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Author Topic: How often BFing a 4.5 month old?  (Read 1219 times)

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peachespoe

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How often BFing a 4.5 month old?
« on: February 27, 2009, 00:56:02 am »
Hi,
I have a 4.5 month old who is EBF. I have done a relaxed EASY routine since her first month. She is still eating every 2 to 2.5 hours during the day, sometimes only 1.5 hours inbetween and maybe once a day 3 to 3.5 hours inbetween when she has a longer nap (she naps 1/2 hour in AM, 1-2.5 hours midday, and 1/2 hour-45min in the late afternoon). She only nurses once a night. She is about 14 lbs., 50% for weight, 50% for height so she isn't overweight from all this eating. She eats anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes each time and I nurse on one side per feeding.

She is a pretty touchy/spirited baby so when she wants to eat she lets me know! I am getting worn out. What can I do to make the length of time between nursing longer? I am actually considering starting a slow wean because I am getting tired of her eating 8-10 times a day. I am thinking I can regulate how much she is eating that way and maybe she will be fuller for longer periods.

Any tips or adivce?
Thanks in advance!
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Offline lidiayy

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Re: How often BFing a 4.5 month old?
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2009, 02:24:30 am »
Hi Peachespoe,

When DD was at your LO's age she was nursing 6 times a day on a very flexible 4 hours EASY (7 am, 11 am, 4 pm, 6 pm and 8:30 pm).

When you say that your LO shows the sign that she wants to eat, when does it happen? It seems to me that she could be snacking when she asks for a feed after 1.5 hours from the last feed. At her age, she should be able to stay longer (at least 3 hours) without a feed. Have you tried not feeding her? What happens?

IMHO, you just need to tweak this feedings. Try to avoid slow wean if you can keep feeding her.

HTH

Hugs
Lidia
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Offline Jocasta

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Re: How often BFing a 4.5 month old?
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2009, 06:52:59 am »
I would definitely recommend brain storming to see if there are any other things that those hunger cues could be interpreted for - dd1 for example would give "huger" cues that actually meant she was OT - I figured that out WAY too late haha! 

You should definitely still be feeding on demand but a 4.5m old *shouldn't* really be needed to eat at 1.5hr intervals...  I'd definitely play around with things for a while to see if you can find something else that soothes her other than food...

Hugs honey, and by all means if this sounds like a load of rubbish, come back haha!  We'll go back to the drawing board so to speak :)
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peachespoe

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Re: How often BFing a 4.5 month old?
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2009, 18:28:31 pm »
Thank you for your replies!

You know, we have kind of fallen out of a consistent EASY routine lately. I was giving in an nursing her down for naps lately, which totally throws us out of sync. I decided last night to be more consistent and confident in the process. When I have done that in the past, it really does help me understand and read her cues. My goal this week is to really stick to the EASY.  I think that will help me adjust her feeding to a more manageable routine.

I am re-reading the BW and plan on buying the one on how to solve all your problems.

:) Christie
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Offline clh

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Re: How often BFing a 4.5 month old?
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2009, 18:45:43 pm »
The other ladies said it well.  The only other thing I could think of as a possibility was if the frequent feeding was a recent thing, it might be the "4 month" growth spurt.  But if she's not doing that (freqency) consistently, then that kind of knocks the growth spurt theory out. 

PS  Welcome!  :)
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Offline lidiayy

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Re: How often BFing a 4.5 month old?
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2009, 00:47:52 am »
Hi Christie,

Good to hear that you're figuring out what's going on.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

XOXO

Lidia
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