Feeding LO more through the day

[Redshoes]

How on earth are you supposed to feed your LO more than they want?
Isaac is asleep by 8pm and usually doesn't wake until 4am, that's 8hrs, and as much as I'd love him not to wake here, I'm concerned about the amount he eats.

He has roughly 5x 5oz bottles a day and boob first first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and the odd feed through the day. He's alert, happy, weighing in fine, all good things, but I just worry he's really hungry and not waking to eat, but then through the day he doesn't appear a hungry baby, he has roughly the equivalent of 1 jar of baby food a day, so it's not like he's having lots of puree either.

Friends say to feed him more through the day to cut out that 4am wake, I won't force feed him, just why do people say you'll have to feed him more through the day, you can't make a LO eat I don't think I have an actual question do I I guess I just wondered what amounts your LO is eating, in boob, formula, puree's etc

 

[SarahH]

I wouldnt wake him... I have always let the baby lead me when they want to eat etc... even when Arianna was a baby, I never woke her every 3hrs or whatever.

 

[JSS]

Issac is nearly the same age as Liam and he only takes 4 - 6oz bottles and fruit puree or porridge for breakfast, then a jar/or equivalent amount of homemade food and a fruit puree for dessert. I just recently added the dessert as he started waking during the night again... its seems to have worked so far. Last night he went to bed at 7pm woke briefly at 7am then fell back asleep til 9am this morning!

I'm sure your little one is getting enough food. I think you'd know about it otherwise. If your concerned then why not try cutting out the 4am feed. Liam seems to settle again if i get up and go into the room and tuck him in again. You could try it and see how he goes.. he might eat more during the day.

I haven't tried it but my MIL is always telling me to give Liam water if he ever wakes in the middle of the night. Apparently she tried it with OH and he slept through the night after that!

 

[rusks]

your right you can definitely not force feed them, luke only had small amounts to start with and then you just keep trying with more and see how they go, luke knows when he has had enough although i have friends in the village that say there children will eat all day if you let them!! theres no point force feeding else they will just be sick. And as long as they are gaining weight etc he is prob getting what he needs.