My 3-month-old keeps wanting formula — is the portion not enough?

At 3 months, a baby constantly wanting more after feeds is common and doesn't always mean the portion is too small. During this age, babies often go through growth spurts (common around 4-6 weeks and at 3 months) when appetite temporarily climbs; your baby wants to nurse or bottle-feed more and more frequently.

How to gauge if the portion is really too small:

• Track your baby's weight gain. A healthy 3-month-old gains roughly 140-200 grams per week. If weight is climbing steadily, the portion is likely adequate.
• Your baby should have good wet diapers (soaked, heavy) 4-6 times daily — this is the most reliable sign they're getting enough fluid.
• Don't confuse genuine hunger (reaching for hands, lip-smacking) with fussiness or gas. Sometimes babies want to suck just for comfort (non-nutritive sucking) or have gas, not hunger.

When to increase:

The amount on the package for your baby's age/weight is a starting point, but every baby is different. If your baby is finishing feeds less than 2 hours apart, weight gain has slowed, or your doctor recommends it, you can gradually raise the portion by 15-30 ml. If your baby is also receiving breast milk, tweaking nursing frequency or duration before jumping to more formula is more accurate.

Ultimately, your baby's pediatrician — who knows their weight trend and health — is the best person to confirm the right portion and formula brand for your specific baby.

Note: This is informational only; please discuss medication and dosing with your doctor.