4.5 Month Old; Reduced Activity Levels; Advise by Family to Start Rice Cereal

I started solids around this age for my babies b/c they were low weight...it did not harm them in any way!!

Did you change your routine while she was sick? Did you hold her a lot? Did you sleep with her or in her room? Sometimes having a sick baby causes us to spoil them a little more and they LOVE it and don't want to go back to being without Mommy. So try to gradually get back into your routine and if she is not hungry and the doctor says she is fine, don't worry about food.

A couple things.... If you pediatrician isn't worried, then you probably shouldn't be either. She's had a consistent weight gain over her 4.5 months, and even though she's not a 20lb giant, at least she's consistent, and that's what doctors ultimately look at.

As a peer counselor with Nursing Mothers Counsel, I can say that 24oz of breastmilk is GREAT at this age! This is a great website: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html just to give you an idea of how much milk babies generally take in every day. I agree with another poster: your baby is better than any pump you can buy/rent!!!! It sounds like she's getting PLENTY to eat. If she's calm, relaxed, happy, alert, etc, there's nothing to worry about. I also agree about formula: AVOID it if at all possible!!

It's going to take her a while to start feeling her normal self after being sick. My son was really sick for 2 days, and it's taken him almost 2 weeks to get back to his usual activity level. Her wanting to be held all the time could be a result of you holding and cuddling her more when she was sick (which is what we should do), but it could also be her entering a normal stage of development that occurs around that age. Some babies are more "clingy" than others, but what baby WOULDN'T prefer to be held???

To be honest, it all sounds normal. Wait a week, and if you're still concerned about her activity level, then talk to her pediatrician, but I don't think you need to introduce solids at this point. She'll give you some indications that she's ready, such as: starting to sit on her own, watching the fork/spoon go from your plate to your mouth, losing the tongue-thrust reflex, and seeming to not be satisfied with just breastmilk. There could be other reasons, but she may turn away from the breast even though you know she's still hungry.

I started my daughter on oatmeal at 4.5mo, but only because she was nursing 12-16 times every day, and was exhibiting ALL the signs I listed above. We started off very slowly because I wanted to make sure she'd tolerate food, but she's done great, she still nurses for her primary nutrition, and she's had a LOT of different foods at this point. Simply put, she LOVES food!!! But again, every baby is different, and you need to focus on YOUR baby's cues. Family means well, but they don't always know what's best for YOUR child :) Enjoy her :)

I've got 5-month-old boys, so our babies are probably hitting some of the same milestones right now. Four months is a time of HUGE brain development. They're learning so much right now that it tends to affect eating, sleeping, moodiness, everything. Plus, they are starting to feel the effects of that first tooth moving up through their gums.

My boys went from sleeping pretty well, to waking up every 1.5 to 2 hours wanting to nurse and cuddle. They fussed at the breast and got frustrated easily when they were playing. I know this behavior wasn't a food issue because my boys eat a ton! They are in the 50th and 80th percentiles for weight.

If your daughter doesn't seem hungry to you, she probably isn't. Remember too, the amount of milk you can pump is less than the amount of milk she can drink at the breast, so even though you may only see 24 oz. in the bottle, she's probably getting plenty of milk when you nurse her. Give it a few weeks, I bet you'll see her activity levels resume. I don't think there's anything to worry about unless her weight drops. And your well-meaning parents raised their babies in a time when pediatricians told parents to feed rice cereal to their newborns. The World Health Organization is right there with you, recommending that babies be exclusively breastfed for at least the first six months. It sounds like you have a normal, happy, healthy little girl. Good luck!

My pediatrition had us start both children on some rice cereal at that age and they are fine. The reason was to get some iron into the diet. Its the one thing that they can't get from you.

We are currently treating my little boy for anemia (he's 14 months). I'll admit he didn't seem anemic with low energy, but the difference has been amazing. He is more energetic and active than he was before. Like I said, He wasn't that far off from the norm, he would go to the park and play, trying to keep up with his sister who's 3. Now he does it even more and with more spirit.

I'm not trying to diagnose, I'm just suggesting asking since you are saying she seems to have lost energy and enthusiasm.

S.

There are many ways to go about this. I think if you introduce rice cereal now it would be fine. I did this for Sam because he was never satisfied with the amount of breast milk he got ( and he received lots). His weight was also a struggle. I suggest that you should go with what you feel is appropriate for your daughter, especially if the pediatrician is happy with her growth. I also would like to suggest seeing if her iron is low. This might cause sluggish behavior. My son also did not get enough iron from me because I was mildly anemic. If and when you do start solids I suggest either making your own or reading the labels and making sure they have enough of the right nutrients. Good Luck!

