Nanny feeding baby a lot of milk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former nanny here.

8-12 ounces isn’t enough for a 6 month old. I’ve worked with many 3-4 month olds who took in 12-16 ounces per 8-10 hour day. Most 6 months I worked with took in 4-6 ounces per feed. Usually 16-20 ounces depending on how long of a day.

I do think 5 feedings is excessive at this age for only 8 hours, but 4 is at if she is eating every 2-2.5 hours. Most 6 months of only took 3 feedings during the day at 5-6 ounces per feed.
Are you sure the nanny isn’t using milk to pacify her?

Your baby is more efficient than a pump. She may be getting more from you than you realize. I would add in formula and not stress over it. Solids are good, but breast milk/formula should be the main food source in the first year.

Good insight. I wouldn't micromanage my nanny though and be suspicious that she was using feedings improperly. Figuring out when/how much to feed a baby is a pretty integral part of the job. If you don't trust your nanny to do that then you have bigger problems!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to me (almost identical oz counts tbh) when my baby started daycare at six months. I just don’t do well with pumping unfortunately. For me it was also right in the midst of the formula shortage so I was really hesitant to introduce formula without being sure I would be able to find more. What I did:
1. Increased solids — he went from one solid meal a day to four in about three weeks, which he was fortunately a really big fan of
2. Power pumping 3-4 times a day every day (since I WFH I could just pump almost constantly while working)
3. Pumping after my kids were in bed (like 11PM)
4. Doing a mini 10 minute pump some time in the morning

To be clear: this is very much crazy land I do but recommend replicating it. Combo feed with formula of that’s an option. But if it’s not for whatever reason, feel free to try some of these out and see how it goes.

Solids should never replace breast milk or formula. 4 times a day solids is a lot for a 6 month old. It’s basically empty nutrition and not a lot of calories. Your baby should get the majority of their nutrition from breast milk or formula until 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former nanny here.

8-12 ounces isn’t enough for a 6 month old. I’ve worked with many 3-4 month olds who took in 12-16 ounces per 8-10 hour day. Most 6 months I worked with took in 4-6 ounces per feed. Usually 16-20 ounces depending on how long of a day.

I do think 5 feedings is excessive at this age for only 8 hours, but 4 is at if she is eating every 2-2.5 hours. Most 6 months of only took 3 feedings during the day at 5-6 ounces per feed.
Are you sure the nanny isn’t using milk to pacify her?

Your baby is more efficient than a pump. She may be getting more from you than you realize. I would add in formula and not stress over it. Solids are good, but breast milk/formula should be the main food source in the first year.

Good insight. I wouldn't micromanage my nanny though and be suspicious that she was using feedings improperly. Figuring out when/how much to feed a baby is a pretty integral part of the job. If you don't trust your nanny to do that then you have bigger problems!

Former nanny here. I say that it’s just a possibility. As someone who worked with infants for over 10 years, some of my employers family members, babysitters, and even the dads overfed the baby. One grandma blew through a freezer stash in a week and she used a bottle to pacify her. Another family, the dad would just feed the baby “ whenever he was fussy”. Some inexperienced nannies can over feed a baby or immediately jump to a bottle when crying.

[Anonymous]

OP, this sounds like how much my DD drank when she started daycare at 5 months. I pumped overnight to make up the difference for a while until we decided to supplement with formula, which was amazing.

Ignore anyone who tells you that babies only need 1-1.5 oz per hour (if you have questions about this try to find a single reputable source that endorses this approach, even KellyMom does not) or that the nanny is "overfeeding" your baby. Babies are excellent self regulators. If they baby were being overfed they would be spitting up.

Some babies just want to get their milk during the day. That is great! It means you all get to sleep better. Supplement with formula and enjoy the sleep.

[Anonymous]

Btw if baby is eating 20 oz per day in bottles and getting 8-10 oz (4-5 oz per feed) from the breast this is a totally average.

[Anonymous]

And don’t forget that babies are always growing and their feeding needs increase. Just because last week they were drinking a lower amount doesn’t mean this week they won’t be drinking more. They go to growth spurts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And don’t forget that babies are always growing and their feeding needs increase. Just because last week they were drinking a lower amount doesn’t mean this week they won’t be drinking more. They go to growth spurts.

Yes and if sleep is consolidated that changes how much they drink during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former nanny here.

8-12 ounces isn’t enough for a 6 month old. I’ve worked with many 3-4 month olds who took in 12-16 ounces per 8-10 hour day. Most 6 months I worked with took in 4-6 ounces per feed. Usually 16-20 ounces depending on how long of a day.

I do think 5 feedings is excessive at this age for only 8 hours, but 4 is at if she is eating every 2-2.5 hours. Most 6 months of only took 3 feedings during the day at 5-6 ounces per feed.
Are you sure the nanny isn’t using milk to pacify her?

Your baby is more efficient than a pump. She may be getting more from you than you realize. I would add in formula and not stress over it. Solids are good, but breast milk/formula should be the main food source in the first year.

Good insight. I wouldn't micromanage my nanny though and be suspicious that she was using feedings improperly. Figuring out when/how much to feed a baby is a pretty integral part of the job. If you don't trust your nanny to do that then you have bigger problems!

