Feeding FAQ: 4-6 months – Formula Feeding

My 4 month son has drastically reduced the amount of milk he drinks over the last month

My 4-month-old son has drastically reduced the amount of milk he is taking over the last month. Apart from during growth spurts, when he has taken up to 30 oz, he takes only 20oz a day with a lot of difficulties. He hasn’t demanded his feeds for a long time. I am very worried he is not taking enough milk. He happily takes his baby rice at 11am.
His feed times are 7.15am 5-7 ozs, 11am up to 4ozs, but recently none, 3pm up to 4 ozs, but even less frequently, 6pm 6oz with difficulty, 10pm up to 4ozs. He takes 1 tablespoon of baby rice at 11am and is offered diluted juice in the day; he takes about 1 oz of this. He weighs 6.52 kg[14.6lbs]
He sleeps from 9-10.30am, 1-1.45pm, 3-3.30pm and settles at 7pm. He sleeps to 7am from going down at 10.30pm.

It is always worrying when a baby seems to be taking in less milk than you feel they should have. During the recent hot weather a lot of babies will have cut back on their intake as, like us, they did not feel really hungry in the heat of the day. At this age too, a baby will not be so ravenous for a feed as soon as they wake from a nap. Your son does have a small intake for his weight, so here are several ideas to try to see if you can get a little more into him each day. If you continue to be concerned, then seek advice from your Dr or Health Visitor.

Wait until he is really well awake in the morning; feeding him nearer to 7.30am to try to keep this to a 6-7 oz bottle. Now you have introduced solids, it may help him if you split the next feed a little. Offer 2 ozs at 11am then let him have a break until 11.30am before offering another 3-4 ozs. Give him his solids after this.

By 3pm he should be ready to have another 3-4 ozs and then consider doing a split feed at 5/6pm as you did when he was younger. Try to give him 2-3 ozs at 5pm and then wait until 6.30/6.45pm, well after his bath, before offering him another 4-5 ozs.

From your notes it shows your son has his longest sleep in the earlier part of the day. By cutting back on this nap and encouraging him to have a longer midday nap, you will be able to offer him a top up at 12.30pm when going down for his sleep. There are some babies who seem to have smaller appetites and are unable to take in too much at a time. Letting them have 20 minutes to 1/2 hr between two parts of their feed usually increases their intake. Try not to continually offer him the bottle once he has taken his first amount. Wind him and put him down for a kick under his gym and then offer him the rest of the feed after a real break. Even if he takes 3-4 more ozs each day it will help him maintain his weight.
Be aware that too much juice or water can take the edge of a baby’s appetite especially if offered too close to a feed.