If you and your pediatrician aren't concerned then just wait and give your daughter a little time. There is no rush to start solids just yet. Follow your heart, since you are the one who knows your child the best. Good luck!

Unless she is showing other signs of wanting to start on solids, it would be better to supplement with formula instead of rice cereal... but ONLY if she acts hungry and there isn't enough milk! (Even then, I'm a huge fan of milk instead of formula, so keep trying to get that supply up!) I tried rice cereal at about that age with my younger daughter, and she only gagged on it and threw up the milk she'd already had. Even very runny, she just wasn't ready for it.

If she's tired she may not be sleeping well enough, but she may also have simply decided she likes to be carried/held! Both my girls have gone through stages of wanting to be with me constantly. I just got carriers/wraps where I could strap them on to me and keep doing what I needed to do! They both loved it.

Also, if you don't want to introduce solids until 6 months, just don't do it. Family can be very invasive, but so long as she's not losing weight, there's NO reason to do it, and you should definitely consult your pediatrician first, anyway.

Hello Starlight, I want to say that as the mother of 5 and having wet nursed other children besides my own that if your baby is not getting enough" she will let you know". I started some of my children on foods early because they were ready and then it was more to play and get used to it. My grandchild nurses full time but her parents give her bannans and some food from thier plates as well.
Maybe your family used only bottles and was taught to feed that horrible baby cereal ( it reminds me of cement when it dries on the high chair), when the child was 3 -4 months old to get them to sleep better at night. Follow what your child needs and tell everyone else Thanks for the imput, I'll consider it. As for activity-- children are like anyone else somedays theyu are climbing the walls to play on the celing and others happy to rest and snuggle it is all part of the growth process.
Enjoy this adventure of parenthood it has many twists and turns but nothing will be as glorious.

I have to agree with JC. It sounds more like a clingy, 'hold me' thing than a lack of calories. When they are this little it doesn't take that long to establish a new habit. If you held her a lot more when she was sick (and who wouldn't!), she now thinks that should be the new norm. Just go back to the old deal and she'll catch on. Just like it didn't take long to get her used to being held all the time, it won't take too long to get her back to happy floor time. :)

When you do decide that it is time to add other food in addition to the breast milk, I would avoid formula if you can. It has so many more ingredients that your baby could have a reaction to. Rarely does rice cause a reaction which is why it is recommended as a first food. If it does cause a reaction then you will know exactly what the problem is. With formula it could be any number of things and trying to figure it out takes a lot of time, trial and error, all the while having an unhappy baby. Single foods are always best for babies in the beginning. I always find it funny that people are all concered about processed foods for their kids, but don't think twice about formula. Formula is highly processed. Don't get me wrong, I know that sometimes there is no alternative. Breast feeding doesn't always work out for everyone, and babies aren't born able to eat a five course meal! However, if breast feeding is working out as it seems to be in your case, I wouldn't introduce formula.

Good luck on your continuing adventure!

My daughter (now 17, my experience is out of date) was only about 6 pounds when she was born, and didn't grow very fast the first few months. She was pretty fussy. It turned out she was very sensitive to dairy products. I was breastfeeding her. When I stopped drinking milk and eliminated cheeses, yogurt, etc., she stopped being so fussy and the weight gain improved. (she's now 5' 4" and 125 pounds). She out grew the dairy sensitivity and was able to drink milk, etc by elementary school.

My youngest is 3 and after he gets over being sick it still takes him awhile to not be clingy with me. If you think she is getting enough to eat then I wouldn't worry about it. Just give her a bit more time. I'm not against giving solids early but its your choice as her mom.

She sounds fine, but since you're concerned enough to post, I would give your doctor a call. With breastfeeding, it can be so worrisome as to whether or not they're getting enough. Two questions I always ask myself are "how are the diapers? Enough wet throughout the day? Are they pooping regularly?" and "is he/she happy/content when they finish nursing?". I agree that it sounds like she's getting enough to eat... but again, if you're concerned, I would ask your pediatrician. Family/friends can be very well intentioned, but at the end of the day, you know your child better than anyone. And for the things you're not sure on, a doctor's advice can help you figure it out. Good luck!

Drink fenugreek tea...it helps to increase milk supply naturally.
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If you and your daughter's pediatrician agree, don't let your family overly influence you. It's fine for them to have opinions and to make suggestions. Simply thank them for their well meant input and do what you feel is right for your child.

Don't start solids until 6 mos. Unless she isn't getting enough food (waking at night, always wanting to eat) I wouldn't worry as she's growing well. Even if she were to need more food at this age I'd give her formula. My daughter started solids at 8 mos.... 3.5 and fine now. Do what is right for you and your baby - she is best to not start until 6 mos (according to most peds). Activity levels vary for all sorts of reasons. Some babies are also more in need of being held. Hang in there!