OP here, I do trust my nanny and we've known her for a long time...but I do think it's possible that she is using the milk to pacify the baby. It's hard for me to tell because I'm not there and if the baby is hungry and happy then feeding her is totally fine. I just want to make sure it's not too much, she has had more giant blowouts since the feeding has gone up as well. I guess I'm not sure how to evaluate it and I don't want to micromanage the nanny at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former nanny here.

8-12 ounces isn’t enough for a 6 month old. I’ve worked with many 3-4 month olds who took in 12-16 ounces per 8-10 hour day. Most 6 months I worked with took in 4-6 ounces per feed. Usually 16-20 ounces depending on how long of a day.

I do think 5 feedings is excessive at this age for only 8 hours, but 4 is at if she is eating every 2-2.5 hours. Most 6 months of only took 3 feedings during the day at 5-6 ounces per feed.
Are you sure the nanny isn’t using milk to pacify her?

Your baby is more efficient than a pump. She may be getting more from you than you realize. I would add in formula and not stress over it. Solids are good, but breast milk/formula should be the main food source in the first year.

Good insight. I wouldn't micromanage my nanny though and be suspicious that she was using feedings improperly. Figuring out when/how much to feed a baby is a pretty integral part of the job. If you don't trust your nanny to do that then you have bigger problems!

OP here, I do trust my nanny and we've known her for a long time...but I do think it's possible that she is using the milk to pacify the baby. It's hard for me to tell because I'm not there and if the baby is hungry and happy then feeding her is totally fine. I just want to make sure it's not too much, she has had more giant blowouts since the feeding has gone up as well. I guess I'm not sure how to evaluate it and I don't want to micromanage the nanny at all.

No, you really don’t trust her or this wouldn’t be a question. Otherwise you wouldn’t be questioning this at all.

[Anonymous]

Honestly OP, it sounds like you are stressed about the fact that you can't pump enough milk for the baby. I totally get that, but that doesn't mean you should restrict the baby's intake from the bottle. 20oz plus 2 feedings at home is really perfectly normal intake. Otherwise you need to force the baby to be hungry during the day to switch their schedule to have a third feeding at home, likely overnight. That's not an approach that I think is humane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former nanny here.

8-12 ounces isn’t enough for a 6 month old. I’ve worked with many 3-4 month olds who took in 12-16 ounces per 8-10 hour day. Most 6 months I worked with took in 4-6 ounces per feed. Usually 16-20 ounces depending on how long of a day.

I do think 5 feedings is excessive at this age for only 8 hours, but 4 is at if she is eating every 2-2.5 hours. Most 6 months of only took 3 feedings during the day at 5-6 ounces per feed.
Are you sure the nanny isn’t using milk to pacify her?

Your baby is more efficient than a pump. She may be getting more from you than you realize. I would add in formula and not stress over it. Solids are good, but breast milk/formula should be the main food source in the first year.

Good insight. I wouldn't micromanage my nanny though and be suspicious that she was using feedings improperly. Figuring out when/how much to feed a baby is a pretty integral part of the job. If you don't trust your nanny to do that then you have bigger problems!

OP here, I do trust my nanny and we've known her for a long time...but I do think it's possible that she is using the milk to pacify the baby. It's hard for me to tell because I'm not there and if the baby is hungry and happy then feeding her is totally fine. I just want to make sure it's not too much, she has had more giant blowouts since the feeding has gone up as well. I guess I'm not sure how to evaluate it and I don't want to micromanage the nanny at all.

It is possible that your nanny is giving milk when your baby doesn’t actually need it and would be pacified other ways. That said, your nanny is still getting to know your baby and her cues for hunger vs fussy for other reasons, and may be choosing to err on the side of caution by not withholding milk if your baby may be truly hungry.

[Anonymous]

OP, what’s the problem? If it’s that you’re not pumping enough to keep up with that amount, join the club and supplement. What’s the issue?

FWIW, the same thing happened with my kids when I went back to work and they were home with DH. We supplemented in each case. Not everyone can pump until the bottles are full, you know? There’s nothing wrong with supplementing (and there’s also nothing wrong with using milk to pacify the baby).

[Anonymous]

Make sure it's not a fast flow nipple. They are too easy for that age and the baby gulps it down before realizing she's full. I'd use a level 2 nipple

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure it's not a fast flow nipple. They are too easy for that age and the baby gulps it down before realizing she's full. I'd use a level 2 nipple

JFC. No, do not take advice from random anonymous strangers about what specific nipple size to use for a baby they have never met. Babies are excellent self-regulators and if they are not spitting up, they are not being overfed.

If your nanny says you need a bigger or smaller nipple size, listen to her, not random strangers on the internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make sure it's not a fast flow nipple. They are too easy for that age and the baby gulps it down before realizing she's full. I'd use a level 2 nipple

JFC. No, do not take advice from random anonymous strangers about what specific nipple size to use for a baby they have never met. Babies are excellent self-regulators and if they are not spitting up, they are not being overfed.

If your nanny says you need a bigger or smaller nipple size, listen to her, not random strangers on the internet.

This is not true for all babies. Maybe most but definitely not all babies. Some babies eat for comfort and do not throw up. One of mine did. I know because we reduced the feeds and she did not care one bit.

Agree with your overall point, but hate seeing so many people say this. Some don't throw up.

It's like with sugar, not all kids throw up with massive amounts of sugar. I never have, despite gorging as a child. Not everyone has these reflexes.