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04/25/2005
The ravening monster
How soon they grow up.
This morning between 5 and 11 Charlie consumed about 11 ounces of milk. That's the equivalent of five gallons a day for an adult. We'd gotten so used to our petite little boy taking three, maybe four ounces at a feeding (it used to be hard enough to force just two ounces down his throat in the bad old days). Yeah, sure, in the past few weeks I've been filling those four-ounce Avent bottles to the shoulder, but I could still be in denial about how much Charlie was eating. This is getting to be too much. (Literally: the top of the threads is six ounces exactly.)
I know Charlie's gluttony is a good thing, even if it means yet another body of hard-won knowledge has become obsolete -- and that I'm going to have to start mixing formula in half-gallon jugs. But it still does take one a little by surprise.
Whoever sent the big-baby bottles, thank you.
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He's a man, now, Julie, and men have needs. If he keeps eating on this pace, though, you may have to supplement with Lunchables, or perhaps Uncrustables.
Okay, as an experienced parent, let me just help you out here. Next week, when he asks to borrow the car... tell him "no."
(He's so pickin' cute, that Charlie -- he'll be hard to say "no" to.)
~CA~
That's great news! Unfortunately for one of you, the output will match the input...maybe even exceed it.
Buy more diapers.
Excellent news, Julie! It sounds like your little (?) man is making up for lost time, and has decided that food is WONDERFUL!
And yah... you might want to buy BIGGER diapers (in preparation for the impending Poo-ruption)!
It kind of sneaks up on you. When we got Paul back from NICU, he would only eat about 3 ounces at a time, probably about 28oz total a day. One day he started eating 2 of the 4oz bottles at a feeding. He's currently up to about 48-52oz a day, so we're starting cereal.
I think the best advice I got was to get two 32 oz rubbermaid bottles. You make 24oz of formula in each one, and refill when empty. It was nice because it meant that if he woke up screaming for food, I could just pour it in a bottle. And you always have at least 24oz.
I also keep 9 bottles on hand, 3 4oz ones and 6 8oz ones. If he's hungry between normal feedings, I start him off with 2 oz in a small bottle and keeping adding 2oz more at a time as necessary. I found out the hard way that he would eat the whole 8 oz even if he didn't have room for it, meaning I'd be wearing it 5 minutes later. :)
Hey, that was me! You're welcome! I knew he'd need them someday. And I just noticed his 10 week photo, my goodness you make 'em cute, Julie & Paul.
Congrats on the gluttony. Pretty soon he'll be needing those raisins, no? Ha ha.
It kind of sneaks up on you. When we got Paul back from NICU, he would only eat about 3 ounces at a time, probably about 28oz total a day. One day he started eating 2 of the 4oz bottles at a feeding. He's currently up to about 48-52oz a day, so we're starting cereal.
I think the best advice I got was to get two 32 oz rubbermaid bottles. You make 24oz of formula in each one, and refill when empty. It was nice because it meant that if he woke up screaming for food, I could just pour it in a bottle. And you always have at least 24oz.
I also keep 9 bottles on hand, 3 4oz ones and 6 8oz ones. If he's hungry between normal feedings, I start him off with 2 oz in a small bottle and keeping adding 2oz more at a time as necessary. I found out the hard way that he would eat the whole 8 oz even if he didn't have room for it, meaning I'd be wearing it 5 minutes later. :)
Yay! Go Charlie go!
YAY Batman! I'm so glad! I agree about the car though, don't allow it! Not to mention, he WILL be a snot and be incredibly cute, and so hard to say no to!
LOL!
Am I the only one who noticed that Paul posted this, not Julie?
And Paul, I am so disappointed in you for feeding Charle formula. Why didn't you at least *try* to feed Charlie yourself when he refused Julie's gorgeous rack? (That right there showed he could use the extra IQ points. No wonder he's not interested in raisins.)
