Breastfeeding at 4 months: features and recommendations for mother
Your baby is growing up by leaps and bounds, and now he is or is almost 4 months old. Is it necessary to change the usual breastfeeding regimen, introduce complementary foods and supplements? We will now talk in more detail about what breastfeeding should be like at 4 months.
Frequency of breastfeeding of a breastfed baby at 4 months
As a rule, at this age the baby is already beginning to form some kind of routine. The number of meals is reduced to 10-12 per day, while night feedings still remain. The baby may demand food from the mother more often for the following reasons:
- the child was distracted by the world around him, which was so interesting to him, and the mother, thinking that he had finished the meal, hid her chest. But the baby simply didn’t have enough to eat and, of course, will soon demand his own;
- At 4 months, the baby may begin to cut teeth. He tries to compensate for the discomfort in his gums by breastfeeding more frequently. In addition, some children tend to bite the nipple with their gums - this massage brings them relief. Almost all mothers encounter this feature of breastfeeding at 4 months or a little later. It is important not to indulge your child in consolidating a bad habit: you need to show that this is unpleasant for you and take the breast away. Then, of course, you have to give it again;
- The woman was overtaken by a lactation crisis and her milk became less. As a rule, such a situation happens at 3 months, but it can also be late. The temporary phenomenon lasts no more than 3-4 days, less often – up to a week, after which the amount of milk stabilizes and the regime is restored.
In any case, whether the baby eats 10 or 16-18 times a day, at this age it is advisable to still breastfeed on demand. It is irrational to forcibly establish a certain regimen at 4 months of breastfeeding - it is better to do this in the second half of the year, even closer to one year.
Weight gain and bowel movements at 4 months while breastfeeding
Often mothers worry that in the fourth month of life the baby’s weight gain becomes noticeably less than in the first 3 months. Unfortunately, many pediatricians, guided by average tabular standards, support them in these doubts.
In fact, the process is quite natural and understandable. It is at this age that a child moves from the “lying doll” category to the “restless lively” category. He turns around, tries to sit down, many babies at 4 months are already crawling quite actively. Energy consumption increases - hence the slow increase. Everything is logical here.
Another common fear is constipation at 4 months while breastfeeding. This, of course, can happen at any age, including four months. Failure by the mother to follow the diet, consumption of “problem” foods, an individual reaction to complementary foods or a new product on the mother’s menu can cause difficulty in defecation. In this case, you just need to eliminate the provoking factor and the baby’s stool will improve. If you mistake for constipation in a 4-month-old breastfed child a stool that is rare in terms of frequency, for example, once every 2-3 days, you should not worry: this is a variant of the norm.
Is it possible to feed complementary foods?
According to the latest WHO recommendations, it is better to introduce complementary foods after 6 months, but in practice this period is individual for each baby. You can determine a child’s readiness for complementary feeding by a number of signs, the main ones being:
- eruption of the first teeth;
- interest in the food that parents eat;
- the child sits confidently and feels comfortable in this position;
- the baby is already 4 months old;
- extinction of the reflex of pushing food out with the tongue.
Readiness for complementary feeding does not guarantee that the child will be happy to try new foods. Be patient, don't insist. Over time, you will learn the baby's tastes, and everything will work out.
Supplementary feeding and complementary feeding from 4 months when breastfeeding: are they necessary?
If the baby has enough mother's milk, he eats up, gains weight and wets his diapers at least 10 times a day, there is no need for complementary feeding and, especially, supplementary feeding. At this age, the baby’s digestive system is not yet ready to fully digest non-dairy products, and all the necessary enzymes have not yet formed in its saliva.
If for some reason this still has to be done, it is better to choose the most adapted formulas similar to mother’s milk for supplementary feeding. For the first feeding of a 4-month-old breastfed baby, well-cooked non-dairy cereals (for example, rice or corn), as well as pureed non-starchy vegetables, are ideal. It could be zucchini, onions, broccoli, celery root, just a little carrots and tomatoes. But you should treat potatoes as complementary foods with caution: they can cause increased flatulence and colic in your child.
As for fruits, you can offer your little gourmet an apple or a banana. It is better to postpone red fruits and berries (strawberries, raspberries, currants) until a later age, as well as pears and plums - they can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain in a 4-month-old breastfed child.
At the same time, breastfeeding should be continued to the maximum possible extent: no non-dairy complementary foods or artificial formulas, the portions of which, especially at first, are minimal, can replace for a four-month-old baby those important components that are contained in breast milk.
The impact of new products on the children's body
When starting feeding children aged 4 months and older, pay special attention to food tolerance and effects on the body .
