Author Topic: 4.5 month old won't eat VERY STRESSED!  (Read 2083 times)

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Offline frac09

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4.5 month old won't eat VERY STRESSED!
« on: January 17, 2011, 14:07:17 pm »
My lo used to be on a regular schedule.  He would eat, play, sleep at the same times everyday.  For almost a month now he won't eat.  Unless he is swaddled or it is his night feed.  Even the first feed of the day he will nurse for maybe five mins and then refuse any more... he won't even take top up! When he doesn't eat properly during the day he is up all night wanting to eat. He used to sleep up to 8 hours at night now we are down to 4 max. before he is up again. Help please!


Offline frac09

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Re: 4.5 month old won't eat VERY STRESSED!
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2011, 18:31:33 pm »
Trying to do a four hour schedule, to see if he was just not hungry when I'm trying to feed him... still did not eat much.  Even wrapped up before his nap today he didn't want any. Jeepers!

Offline Peek-a-boo

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Re: 4.5 month old won't eat VERY STRESSED!
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2011, 18:55:05 pm »
There's a big developmental leap that starts right about the time you say this started and it tends to make sleep crazy--at least for my kids.  All three went from sleeping 6-10 hours straight to waking every 3 hours or more often right around 3.5 months.  So the food and sleep might not be quite as linked as you say, except that both problems may be stemming from increased wakefulness. 

Two different ideas--

One, try feeding right as LO wakes from sleep--either go in and wake LO or jump in the moment you first hear noises.  Keep LO swaddled and the room dark and let it be a very mellow sleepy feed.

Totally different direction, try stripping baby down so you can feed skin to skin.  I was just reading some bfing info about how important skin to skin contact can be for good feeding and that sometimes feeding swaddled makes a baby feel sort of disconnected from mum and doesn't foster a good feed.  Strip baby down to diaper, get baby latched on nicely pressed up against your skin, then drape a blanket over baby's back to keep him warm.

Also, he may simply have become a more efficient feeder and may be taking more milk and less time. 

Offline frac09

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Re: 4.5 month old won't eat VERY STRESSED!
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2011, 23:03:03 pm »
Thanks, I will try those two ideas.  When he was just a few weeks old he started to lose weight, so I had a little scare.  So I think now I'm so worried that he will lose again.

I kinda thought it might be because he is right in the middle of the leap, I'm probably so jealous that other babies I know are sleeping through the night! :P