In the morning when my breasts are 'full', my almost six month old will nurse for up to 30 minutes (15 per side). The rest of the day, I am lucky if he will latch for more than five minutes tops-total! Then he starts popping on and off and crying. It seems at this point he might still be hungry but if I put him in his excersaucer he's fine. But because it feels like there is no way that 2 and a half minutes per side could possibly be enough (he will take a 8 or 9 oz bottle on the rare ocassion he gets one) and his naps are only 30 min to an hour (and waking up seemingly hungry (so maybe this is why his naps won't stretch out, of course, he does sleep 10 to 12 hours for me at night)), I offer every two hours, sometimes three. He also eats cereal twice a day, one and a half hours or so after his lunch and afternoon feedings. His wet diapers go from soaked after the morning feed, to what seems to be just dribbles by nighttime. I just can't decide if he's getting enough 'hydration'. Any ideas or suggestions? Am I just overthinking it?
I just wanted to add that I don't think weight gain is an issue, jsut the hydration aspect. He started cereal only last week, but before then he has gained 4 pounds from his 4 month checkup until nowon BM alone.
Cut down on the cereal. He needs more breastmilk at this age, not cereal. If you do want to keep feeding him solids, do so sooner after nursing not later. He is getting full off of cereal. Babies really need more breastmilk or formula at this age more than solids. Nurse every three to four hours or when you think he is hungry. Every two hours for a 6 month old, they will snack and not get a really good feeding. Hope this helps. :)
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I will tell you the following.....
In the morning, nurse him like you have been doing. Then when he SHOWS THAT HE IS HUNGRY; give him about a tablespoon or two of cereal and finish that off by nursing him. Play with him, interact with him and then place him down for a nap. When he wakes, change him and WHEN HE SHOWS that he is hungry, offer the breast. During the day, they should be able to wake and not need to feed right away. Then and only then (once he shows feeding cues) feed him.
What you are describing is a "Snacker". This happens to babies whose mom's try to feed them and offer them feedings (the breast or bottle) based on a schedule. If the baby is not hungry, thry will eat for a few minutes as a comfort and then move on. Grazing babies are not good. It happens when parents start the habbit. Look at your baby and not the clock. He will tell you when he is hungry. When thay are newborns, we have you feed them every 2-3 hours to establish your milk supply (except premies are on a schedule to balance calories/jouls of energy balance); but healthy babies should not be. When you create a "snacker" you are creating a baby that gets a lot of foremilk and this is not the best nutrition. So stop watching the clock and watch your baby.
After playtime again, place him down for an afternoon nap.
When baby gets hungry in the evening then give your PM cereal and top it off with nursing him. Also know 6 months is the "busy" time for healthy babies. They become so much more of cause & effect and their bodies. So they are wanting to get down and explore. Just wait to feed him until food is on his agenda.
Hope this helps. Good Luck!
I think this is the age. He is getting distracted and interested in other things. Have you tried a nursing necklace? It could also be gas. Last night, my daughter (4mo) would pop off after about 5 minutes and scream. I started burping her and got a loud burp, and then she was good for another 5 minutes. The cereal could be a bit much for his digestion and he is feeling it.
ALWAYS, nurse, BEFORE solids.
Otherwise, if you nurse after solids, the baby will be too full to nurse... and it will cause a baby to 'wean' from breast.
This is per our Pediatrician.
For the 1st year of life, breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition... NOT solids and NOT other liquids. And feed on-demand, for nursing. 24/7. Day and night.
Also, he may be teething. Whenever my kids were teething as babies, they would 'seem' to reject nursing.
But, your baby is nursing fine in the morning.
Also make sure, you ARE producing enough milk....
My kids as babies would also 'cluster feed'... which means a baby even needs to feed every.single.hour. They are growing...
6 months old is also a growth-spurt time... and intake needs usually increases and well as the frequency of nursings...
Feed on-demand... not on a 'schedule.'
Try offering the breast more often...
Popping on and off the breast... and only staying on for only 5 minutes... will not get him adequate intake.
Sometimes, they pop on and off the breast because output is not coming out... or they are teething, or the let down is not fast enough... like how it is in the morning.... when breasts are fuller.
Are you nursing him during the night if he wakes????
If not, then do so.
If anything, check with a Lactation Consultant... and your Pediatrician.
all the best,
Susan
I'm not sure that this is helpful, but both my children were very efficient eaters and were satisfied after 5 minutes! IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO COMPLETELY EMPTY THE BREAST IN 5 MINUTES. It always took mine longer to finish a bottle than to nurse, and I usually nursed every 3-4 hours.
At this age, he only needs breastmilk. Maybe the cereal is filling his tummy instead of the breastmilk he needs. Cereal is just 'filler' anyway and has nowhere near the nutrition in your milk.
Remember that hindmilk is fattier and more filling - and important for brain development. Be sure one breast is COMPLETELY EMPTY before offering the other so he gets the foremilk (for thirst) AND the hindmilk (for hunger).
As long as he is having a wet diaper - even a dribble - every few hours, I don't think he is dehydrated. GL - HTH! Blessings to you!
I just wanted to say that it's an absolute "wive's tale" that a pump can't empty a breast as well as a baby. It's totally ridiculous to even assume that. I have breastfed 3 of 4. The one that couldn't/wouldn't latch I pumped for. I pumped 7x a day 10 min per side. I acquired enough milk in 5 mos. to last her till she was 14 mos. and then had 1/2 a deep freeze leftover for my next one. Pumping = just as good. You just have to wait for the let down and know what you're doing.
**steps off soap box** : )
I would try to, as the other poster said, ALWAYS nurse before solids and also try not to give a bottle if you are set on bf'ing. The bottle is easier. They have to work a min or two to get the milk flowing and can become bored/agitated etc. and not want to bother. Teething is a good comment too. It hurts more to nurse than drink a bottle when teething so they will shun the breast more.
I was having similar issues w/ my 12 mos. old and low and behold, I just wasn't producing enough. I nurse her as much as she will allow (about 5 min. or so each side) and then give her a 4-5 oz. bottle and she's happy. I think it's her and natures way of telling me "it's time". : ) Best of luck!!
