How Much Formula Does My Newborn Need

Guide For Formula Feeding

• When breast milk is not available, standard infant formula is an appropriate alternative for most healthy full term infants, but there are some differences between brands. Do not hesitate to ask your health care provider for a recommendation if you are unsure which formula to use.
• Bottle-feeding should be interactive, with the caregiver holding both the bottle and the infant. Propping a bottle has been linked to an increased risk of ear infections and tooth decay.
• Formula feeding should be in response to the infants needs and not based on a predetermined schedule. Look for cues of hunger and fullness to determine both when to feed and how much. The number of wet diapers per day and your childs growth will reflect if he or she is getting enough formula. The chart below demonstrates common intakes for infants at various stages. However, ask your health care provider if you have any questions about how much formula your infant is taking.
• The amount of formula an infant takes will decrease as the baby increases intake of solid foods, but formula remains a significant source of calories, protein, calcium and vitamin D for the first year of life.
• Ask your health care provider before switching an infant less than 1 year of age from formula to cows milk or a cows milk alternative.

How To Choose Formula

Talk with your baby’s health care provider about what formula is best for your baby. Although there are many types of formula, most babies do well with one that is cow-milk based.

Unless your baby’s health care provider advises against it, choose a formula that is iron-fortified. This is important to prevent iron deficiency, which can slow development.

Once made up, all formula must be refrigerated. Formula should be thrown out after 24 hours if it has not been used.

The different types of formula are:

• powder. This is the least expensive. It does not need to be refrigerated until it is mixed with water. If you are going to be away from home, you may choose a brand that comes in individual packets. This option is more convenient, although more costly.
• concentrated liquid. This needs to have water added to it. It is more expensive than powder. It also must be refrigerated once the container is opened.
• ready-to-use formula. This is the most convenient and the most costly. It can be handy for the times when mixing might be difficult.

Don’t add honey to the formula or put it on the nipple. Honey can make your baby sick.

You should never give honey to a child younger than one year old.

Resources For Parents Families And Carers

Booklet: Child health information , Queensland Government

Growing StrongFormula feeding , Queensland Government

Raising Children NetworkNewborns nutrition, Australian Government

Raising Children NetworkBreastfeeding videos, Australian Government

Booklet: Breastfeeding and postnatal care, New South Wales Governmentavailable in English, Arabic, Chinese , Chinese ,Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi and Tamil languages

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A Note About Cows Milk

Its important to note that cows milk itself should NOT be introduced to your babys diet until they reach 12 months of age. However, foods with milk-containing ingredients like cheese, yogurt, and butter may be introduced in month 10, assuming your little one has not been diagnosed with cows milk allergy .

How Much Formula Does Your Baby Need

Many first-time parents worry that their little one is not getting enough formula, or is drinking too much. When youre using a bottle rather than breastfeeding, there are a few calculations involved to determine the amount of formula your baby should be getting every few hours. However, you certainly dont have to be a math wiz to ensure that your little one is fed, happy, and healthy. Youll soon get the hang of preparing bottles, and youll get used to your babys cues indicating when they are hungry or, just as importantly, full.

Concerns about formula feeding amounts are perfectly understandable, as all parents want their babies to be fed the right amount to meet their needs. However, its important to keep in mind that there isnt an exact quantity of formula that every baby should be getting. Every baby is different, so dont spend too much time worrying about precise measurements, as this can drive you a bit crazy! Some babies grow absolutely fine with slightly less formula, while others will require slightly more.

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How Often Should I Feed My Baby

Newborns and young babies should be fed whenever they seem hungry. This is called on-demand feeding.

After the first few days of life, most healthy formula-fed newborns feed about every 23 hours. As they get bigger and their tummies can hold more milk, they usually eat about every 34 hours. As babies get older, theyll settle into a more predictable feeding routine and go longer stretches at night without needing a bottle.

Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about feeding your baby, especially if your baby is very small, is not gaining weight, or was born early .

How To Know When Your Baby Is Hungry

One thing to know about babies is that their appetite changes from time to time and so it is always wise to let the pace themselves. By doing this, your baby will now feed when he needs to and provided you can spot the various cues that suggest that he is hungry.

• When your baby starts rooting, meaning he starts turning his head and opening his mouth in the direction of your chest.
• Your baby might also be hungry when you spot him sucking his hands or when he makes sucking motions such as moving his fingers and hands towards his mouth.

