How much formula does the baby need? & bull; hello healthy

There are many reasons why a mother decides to give formula milk to her baby. Either because of problems with milk production, on the health condition of the mother, or in the baby. However, you should pay close attention to serving formula milk to your baby. Wrong, formula milk might cause your baby to be sick, such as diarrhea. In addition, you also have to pay attention to the amount of formula milk that is given to your baby, is it sufficient, or maybe it's not enough, or is it too much? How much formula should you feed?

How much formula for babies?

When a baby cries, you usually interpret the cry as a signal of hunger. So, you immediately give him formula milk so that the baby is full. When the baby is full, he will no longer want to be bottle fed and then you will pull the bottle from your baby's mouth. That's how you usually give formula milk to babies, that is, according to the baby's wishes.

It is true that you should give your baby formula what you want, any time when you feel your baby is hungry. However, give the baby formula milk gradually, with the rules as below.

Newborn baby

Usually you need 45-90 ml of formula every 2-3 hours. Newborn babies still have a small stomach size, so they need less milk, but can be more frequent. This number can increase as your baby grows, and if your baby is also able to spend more each time he feeds. Do not force your baby to finish his milk if he is no longer able to suckle more.

Babies around 2 months old

Usually, you can use up 120-150 ml of formula milk each time you feed. The size of the baby's stomach is bigger than when he was just born. The baby will probably feed every 3-4 hours.

4 month old baby

You can spend 120-180 ml per feeding, depending on the frequency of breastfeeding (every hour he needs milk) and body size. Usually babies who have bigger bodies are able to spend more milk. If your baby weighs 5.4 kg, he may not need to drink milk in the middle of the night because usually he is breastfeeding more during the day.

Infants aged 6 months

Usually he can suckle 180-230 ml every 4-5 hours. If you've introduced your baby to solid foods, this may be an appropriate amount. You may need to reduce the amount of formula fed to your baby if you are already giving him solid foods.

ALSO READ: Rules for Giving Formula Milk to Newborns

The baby's weight also matters

Do not give your baby more than 960 ml of formula a day. Usually babies need 150 ml to 200 ml of formula milk per kilogram of body weight in a day. For example, your baby weighs 3.5 kg, which means that she may need 525 ml to 700 ml of formula per day.

However, these needs can differ between babies because babies have varying appetites every day. Sometimes on this day the baby can suckle more and the next day he can only use less milk. If your baby is restless and irritable during breastfeeding, he may be full. If the baby is still sucking the bottle in his mouth, he may still be hungry.

Initially, you should give your baby formula milk according to the baby's wishes, whenever he is hungry. Over time, your baby may be able to develop a regular schedule for drinking her own milk. Over time the schedule for drinking milk will form by itself. Breastfeeding habits vary between babies, including in terms of the number and frequency of breastfeeding. Get to know your baby's own feeding habits and nutritional needs.

How do you know if your baby is breastfeeding enough or not?

Every baby has their own development and has different nutritional needs. To find out whether your baby is breastfeeding enough or not, you can pay attention to the things below:

1. Weigh baby every month

Your baby's weight can tell you if your baby is getting enough of the nutrients he needs. If your baby is gaining weight every month, it means that your baby is getting enough nutrition. If your baby is having problems gaining weight, you should not wait for your baby to show hunger signals to give him formula milk. In fact, if necessary you have to wake the baby from sleep to be fed. Especially during the first month of a baby's life, if your baby is sleeping longer than 4-5 hours and is skipping the feed, it is okay if you wake the baby up to drink milk.

2. Frequency of bowel movements

See how many times your baby has a bowel movement and urination in a day. Babies who get enough nutrition will defecate at least 4 times a day and urinate 6 times a day.

3. Another sign

Another sign is that the baby usually looks dissatisfied after feeding.

ALSO READ: Here's How To Safely Serve Infant Formula Milk

Is my baby drinking too much formula?

Sometimes, because you are following your baby's desire for formula milk, you may become unaware that you are giving him too much formula. Giving formula milk to babies is also not good because it can push the baby to be overweight.

The following are signs your baby is getting too much formula:

• Lots of spit. Babies who get too much formula milk can salivate more.
• Excessive weight gain. If your baby is gaining weight too quickly and not being accompanied by height gain, he may be getting excess formula.

Prevent obesity in infants who are fed formula milk

If your baby shows signs of too much formula milk as described above, you can do the things below to minimize the risk of obesity in your baby.

• Give baby formula milk only when he is hungry, not for other reasons (such as the baby is bored or uncomfortable with the surrounding environment).
• Offer the pacifier when the baby wants to suck and is not hungry.
• Make sure you serve formula milk in the right amount. Too little water added to formula milk can increase the number of calories contained in formula milk. Meanwhile, too much water you add to dissolve formula milk can actually cause a sodium imbalance in the milk.

ALSO READ: How to Choose the Right Formula Milk for Children

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