There are many reasons why a mother decides to give formula milk to her baby. Either because of problems with breast milk production, on maternal health conditions, or on babies. However, you must pay more attention to presenting formula milk to your baby. Wrong and wrong, formula milk may cause your baby to get sick, like diarrhea. In addition, you also have to pay attention to the amount of formula milk given to your baby, whether it is sufficient, or perhaps less, or even too much? How much formula should you give?
How much formula milk for baby?
When a baby cries, you usually interpret the cry as a sign of hunger. So, you immediately give formula milk so the baby is full. When the baby is full, he no longer wants to be given a milk bottle and then you will pull the milk bottle from your baby's mouth. That's how you usually give formula milk to babies, which is in accordance with the wishes of the baby.
It is true that you should give formula milk to your baby's desires, whenever you feel your baby is hungry. However, give baby formula milk gradually, with the rules below.
Newborn baby
Usually it requires 45-90 ml of formula milk every 2-3 hours. A newborn still has a small stomach size, so it needs less milk, but it can be more frequent. This amount can increase with the baby's growth, and if your baby is also able to spend more each time he feeds. Do not force the baby to spend milk if he is unable to suckle more.
Babies around 2 months old
Usually you can spend as much as 120-150 ml of formula milk every time you suckle. The baby's stomach size is bigger than when he was born. Babies may suckle every 3-4 hours.
4 month old baby
You can spend 120-180 ml each, depending on the frequency of feeding (every hour he needs milk) and body size. Usually babies who have larger bodies can spend more milk. If the baby has reached a weight of 5.4 kg, maybe he does not need to drink milk at midnight because usually he has suckled more during the day.
Infants aged 6 months
Usually you can suckle 180-230 ml every 4-5 hours. If you have introduced babies with solid foods, maybe this amount can adjust. You may have to reduce the amount of formula milk to your baby if you have given him solid food.
Baby's weight also has an effect
Don't 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's weight is 3.5 kg, meaning that he might need as much as 525 ml to 700 ml of formula per day.
However, this need can differ between babies because babies have a varied appetite every day. Sometimes on this day the baby can suckle more and the next day he can only spend less milk. If the baby is still nervous and easily disturbed during breastfeeding, maybe he is already full. If the baby still sucks the milk bottle in his mouth, maybe he is still hungry.
Initially, you should give formula milk to the baby following the baby's wishes, every time he is hungry. Over time, babies may be able to develop their own milk drinking schedule regularly. Over time the schedule of drinking milk will be formed by itself. Breastfeeding habits of babies can vary between babies, including in terms of the amount and frequency of feeding. Get to know your baby's breastfeeding habits and nutritional needs.