4 month old eating 4 times a day (no DF or NF). Is she eating enough?

[BabySophie]

My little Sophie is 4mo &1wk old now. We have moved her from a 3 to a 4 hours routine when she was 3 months old, and at the same time started sleep training using PUPD method. She was coping really well, and started napping and sleeping well since then. We are now on a rather good 4 hrs EAS routine. Her typical day look like this:

7am E
       A
       S (about 2.5hrs)
11am E
         A
         S (2hrs)
3pm E
       A
       S (1 hr)
       A
7pm Bath time and last feed
8pm S

I stopped DF her since 3month as she doesn't like it, and won't take any milk.

About 2 weeks ago (when she was 3.5 months), Sophie started to sleep overnight (8pm to around 7am).

So here is my question: My baby is now eating only 4 meals a day, without any DF or night feed. Is she getting enough food as a 4 months old?
Since we are on the 4 hrs routine, she seems to be happy about it. Her meal time is quite short 10-15 min since then (100% BF), but I guess it's becoz she is eating more efficient now. She has about 5-6 wet diapers each day. She does look slimming than before (weight 40% instead of 50% when she was 2mo). So is she eating enough? Should I be concern?

(sorry for the long message!)

[*Ali*]

The WHO do recommend at least 8 BFs in 24hrs at 4-6mo so 4 is definitely on the lower end. I do think many BF babies whose parents follow a routine like BW are unlikely to be on more than 8 feeds tbh. If she is not gaining weight though is your Dr concerned? Would she eat more often during the day if you offered?

[Fiver]

Has she had the 4m growth spurt yet?  It could be that things will change quite dramatically for you in the next week or so if she hasn't yet.

But as Ali said, 4BFs per day at 4m is rather low.

[BabySophie]

Thanks Ali and Fiver!

I don't think Sophie has her growth spurt yet. However since yesterday things has change a bit, and i have shifted her to a 3.5 hrs rountine. That is becoz she got hungry before the 4 hours mark , but I guess that is due to not eating well during a meal. She seems feeling uncomfortable somehow. In the first 5 min of the feed she eats quite well becoz of hunger. But after that she will start to arch her back, and her hand pushing me like she wants to get away, but her mouth still wanting to eat! Then she will cry! I really don't know what's going on! Will that be teething? But she doesn't seems particularly grumpy or uncomfortable during her awake time and sleep time.

We went to the clinic last week and weight Sophie. She has gain about 1kg in two months. The nurse didnt seems to concern about her weight. 

So how should we add more meals? Should we add a DF around 10-11pm? Or should we shift to a 3.5hrs routine? But even we do that, she will only be eating 5 meals a day. Will that be  ok? If we stick to the 4 hrs routine according to BW, it will be quite impossible to have 8 meals/day if baby sleep overnight, right?

[Fiver]

A lot of BF babies don't go to a 4h EASY until they're well established on solids.  A 3.5h would most likely get some more milk into her and if she hasn't had the GS yet, then you might find some NFs creeping in again soon as that happens.

[Erin M]

If we stick to the 4 hrs routine according to BW, it will be quite impossible to have 8 meals/day if baby sleep overnight, right?

This is true.

With dd1, I was one of the lucky ones and we were down to just a df overnight at 4 months and she was fine -- so that would be 5 feeds/24 hours. 

[BabySophie]

With dd1, I was one of the lucky ones and we were down to just a df overnight at 4 months and she was fine -- so that would be 5 feeds/24 hours. 

Um...so as long as baby is happy and healthy, I guess I shouldn't be too worried?! Will try to add a DF starting tonight then! Many thanks!

[*Ali*]

The writhing and pushing you could be wind or it could be that she is getting impatient if the flow is slowing and she still wants more. Maybe some breast compressions might help. My LO also does this when OT. I find switching breasts also helps him settle down again.

FWIW, my two were also on 4hrly feeds before 6mo and then had 1 NF or sometimes two so were only getting 5 or 6 feeds a day. And they certainly had no growth issues as both went up the percentile lines from 50 to 75 or more. If there is no concern about weight then I wouldn't worry. I think the recs are also to help maintain supply for mum but if LO isn't feeding overnight then it is not practical to fit in anywhere near 8 feeds IMO.

[BabySophie]

Thanks Ali. I think you are right. I guess my baby is getting impatient when the flow is slowing. I try switching breast and things do get better. But as she grows older, she is getting more and more impatient during feed time. 10min after feed she will look around, marvel at all things in the room and refuse to eat anymore. Well, i have now given up to force her to eat more as long as she eats efficiently in the first 10min, and able to sustain her for the next 4 hrs.

[*Ali*]

Yes 10mins should be plenty to keep her full. I know my ds2 was down to about 6-7mins by 4 or 5mo.