4 mo old - feeding question

margaerytyrell · March 2014

DS will be 4 months old tomorrow. His eating habits changed a couple weeks ago. We used to nurse about 10 minutes on each breast (20 mins total) and now it's about 4 - 5 minutes on one side and that's all he will take. I read that some babies become more efficient eaters so I wasn't too concerned about it.

We went to the 4 month check up today and the pedi asked if he was going at least 3 hours between meals. Well, he's not… He rarely ever does. The only time we get 3 hours or more between feedings is if he is asleep. Then he wakes up screaming.

I EBF on the weekends and weeknights and we send 4-3.25 oz bottles to grandma's house. Pedi said we should send 4 oz bottles to grandma's. I nurse him 4 - 5 times at home (usually every 2.5 hours around ~ 7 pm, 10 pm, 2 am, and 4 am). Is this normal? Do I need to start supplementing?

TLDR; version - Is it normal for breastfed babies to continually go only 2.5 hours between feedings? Is there something wrong with my milk?

Unknown · March 2014

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RDK24 · March 2014

I found my LO went through some ups and downs around that age … she'd want to nurse less, then she'd want to nurse more. If you continue to offer often, you may find that your LO will switch up how long they nurse.

It's my understanding that all babies are different, and while many will go 3 hrs between feedings, some won't at that age. Pedis seem to push this, at least mine did in an effort to make things easier for me. But following the baby's lead has always worked best for me (following pedi's general guidelines, of course).

If your LO is having the appropriate wet/dirty diapers and is gaining weight, then I wouldn't worry about supplementing. Your pedi would tell you if it seemed like LO wasn't being fed enough. If feeding every 2.5 hours works for everyone, I'd just roll with it if I were you.

margaerytyrell · March 2014

He seems content after eating. He'll pull off on his own and smile. I'll offer again and he won't be interested. He's also very distracted at this age. Any time the dog walks by, someone coughs or anything he'll pop off and rarely wants to get back on again.
He has plenty of wet diapers.
Pedi didn't seem concerned with weight gain, even though I saw her about 2 weeks ago and he has only gained 6 oz since then.

BootsOrHearts · March 2014

At 4 months they start to become easily distracted and so eating sometimes is second priority. I also find my guy goes through days where he eats very little, then one day he'll eat everything in sight!

jennifertewart · March 2014

My LO is a little over 4 months. He eats every 2 hours during the day and is a tank! I would say like PPs if he seems content and still has wet diapers then there is nothing to worry about.