my 6 week old used to eat like a champ now i struggle to get him to eat at each feeding, i change his diaper, keep him awake etc but nothing - any suggestions?
Erin:
if you are really concerned find a lactation consultant to come over, spend time with you two/ watch what is happening and possibly weigh him before and after,
P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com
I don't want you to be alarmed, but I would definately get to the pediatrician just to make sure your baby hasn't lost any weight and that there's nothing medical going on. With a six week old, you can't be too careful.
Given that, it is normal for babies to go through streaks where they eat less, and then all of a sudden your baby will eat like a voracious lion. That happened with my baby and he's now a 33 pound, very strong and happy 2-year old! He still has times when he eats little, and then a few days or weeks later, will eat a whole lot.
The most important thing is not to stress, because that comes through in your body language and in your milk, if you are breast feeding. Babies pick up on your every mood. Sometimes I would look down at my boy while he was nursing, and I felt like I could see a very old wise man in those baby blues. Sometimes I would make a game out of it, especially when I would alternate with the bottle (we struggled a bit on that). I would bring the bottle just up to his grasp so he knew it was there, and then I would pretend it was a birdie and make it "fly" around him, and then bring it down to his grasp (not his mouth). He would get so excited he'd kick his feet and grab the bottle, and he'd actually put it in his mouth himself. Giving a child control over his world starts earlier than you would think. I forget how old he was, but it wasn't much older than 2 or 3 months.
Anyway, *enjoy* this time. It will be over before you know it.
Are you trying to feed him on a schedule? It may be that the schedule you are using is not appropriate for him. Not sure if this is what you're doing, anyway, but if you are it may be the culprit. Although early on breastfeeding moms may be told to feed every 2-3 hours, as time goes on you can feed on demand as baby needs it.
As long as the baby is peeing & not loosing weight he's fine. Babies go through so many different phases & growth spurts in the first year.
I am a 36 year old mom of 4. Dont worry to much babys go through all kinds of changes. too many pople worry about schedules with newborns dont worry about that until they sleep throught the night. ababy will wake when they are hungry in the beginning usually 3or 4 hours but as the get older the will eat more at one sitting and it will last longer. you may not want to force feed because then you may be making the baby full with to much small food. let the baby eat alot at one feeding so they may sleep. A new born needs sleep as much as it does food so keeping him up or waking him isnt helping him eat. I hope this helps.
I am a mother of 6 My baby is only 2 weeks, About 18 years ago I was having the same problem, I also was changing diapers.. cold wash cloth to his head any thing i could think of to keep him awake. If he will not stay up the doctor told me YOU DEVELOP THE BABYS' HABITs, let him sleep.They grow while they sleep.Unless he's loosing weight, let them sleep. I have my new baby oh just about 5 hours each feeding at night and 3 hours during the day. If he's awake and still not eating I woudlcall you pediatrician. HAve him check for cleft palette things like that. everything will be fine. it's all alearning process. good luck. Oh yeah I breast feed
Don't force him. Keep him awake during feeding time so he gets enough and don't feed him as often. Instead of 6-8 times a day, try 4-6 times a day.
Your baby could just be adjusting to his own schedule. I was a worrywart first time mom and kept a log of when he ate and how often my son pee'd and poo'd and when that occurred. It helped me define what kind of schedule he really had so I wasn't a basket case. My husband thought it was over the top but found that it really helped him too! I kept a clipboard by the changing table, and another with my Boppy. I got the list from a book called "babywise" it is based on sleep patterns but incorporates feeding schedules as well. You may find it beneficial to read or skim through? The premise of the feeding schedule is to feed the baby when the child awakens from sleep, we do it with breakfast! But babies should do that routinely to develop healthy sleep/appetite patterns. My son had longer stretches of sleep because he got more out of his meals when he knew it was time to eat, and wasn't busy falling asleep in midmeal. Anyway probably more than you wanted to know but I hope it helps! :)