- Fruit juices are given along with pulp in minimal doses after morning breastfeeding or formula feeding. At first, the dose may be six teaspoons per week. Recommended juices are made from apples, pears and apricots. But grape juice is contraindicated due to its fermentation in the intestines. Raspberry, orange, strawberry and lemon juices cause allergies. If blackcurrant and pomegranate strengthen, then carrot and plum juices have a laxative effect.
- Cabbage juice, blackcurrant juice and rosehip decoction improve digestive processes.
- Vegetable and fruit purees, as well as egg yolk, begin to be given in minimal portions, while monitoring the body's reactions to the products.
How to eat for mom: menu for 4 months while breastfeeding
The mother’s nutrition, in fact, remains the same as in the third month of the baby’s life. Her diet should include:
fermented milk products and a small amount of eggs;- raw and cooked vegetables and mild spices;
- cereals, potatoes and pasta;
- poultry and fish;
- dried fruits, dry homemade pastries, jams and preserves;
- honey and fresh juices.
From alcohol, a small amount of good beer is acceptable (about 200-250 g).
If one of the products is not perceived by the baby, it is better to replace it with a similar composition or exclude this item from the menu altogether.
Ways to determine if a child is ready to eat a new food
4 or 5 months is not always a guarantee that children will be switched to complementary feeding . Each of us is individual and we must also proceed from this rule:
- The baby's interest in the parents' food can be called the first way to determine that it is time to try giving bait.
- The second point is how children sit and how tightly they hold foreign objects in their hands.
- The appearance of the first tooth.
- Loss of the reflex to spit out solid food.
They begin to feed children who are completely healthy. It is also prohibited to start feeding during the period of preparation for vaccination and the first month after vaccination.
Forced completion of guard duty: is this acceptable at 4 months?
At the whim of a woman, it is certainly not acceptable. At this age, the baby definitely needs breast milk as the most optimally balanced and digestible product. In addition, psychological contact with his mother, which occurs during the process of breastfeeding, is important for him.
If circumstances develop in such a way that this still has to be done (the woman’s illness, the need to go to work early, and similar situations), it is important that the child undergoes the weaning procedure with the least stress. It is better to stop breastfeeding at 4 months gradually and delicately, starting to replace natural milk with artificial formula with a few grams after feeding once a day and gradually increasing its share in the total daily amount of food. During this difficult time, a woman should pay more attention to her child so that he does not associate weaning with abandonment and uselessness. Over time, the baby will understand that the mother still remains close and loves him, as before, which means he will easily and quickly adapt to the new stage and way of life.
Feeding rules
A grown-up baby at the age of 4 months still needs properly selected nutrition; it would be advisable to continue feeding the baby with an adapted infant formula. This is the best, balanced and high-quality replacement for breast milk, developed according to all the rules, where all the slightest nuances are taken into account, and the composition is as similar as possible to breast milk.
Mode
For 4-month-old children receiving food in the form of artificial feeding, it is imperative to strictly follow the regimen, since adapted infant formula is absorbed much more slowly by the baby’s body, unlike breast milk , so the little one remains full much longer.
Important! The break between meals should be at least 3.5 hours. If you do not follow the feeding rules, this will cause gas formation in the child’s body.
Also, starting from the 4th month, many pediatricians advise formula-fed babies to start complementary feeding.
How to feed?
At 4 months of age, the baby cannot yet sit up on his own, so new parents should make sure that the baby is comfortable while eating. You should only feed your baby with a spoon. At the same time, he should be in a reclining state so as not to harm the fragile spine. Modern children's high chairs are equipped with this function; it will be convenient for the baby to eat and for the mother to feed him.
Young mothers should definitely stock up on additional equipment, that is, they need to purchase special dishes for the child:
- spoon with a silicone scoop - the baby will not be able to damage the oral cavity with it;
- bib, so as not to stain the toddler’s clothes;
- the plate on the suction cup will definitely not be knocked over on the floor;
- a cup that the little fidget cannot break,
It is from 4 months that the baby actively begins to explore the world around him. In addition, this will be excellent training for independent eating.
A newborn child does not yet have any teeth at all or partially and the baby is not able to chew solid food, so the consistency of food intended for the child should be liquid or puree-like.
How much should a four month old baby eat?
At the age of 4 months, the daily food intake is no more than 1000 ml. per day. The number of feedings is 5-6 times. Under no circumstances should you exceed it, as this can be fraught with unpleasant consequences.
Note! Before introducing complementary foods, consultation with a specialist is recommended.
