My son just turned 4 months, and seems to eat a lot. He's had a pretty regular 2.5 hour schedule, including nights, for a while now (he set the schedule, not me), but it seems like that is starting not to be enough. Now before he'll sleep for a nap, I have to give him an extra, smaller feeding, and it seems like there are more feedings at night too (hard to keep track because he wakes up almost every hour so I'm a zombie through most of it). He only naps for an hour at a time, but once or twice a day I get the impression he wanted to sleep longer but was too hungry.
He's only a little above average weight, but has been gaining really fast (from 25th percentile to 75th in 2 months, as soon as we got his spitting up under control). He's exclusively on breastmilk, but when we give him a bottle he drinks about 6 ounces and is still hungry 2.5 hours later, so I don't think it's a supply problem. Is it normal for a baby this age to start eating every hour and a half?
Thanks for the responses. He just had a growth spurt about 3 weeks ago, and this new "pattern" has been going on almost a week, so I'm not sure if it's a growth spurt. The next few days should tell us. Although I feel like he's been in a permanent growth spurt for the last 2 months! I did buy him some infant spoons but don't *really* want to start him on solids just yet. I was hoping to hold out till 6 months but if we can even make it just a few more weeks I'll be happy. And when I say start him on solids, I just mean a tiny little bit - he'd still mostly have breastmilk.
It could be a growth spurt time, and could calm down in a couple days as you catch up to his new demands.
Make sure that you are getting enough water, and please don't confuse being hungrier to needing solids early.
This is all totally normal.
Very normal. My girls did this for a few days every 6 weeks or so. Cluster feeding usually indicates a growth spurt. Continue to breastfeed on demand.
Make sure you're getting your 8 glasses of water a day (but don't drink too much more than that, it could have the opposite effect!) and make VERY sure you're eating healthity and enough.
I always found that a little extra protein helped my milk supply, so try adding a few slices of lunchmeat to your sandwhich, or drink an extra glass of milk, or peanut butter or whatever.
And don't worry, he'll probably go back to his old schedule in a few days :)
I put both of my kids on cereal when they started doing that. He was hungry, and formula just wasn't cutting it.
So we started cereal and then moved into regular baby food by 5 months.
My son was like that too. I was so exhausted from feeding him constantly (day and night!). I was also losing weight very quickly and having trouble feeling "healthy" because he was eating so much--I felt like there was literally nothing left for me to nourish myself with... so our doctor said that at 4 months he could start getting some cereal. He still ate constantly (and didn't sleep any longer), but at least it gave me a little break from always having to feed him (he wouldn't take bottles). He gobbled the cereal down the very first time we gave it to him--giggling the entire time--he just LOVED/S to eat. Even now I cannot believe how much my 3 year old can eat! It does give me some solace when I see him eat an entire adult size waffle and then want a banana an hour later that he was really drinking that much milk as an infant! And, he's not even in the 50% for weight/height. I think it's perfectly normal (maybe even a growth spurt), which isn't to say that it's easy for you!
Always feed on-demand.... 24/7 day and night.
Growth spurts in babies occurs about every 3 months... and there is also what is called "Cluster feeding" in which a baby even feeds every single hour and very frequently. Both my kids as babies did that. Its normal.
Feedings... are not on a schedule... because they are always changing and growing... and their intake has to keep pace WITH them... so they get what intake they need. AND appetites ALWAYS changes... day to day. So you need to nurse on-demand...
This is normal.
Also make sure you are producing enough milk... otherwise he will not be getting enough intake...
My kids as babies... were like that... and they had GINORMOUS appetites. I breastfed exclusively. 24/7, day and night. And they grew like weeds and are very healthy.
That is what breastfeeding is. It is arduous.
For the 1st year of life... breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition.. NOT solids and NOT other liquids.
Always feed on-demand.
Yes... it is normal that babies will feed VERY often and even every hour. Hence 'cluster feeding.'
Do NOT give cereal... just because of this.
all the best,
Susan
Sounds like a growth spurt. Just ride it out. If you feed on demand your milk supply will increase. If you give him cereal it will not help you increase your milk. If you are committed to breast feeding there which it sounds like you are then I would definitely NOT give cereal at this age. Otherwise your body will never learn to make more milk. Try consulting your local LLL. They will be very supportive.
He is probably ready for cereal (by spoon). My girls Pediatrician had me start cereal at 4 months old for both of them.
