The Eating Machine

Silas has just worked through his first can of Similac Advance (Step1 Formula) with DHA and ARA. Silas's older sister, Tamara, did not have the good fortune of drinking formula with DHA and ARA, because back then, it never occurred to the makers of infant formula to include these fatty acids that are found in human breast milk. But buying Forumla with the DHA and ARA fatty acids is all the rage nowadays. It's like buying a car with A/C and power windows nowadays - if you can afford it, you almost always upsize to the model with these extra features, just because it's ***perceived*** to be better to do so. Whether the benefits from DHA and ARA are real or just a slick marketing gimmick is best left to the academics, Silas does not care, does not discriminate, and will drink (almost) anything presented to his lips.

Normally, finishing a whole 365g can of infant formula is nothing special for the typical 2 week old baby . But Silas is not your typical 2 week old baby. He is also nursing from his mother's breast for at least half an hour prior to slurping up the additional 2 to 3 ounces of formula. In other words, he's eating 2 meals during each feeding session !
Silas's parents are not quite sure what to make of this. Is this a growth spurt, or does he really have a voracious appetite? And how long will he be able to keep up this double feeding? Silas is very smart and learned the pattern of this double feeding as well. Nursing from the breast and nursing from the bottle actually requires different sucking techniques, but Silas is disdainfully ignorant of this fact. If he does not receive his second meal, he complains:
But once he receives his second meal, he is content and all is right with the world, his world.
So it is, and so it shall be.

The Diaper Machine

Silas has been home for 7 days now, and he has gone through about 9-10 diapers per 24 hr period. At first, he did not pooh much (the estimate was that it was around 1 or 2 per 24 hr period), so his parents naturally had to act concerned. After a few more days, Silas performed like a real trooper, and started producing pooh in almost every other feeding session (about every 4-6 hrs), and also in every colour and texture.

Which brand of diapers is the best for a newborn? Silas has the uncommon fortune of being able to find out the answer for himself. He is currently working his way through his first package of Pampers (for newborns, 8-14lbs). After that, there is a package of Huggies and Kirkland (Costco brand) diapers waiting for him to compare with. Once he has decided on which brand of diapers he likes the best, the results will be reported back here.