Is DS drinking enough? - How to get him to drink more ....

Our DS has been bottlefed from 6 weeks and I've only ever used the one formula (not sure if this could be the issue or not). I was trying to get him into a 3 hourly routine but he will only ever drink 100ml or less at a time. I decided to try and stretch him out as I thought he may not be hungry enough. This didn't make a difference. I have decided to let him do what he wants as he can't confirm to any routine but this really hasn't helped either. (I still loosly follow the EASY routine by Baby Whisperer). I was using the Avent bottles but have switched to Tommee Tippee and have found some minimal improvement. By the end of the day he might be lucky to have drunk about 420ml. I know this is the reason he is still waking up 2-3 times a night and desperately want this to stop. Am exhausted and can't sleep during the day as his naps don't coincide with our DD.

After my whinge, how can I get him to drink at least 160ml a time (or is this something I will never be able to change?) He's almost 4 months old now and I would have thought he could last at least 4 hours between feeds and be drinking more than this.

Also, I have been letting him have a long sleep in the arvo, up to 3 - 3 1/2 hours. Should I not do this as his other sleep(s) are only 1 hour?

Thanks.

Hun, it can be so confusing, can't it! I wonder if your DS is drinking the same amount as he used to? Recent studies of breastfeeding have shown that babies drink the same amount daily between 1 and 6 months (when solids are introduced), which is contrary to the previous belief that babies drink more as they get older/bigger.

TBH, I think it is very unusual for babies to drink less than they need. Is your DS having at least 5 wet nappies a day? Is he generally alert, settled and healthy? If so, then there is a very good chance that he is getting enough. Another recent study has shown that babies tend to drink a whole bottle whether they need it or not, and that this is a definite link to obesity later on. If your DS is not drinking more than he needs, I would say this is a good thing, as long as he is not dehydrated (which if you answered yes to those questions, he is not).

it so frustrating isnt it!! my DD is 4 and a bit months and most bottles she has she drinks about 100mls at a time i make 120mls but she never finishes them, Ive tried to get her to drink more but she isnt interested. she is also waking 2-3 times a night for bottles :wall:
I cant wake a sleeping baby so If she has a long sleep during the day I let her sleep.
Is your DS gaining weight?
Having lots of wet nappies?
is he happy after a feed?
My DD1 never drank anymore than 120 mls...ever so I dont stress too much about DD2 not drinking more
:hug: its tricky stuff

It is very confusing. It's all trial in error, DD and DS are like cheese and chalk but I guess if everyone was the same it would be a boring world! He is gaining weight and having wet nappies so I guess everything is fine. Just me wishing he would drink more so I could sleep more during the night :) In saying that he did have 120ml this morning when normally he'd only have about 60ml. Wooo hooo!

when my DD was 4 months old she was drinking about 80ml every 4 hrs. she has never been big on the drinking but it was frustrating being up twice a night. it does get better xx