the child? In addition, in order to prevent the baby from vomiting milk, the mother should divide the feeding time into many feedings, avoid forcing the baby to suck a lot at once because at this time, the infant's digestive system has a much smaller capacity. Children should not lie down immediately after eating milk, instead should find ways to burp the baby to release the excess gas. At the same time, the child should not be given milk while lying down.
The amount of formula your baby needs above is for reference only. Parents should rely on the actual condition of the child to determine more accurately. If necessary, you can consult a doctor or nutritionist.

When adding formula to your baby, you need to keep in mind:
The temperature of formula milk will usually be determined by the preferences of each baby and can also be determined by the baby's age. Prepare formula exactly as directed Make sure the milk has the expiry date according to the information printed on the packaging Wash hands and dry Disinfect bottles, utensils used to prepare formula
Although there are now many options for sterilizing bottles safely, including boiling, using a microwave, and a dishwasher, the use of a bottle warmer and sterilizer is still the solution. Convenient, easy to use and save time. Therefore, choosing a suitable heating and sterilizing device is of great interest to many people. The Moaz Bébé MB-005 milk warmer, sterilizer and dryer is considered an effective assistant for mothers, with outstanding features such as:
Exquisite design and modern technology with a large sterilization chamber. Spacious, can hold 5-6 bottles and nipples at the same time. The machine is designed to fit all wide-neck bottles and can sterilize baby's bowls and spoons. The milk heating and sterilization functions work independently of each other, with an accompanying alarm when each process is completed. However, parents need to pay attention to clean things, splash them with water to dry before putting them in the sterilizer because bacteria can easily multiply in a humid environment, so it is recommended that you dry them before sterilizing. Parents should also carefully read the user manual of each model for safe and effective disinfection.

As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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Reference source: babycenter.com