Snack feeding in bottle fed babies usually occurs because infant reflexes and behavioral cues are often mistaken as signs of hunger.
When a baby is offered a bottle of formula every hour or two, they soon will become accustomed to taking only enough to last for an hour or two.
Common reasons for snack feeding include:
X Sleep deprivation
A tired baby can become too weary to complete the feed. If your baby goes to sleep during a feed, put the baby over your shoulder, rub their back, and stroke their head, legs, and tummy. This can help to wake your baby up and complete the feeding.
X Feeding-Sleep Association
When a baby develops a feeding-sleep association she learns to rely on feeding to fall asleep. She may want to feed not only when she is hungry but also when she is tired. This means more feeding and the more often a baby feeds, the less your baby will need to take from each bottle.
X Baby Bottle
If the baby bottle ring is screwed on too tightly or the baby bottle nipple size is incorrect your baby will have to work too hard at feeding.
Built up pressure within the bottle due to problems can make it increasingly hard for your baby to eat and can easily make your little one tired or frustrated and they will give up before being completely full.
X Over Stimulation
It is exceedingly difficult to feed a hungry, overstimulated baby, because many times they are inconsolable and crying.