I mean, don't you understand that God gave men nipples FOR A REASON?!!
as his consumption increases, let me remind of you of costco's house brand baby formula. nutritionally equivalent to enfamil lipil, but $10/can cheaper.
we started buying that crap 10 cans at a time, and didn't waste a bit of it.
Mea maxima culpa. I'm sure if I'd gotten myself shot up with enough hormones I could get something coming out. I am a failure as a dad. (There, now I can relax about that.)
We're currently running off a single 32-oz bottle I got 15 years ago for day-hiking in New Mexico (darn near froze to death) because it's the only big plastic container that won't melt on the dishwasher's hot cycle. Time for another, I guess.
He may be ready for the Costco formula soon. I sure hope so -- that Good Start stuff is more expensive than decent beer.
wow...it might be time for cereal! mister batbaby is living large!
So that's one deadly sin accounted for, just six more to go. You might want to point out to him that some are a lot mroe fun than others.
Leave Charlie at Costco for a night; you know hide him in a 30ft rack (not Julie's) and let him find the preserved bottle of marinated and pickled mushrooms, olives, and peppers...he'll be back to you and filling out my onesies (if he hasn't already) in no time...and oh, while he's there, tell him to pick up a cart-load of Kirklands "Best" diapers...those will surely be fun and sweet to change; along with the Kirkland's best body wash. I just know it.
p.s. do they have frozen tater tots in the freezer there?
Just a tad bit of assvice:
I found the diapers from Wal*Mart (the ones with Witzy the duck from Suzy's Zoo, not the White Cloud store brand) to be the best everyday non-sale-price deal. This of course supposes you do not have a problem feeding the Evil Empire (cue the "Imperial March" :-) The Berkley & Jensen brand from BJs were the next best, but their wipes were the bomb-diggity best deal. And if you can find CVS, Toys R Us, or Rite Aid dipes on sale/with a coupon they are a great deal too. Avoid the Fittis with the wetness-showing balloons as anything other than emergency leave-in-the-car-in-case-he-poops-through-the-last-diaper-in-his-bag usage. They leak like a sieve.
Thank you, that concludes today's portion of assvice. You've been great, tip your waitresses.
You people aren't gonna make me change his diapers tomorrow, are you? LOL
Time for cereal perhaps?
Whoohoo! Charlie's growing! Next thing you know, he'll be conquering the world. And I second the deadly sins idea, do point out to him that other deadly sins are quite fun too. But seriously, that's terrific. :)
Be careful now, the CDC may charge you with having an overweight child!!!
Yeah, what goes in must come out at the end other end.
He's probably having a sudden growth spurt. That happens a lot during the first year. At least you picked up on it. I was completely clueless as to why my daughter suddenly wouldn't sleep and screamed constantly. Turned out she needed more food. Duh!
It's so fun to see their growth spurts happening by watching their appetites take off. I can tell my kid is growing right now because when asked whether he wants bacon and eggs for breakfast, or cereal, he says "Both." This is Charlie's way of saying "Both."
Just wanted to pop in and say that you are such a remarkable woman. Enjoy enjoy enjoy that little man!!
Hey Everyone. i just happne upon this board on accident but i have some friendly advice for Charlie's mom.
DO NOT WORRY!!! My son Parker was huge. He just loved to eat and you can't explain to an infant that another bottle will make him fat. At 5 months he was drinking about 14 8oz bottles in a 24 hour period. He weighed 25 lbs at 4 1/2 months and 36 lbs by 10 months. I thought he would never walk because his feet were completely round. But at almost 10 months he started to walk and now at almost three years old he still weighs 36 lbs. He never let his fat rolls slow him down and he is now just perfect for his age. People used to talk about how fat he was ( never in a negative way ) but I tried not to be concerned. My Doc told me he would slim down and he did. I forget how big he was till I look back at pictures and I realize that I don't think I ever really saw how fat he was.
I know it seems like a lot of formula ( an it is!!!) Parker went through about 12 reg size cans of Good Start a month. But we made it through without having to mortgage the house and he is just the greatest kid ever. Good Luck with Charlie, he is beautiful.
-Taryn