As soon as you spot these signs, offer your baby the formula milk bottle and do not make the mistake of waiting till he cries as this might upset him and make feeding harder.

You should also watch your baby as he is feeding so as to know when he is full and has enough.

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Important Things To Note:

• If your baby is on a European formula such as HiPP, Holle, or Lebenswert, please note that all of the measurements on the packaging and instructions will be in milliliters . Since fluid ounces are more commonly used in North America, we have included the conversions in this chart. Please take care when measuring to ensure that you are using the correct units.

• Once your baby is six months old, they will begin to eat solid foods and will have fewer feeds, with each bottle containing more formula. Beginning on your babys first birthday, your little one can safely transition to drinking cows milk , along with eating three meals a day, supplemented by healthy snacks.

• For the youngest formula-fed babies, the best thing to do is consult with your doctor about how much formula you should give your little one. At this age, babies essentially feed on demand, every two to three hours, starting out with just half a fluid ounce of formula at a time. After the first few days, they are likely to start drinking around one or two fluid ounces at each feed.

• If your baby is not exclusively formula fed , please consult with your pediatrician for guidance about combination feeding.

How Can I Tell When My Babys Eaten Enough

The best way to tell if your babys getting enough to eat is by having your doctor monitor their height and weight at visits. Both should be measured at every visit. Signs you can look for are right in their diaper. Around six wet diapers and one or more stools per day can show theyre eating well.

Feeding your newborn is a great time to bond and knowing more about your newborns formula-feeding schedule can help alleviate some of the feeding stress. Were here if your little one is running into feeding difficulties too. Dont worry, there are tips for feeding issues you may come across.

It will all work out. You will get the hang of this & there is no such thing as a bad parent, as long as you try everything with love first!! Enfamil® mom

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Why Might I Give My Baby Formula

There are many reasons why formula might be the best option for you and your baby. Not all women can breastfeed: some may be unable to produce enough milk for their babys needs while others may have a health condition or take medication that prevents them from breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding problems can be challenging and may even mean its unrealistic some women to continue.

Other women choose not to breastfeed, or they may not always be with their baby, such as when they are returning to work.

Many parents do not have the option to breastfeed, such as dads in same-sex relationships, adoptive and foster parents, and kinship carers.

Some women may not breastfeed if they have experienced sexual abuse that involved their breasts since this can trigger trauma. Understandably, mothers may not share this as the reason why they feed their baby formula.

How Do I Know If My Baby Is Getting Enough Formula

Your baby’s weight gain and the number of wet and dirty nappies will tell you whether your baby is getting enough formula.

Your baby should have around 6 wet nappies a day from a few days after the birth. Nappies should be soaked through with clear or pale yellow urine, or feel heavy.

For the first few days after birth, your baby will pass a dark, sticky substance known as meconium. After the first week your baby should start to pass pale yellow or yellowish brown poo.

Your baby will usually be weighed at birth and again at around 5 and 10 days. After that healthy babies only need to be weighed once a month up to 6 months of age.

This information should be entered on a chart in your Personal Child Health Record or “red book”.

If you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s weight gain, speak to a midwife or health visitor.

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How Do I Formula Feed My Baby

The most common way to feed a baby with formula milk is with a bottle. There are lots of different bottle brands and styles to choose from. Teats can either be made from rubber or silicone and vary in shape. Theres no evidence that one is better than the other, so it just depends on what you like and if your baby has a preference. You may find that you try several different brands before you find one that works well for you and your baby.

Signs Your Baby’s Getting Too Much Formula

Babies are usually good at eating the amount they need, but bottle-fed babies can drink too much at times. Here are the signs that they’re getting too much formula:

• Vomiting after a feeding may be a sign that your baby had too much.
• Tummy pain after a feeding can also be a sign of overfeeding. If your baby draws up their legs or their tummy seems tense, they may be in pain.

If your baby seems to want to eat all the time, even after finishing a bottle, talk to your pediatrician. Using a pacifier may help soothe their need to suck.

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How To Tell When Your Baby Is Hungry

It can be hard to know for sure when a baby is hungry or if there is something else causing them to fuss. Sometimes you wont know for sure that theyre hungry until theyre offered a bottle.

Most babies usually cry when they are hungry. Placing the teat of the bottle in their mouth will calm them and they will start sucking.

