It is normal for a 3-month old bay to begin sleeping through the night. During this phase, your baby will go through a growth spurt, and you should ensure he or she is getting enough to eat. It is therefore important to know how much formula for your baby is enough. Let's find out more about it.

How Much Formula for a 3 Month Old Baby

Generally, you should ensure your 3-month old baby is getting at least 2.5 ounces of formula for every pound of body weight. Your baby should be eating that much every day. To be more clear, you should simply check your baby's weight and multiply it with 2.5 to know how much to feed them daily. Your little baby may finish 5-7 bottles of 4-6 oz. of formula at the beginning of 3 months, but he or she may need more at the end of 3 months.

How Do You Know Your Baby Is Hungry?

Generally, 3-month old babies eat when they are hungry and stop when they feel full. Crying is usually an indication that babies need something to eat, especially if the reason is not an irritant or a wet diaper. Other signals of hunger are lip smacking, putting hands to mouth, sucking, and turning head towards you when you stroke their cheek.

Signs of Underfeeding

How much formula for a 3 month old baby? Now you know the answer, and it is also important to know the signs of underfeeding. You are underfeeding if your baby is not gaining enough weight. Your baby should be gaining at least 1 oz. of weight every day at 3 months. If your baby's skin looks wrinkly or loose, or he or she acts tired or listless, you may be underfeeding him or her. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible in this condition.

Signs of Overfeeding

Overfeeding could be the result of a larger hole on the bottle's nipple. Some common signs of overfeeding are gaining more weight than what is considered normal, throwing up quite often or after drinking the formula, and belly pain after feedings. Seek medical attention to ensure there is nothing serious, especially if your baby pulls his legs towards his stomach after a feeding.

Other Mothers' Experience

"My baby is now 3 months old and eats about 5 oz. 5 times a day. From 7:30 pm. to 6:00 am. is her sleep time. She does wake up at least once during the night but goes to sleep without food. She usually eats 7 oz. in her first bottle and goes without needing anything else for 4-5 hours. Then, she wants to eat every 4 hours or so. I give her the last bottle around 7 pm. That is the routine and my baby is perfectly healthy."

"My son is now 3 months old and eats every 2-3 hours. He usually eats 4-6 oz. in every feeding. His sleep time starts at midnight – he usually keeps sleeping until 9 in the morning."

Formula Feeding Tips

How much formula for a 3 month old baby and how should I feed my baby? You may have so many questions and concerns when first start giving formula milk to your baby. Talking to your doctor will help find answers to those questions, but paying attention to the following tips may also make things easier.

1. Evaluate Your Formula

Not all formula products are created equal, so it is important to ensure that you are putting your money on the right one.

• Be sure to check the source, amount of sugar, and other content before making a purchase.
• If it contains corn syrup, you may want to skip it. You'd better choose the ones that contain brown rice syrup, especially if the product has been tested for arsenic.
• You should also make a choice while considering if your baby is allergic to lactose or other ingredients.

2. Check Feeding Bottles

It is better to choose glass bottles, but you can also choose plastic ones, as long as you know they come with a BPA-free label.

Similarly, you need to ensure that the bottles you choose have an age-appropriate nipple. Older babies usually have nipples with a larger hole, but that may not work well for your 3-month old.

3. Get a Good Angle

Selecting a good feeding angle will help keep your baby comfortable. It is easy to overwhelm your baby when you first introduce the little one to bottle-feeding, so you should ensure that your baby is propped up on and is not flat on the back while eating.

Also, keep the bottle at an angle while making sure your baby does not get flooded or only get air bubbles. A simple way to avoid it is to ensure that the nipple is always full of milk.

4. Do Not Ignore Burp Breaks

Do not let your baby try to suck down a whole bottle at once. Considering the size of your baby's tummy, it is important that you go easy in the beginning.

Similarly, it is important take burp breaks. Take a break mid-feed, pop your little one over your shoulder, and then pat mid back to help bubbles move up.

5. Get Cozy

Do not leave your baby with a bottle alone. It can cause serious problems – accidents can happen without notice. Moreover, it is not a good idea to deprive your baby of something he or she just loves at such tender age – that is, you. While your baby is drinking, be sure to use this time to make a bond and get cozy. This will help you have a happier baby.

6. Be Sure to Change Sides

The idea is to mimic breastfeeding. You simply have to change the way you hold your baby while feeding. If you hold him in your right arm crook with the bottle in your left hand, simply reverse it every other feed. You can even do that mid-feed. This simple maneuver helps with the brain development of your baby.

7. Use High Quality Water

Along with knowing how much formula for a 3 month old, you should also know how to prepare the formula properly. One important thing to consider is the quality of water. Never settle for anything less than perfect. You may have lead in the pipes, especially if you are in an older apartment. You should check with your local authorities to know about any tap water concerns. Consider getting a filter and be sure to use water after letting it run for a few seconds first.

8. Warm Carefully

While it is quite convenient to simply microwave the formula, you should avoid it. You just cannot detect any 'hot spots' created in the milk through this process. It is better to use bottle warmers, but you should still ensure that you are not overheating the milk. Be sure to test it on your skin before giving it to your baby.

9. Monitor the Poop

Paying attention to the poop is one effective way to tell if your baby has adjusted to a new formula. Know that he or she wants you to try something else if your baby becomes constipated after starting a new formula. You may want to try a soy formula in case you notice green poop with your older formula – it may indicate dairy intolerance in babies. A low-lactose formula is also a good choice in this regard.