My DS is 4.5 months old and feeds during the day every 2 hours. He has recently been waking 3-4 times a night which is unusual for him. We think he may be teething as he chomps quite hard on everything and drools a lot. Anyway, family and friends keep telling me that my milk isn't enough for him and that I need to start giving him solids. They think feeding him every 2 hours is too regular and when he cries there are always heaps (of unwanted) suggestions that there must be something wrong with my breastmilk (not enough or bad quality). As I am really sleep deprived you can imagine how upsetting I'm finding these suggestions.
So I started DS on rice cereal 3 days ago and he seems pretty unsettled still at nighttime and can wake as soon as we put him down and is still waking 3-4 times a night. My questions (finally) are have we started him too early, is the food making him unsettled and how do I know if my breastmilk is good enough? I appreciate anyone who is willing to read this huge post and offer any advice.
I am no expert but I found solids are harder for babies to digest and so can make them constipated and more unsettled if you start too early. Ignore other people's well meaning comments you'll go crazy if you try to follow it all anyway!! Breastfed babies feed more often because it is much easier to digest than formula, bubs could be having a growth spurt where they feed heaps for a while then settle down again. Just relax(easier said than done with #1 I know) and be confident that you are doing a great job and thatyour milk is making a healthy baby. (If his weight is going up and he has plenty of wet nappies he's getting enough milk) Some people seem to introducing solids will magically solve any problems. I think a lot of older people have trouble coping with the fact that solids are introduced so much later these days.Even 15 yrs ago when I had my 1st we gave them at 4 months which didn't make her sleep through the night or anything either!
Hope this ramble has helped a little bit.
Sounds similar to my DD, she feeds every 2- 2.5hrs in the day, goes down at 8 and has her big sleep then which can be anywhere between 3.5- 5.5 hrs then wakes every 2.5- 3hrs after so generally I'm up with her 3 times before she gets up for the day at 8. I worry too sometimes but at last check she'd put on weight nicely (due for next weigh in on thurs) and she has lots of wet nappies. I don't know what to put it down to I just keep hoping it improves cause like you said its hard when your feeling exhausted. And I know all about unwelcome suggestions, my IL's had me on the verge of tears couple weeks ago.
awww you are both doing really well. Instincts are powerful and remember to use them
I tried Matilda on solids around 4 1/2 months due to MCHN advice & neighbours and it didn't help. If you read the wonderweeks book you may get some ideas as to what is going on for them right now which can help determine what to do about it.
I had the same comments and started feeding quite early. Solids never helped with sleeping and we're just lucky that Louis didn't have any dramas with eating so early. So stick with your bf - you sound like your doing an amazing job!
I'm not sure where you are but bubbas tend to want to drink alot more in the hotter weather as well.
It's a common "old wives' tale" that bm can be of poor quality or not good enough for a baby. Sure, people have problems with low supply (I did) but you notice it in having a baby with less wet nappies, generally unsettled between feeds or unusually sleepy.
My DD still has 3 feeds only 2 hours apart in the morning and stacks feed her last two only 1 hour apart before she goes to bed. And she is a big chubba so there is nothing wrong with the quality of my milk.
As the others have said, you are doing really well so when people give you unwanted advice (and believe me, they never stop!) just smile, thank them and then ignore it!
I need some advice
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