Try to position your baby in your arms as you would if you were breastfeeding. Hold them close, look into their eyes and be sensitive to their cues or signals.

They suck and swallow in a coordinated way. They may look as if theyre concentrating on feeding, their hands are clenched and their whole body looks like its focused on sucking. As they fill up, their hands relax and their body becomes more relaxed.

Breastfed babies regulate their own milk intake. They suck when theyre hungry and stop sucking when theyre full. In comparison, formula-fed babies arent as much in control of how much milk they drink this is managed by the person offering the bottle.

When your baby has had enough, they will usually pull away from the teat to let you know they are full.

Sometimes you may notice that their sucking slows down and they have longer pauses between sucks.

Other ways your baby might show you they have had enough could be milk starting to pool in their mouth or they may vomit or spill some milk.

Some babies might fuss after having a feed or might go to sleep.

What Do I Need If I’m Formula Feeding Away From Home

If you need to feed your baby away from home, take with you:

• a measured amount of formula powder in a small, clean and dry container
• a vacuum flask of hot water that’s just been boiled
• an empty sterilised feeding bottle with cap and retaining ring in place

The vacuum flask does not need to be sterilised, but should be clean, and only used for your baby. The boiling water should kill any bacteria present in the flask. If the flask is full and sealed, the water will stay above 70C for several hours.

Make up a fresh feed only when your baby needs it. The water must still be hot when you use it, to destroy any bacteria in the formula powder.

Remember to cool the bottle under cold running water before you feed it to your baby.

Alternatively, you could use a carton of ready-to-feed liquid formula when you’re away from home.

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Path To Improved Health

Your family doctor will probably recommend a formula made from cows milk. Some formulas are iron fortified. This means they have extra iron in them. Some formulas have little or no iron at all. Most doctors recommend using an iron-fortified formula.

Some formulas are made from soy milk instead of cows milk. If your baby seems to be allergic to formula made from cows milk, your doctor may suggest using a soy milk formula.

If youre not breastfeeding, use infant formula during the first year of your babys life. Regular cows milk and regular soy milk are not the same as infant formula made from cows milk or from soy milk. Regular cows milk and regular soy milk do not contain all the nutrients that your baby needs to grow and develop. Babies younger than one who drink regular cows milk or regular soy milk are at risk for problems associated with low iron.

How Do I Know If My Baby Is Getting Enough Milk

If youre worried about your babys appetite and whether they are getting enough milk, their nappies are quite a good indicator to give you a steer. Youre going to become very familiar, and potentially a little obsessed, with the contents of your babys nappy!

In addition to your babys weight gain, the number of wet and dirty nappies will show you whether your little one is eating enough. In the beginning, you’ll probably be changing at least six wet and four dirty nappies every day . When changing your babys nappies, check to ensure your little ones urine is clear or pale and it will probably feel a little weighty . As a newborn, your little ones poos will probably be very dark and sticky, but after the first week they should start passing yellowish brown poos. Welcome to the joys of parenthood!

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What Foods Will Your Baby Get Introduced To In The First Year

Throughout their first year, youll be introducing new foods into your babys diet. Dont introduce new foods all at once. Its important to introduce new foods one at a time to identify any potential allergy. The information below can help you start new foods for your baby.

For more info on this topic, check out our Food Allergies article here.

A varied diet helps your baby develop and stay healthy, but these needs change as he grows. By providing the following foods and nutrients in the timeframes listed, you’ll be giving your baby the nutrition needed to develop a strong mind and body during the first year. For more information on providing the right first-year nutrition, call the Feeding Expert at 800-986-8800.

Bottles For Expressed Breastmilk Or Infant Formula

When buying bottles, remember that:

• You will need at least 3 large bottles with leak-proof caps, discs and teats.
• Plastic bottles are better, because glass breaks more easily.
• Bottles should be smooth on the inside surface , so they are easy to clean properly.
• Bottles should have clearly marked measurement guides that will not wear off over time.

• Breastmilk is the feeding option of choice for infants.
• If breastmilk is not available, then infant formula is a suitable alternative.
• Breastmilk or formula should be the main milk used until the baby is 12 months old.
• Choose a formula to match the age and needs of your baby, and always read the label carefully as labels for other products can look very similar to those for infants.
• If you believe your baby has a problem with feeding, discuss this with your maternal and child health nurse or doctor before switching brands.

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