We, parents, often think that the child eats little. Grandparents are especially worried about this. They think that their grandson is thin, pale, because he eats poorly, and they try to feed him better and more.
This opinion is natural. The general assertion that good appetite is a sign of good health is firmly in the mind. In the old days in Russia, workers were chosen for food. According to the principle: eats a lot ─ will work a lot.
Weight gain
The situation is different with newborns. Babies are born with a sucking instinct, their small body has not yet learned to overeat, so the baby absorbs as much as it needs, not more. If it seems to parents that the newborn eats little, check if the baby is gaining weight.
In pediatrics, special norms have been approved that stipulate how many grams a baby gains in weight every month, every week, every year. By checking the norms, parents will understand whether the child is eating properly, whether he has enough milk or it is time to introduce complementary foods. The tables show weight gains during the month for boys and girls who do not grow and develop in the same way.
The increase per week is almost invisible, only 70-190 g, but the monthly baby grows already at 760-1340 g. For 2 months, the baby adds 1720-2640 g. Then the rate of weight gain slows down a little and in 3 months it is 2420-3540 g. by 4 months, the baby adds only 2980-4270, although he eats well, and much more than in the first days. Therefore, it seems to us that the child has insufficient nutrition.
Weight gain rates are designed for the average child, you should not follow them to the nearest gram. Each person is individual in terms of external parameters, and internal processes are also different. If a nursing baby with good health is vigorous and active, weight gain is observed, then the parents have no cause for concern.
The kid eats badly
Sometimes it happens that the newborn does not eat well. This does not happen often, but in some families it happens that the baby really suckles poorly or even refuses to breastfeed. When the baby does not eat well or does not breastfeed, it is scary for the baby, for the mother and for all family members. A hungry baby wants to eat, screams with hunger, quickly loses weight and weakens.
The kid can eat little, but if he is active, does not act up, does not cry, then most likely everything is all right with him.
Sometimes a baby is born weak, especially a premature baby. Such a baby sleeps a lot and eats almost nothing. Pediatricians advise in this case to switch to a free feeding method, that is, feed when you wake up. Do not wake a sleeping baby: in a dream, the baby is gaining strength. Gradually, the baby will get stronger, and the nutrition will improve.
Feed a small baby not by the hour, but on demand. Let him eat a little, how much he will eat, then he will learn to eat more. Express milk to help your baby. Use a spoon or some other method to feed with expressed milk.
If there are no congenital pathologies and ailments, the baby eats as much as the body needs. If the child does not have enough food, he does not feel well, the issue is resolved with the attending physician. The pediatrician will examine, collect anamnesis, and prescribe treatment. According to the indications, it is recommended to take tests and consultations with specialist doctors.
Why does a newborn eat little: the main reasons
With a rise in temperature, colds, colic, infections, otitis media, stomatitis, the baby eats little or generally repels food. At the same time, he may be hungry, but severe pain or fever, which makes the baby sluggish, motionless, does not allow him to get enough. It turns out that the baby eats a little, he does not have enough strength for growth, there is no weight gain. Therefore, he sulks, cries, looks weak.
Whether the baby's appetite will be good depends on many factors: on his mood, on the taste of breast milk, on the correct capture of the nipple by the baby, on smells around and even on the psychological climate in the house.
In addition to pathologies and diseases, there are many other reasons for a baby's poor appetite, each crumb has its own problem.
- With the wrong position of the baby during feeding or the wrong shape of the nipple, the amount eaten decreases sharply. When the nipple is not completely captured, air instead of milk enters the mouth and stomach, gas, colic, tummy problems are obtained, but there is no saturation.
- Paradoxical as it may sound, the baby may be in a bad mood. It happens that he woke up, cried loudly, called for mom, but mom did not come right away. The baby was scared, worried. Now he cannot suck, he needs to be given time to calm down, only then to feed.
- There are such happy mothers who have a lot of milk, it splashes strongly into their little mouth. The baby cannot cope with such a flow, it just chokes, coughs, cannot swallow. It is advisable for such mummies to express a little milk to relieve pressure. Then the baby will eat quietly.
- A nursing mother carefully chooses products for her diet so that the milk turns out to be sweet and tasty. If you are trying a new dish, take one small spoon, no more. Do not scare the little one, because the taste and smell of breast milk directly depends on the mother's nutrition. Exclude from the menu spicy, spicy, alcoholic. Quit smoking: it is harmful to you and damaging to the baby's brain.
- It is known that while mom is breastfeeding, pregnancy does not occur. Therefore, the spouses are not protected during this period, but there are still failures. The onset of pregnancy makes the milk bitter, unacceptable for the crumbs. The baby refuses such food, the mother bandages her breasts, urgently introduces complementary foods. From this day on, breastfeeding ends, the period of artificial feeding begins.
- Mixed feeding presents another problem. Even with excellent, tasty milk from the mother, the child will not want to intensely suck on the breast, if the hole in the nipple on the bottle is large enough, the food is sucked out easily, without effort, without stress.
- Another point that repels the baby from the breast is cosmetics and perfumes. From the time of intrauterine life, the baby knows the mother's own smell. Therefore, use the same hygiene products all the time. If you are trying a new perfume, do it very carefully so that the new fragrance is not felt, but slightly guessed. It is common for a tiny child to rely on the senses, including the sense of smell. Your baby may not recognize you by smell and may not take your breasts or even a bottle with a nipple out of your hands.
- It has been said and written more than once that a healthy psycho-emotional climate in the family is an important factor in the correct, full-fledged development of a newborn. When there are strife, screams, scandals, and even fights in the family, the baby is unlikely to have an excellent appetite. Try to establish mutual love and kind-heartedness, address the baby affectionately, tenderly, approach him only in a kind, calm disposition.
Nutritional problems before and after
Starting from the sixth month after birth and up to a year, the baby is gradually introduced to complementary foods. Mom's milk is the tastiest and healthiest food in the world, but over time, the baby grows up to other food. By this time, the gastrointestinal tract has formed into an almost adult, ready to digest rougher food. Therefore, only on mother's milk the baby is hungry. From this time on, the baby is fed.
Frequent reasons for the "smallness" of children is their overfeeding by their mothers and grandmothers, as well as the fact that they simply do not have time to get hungry properly
This is where the problems begin. Here is some of them:
- Many mothers are looking for "their" mixture for a long time, which would suit the baby, would not cause him allergies, he would like it. But, before making a choice, most have to try at least a few brands.
- Long-term breastfeeding. Often it leads to the fact that at 8-9 months the baby does not accept complementary foods at all and does not eat anything except breast milk.
- The kid refuses to eat what seems to be his usual food - a mixture or complementary foods, which his mother has already tried with him. She wonders why she is not eating, what to do with it. He ate well for a month, opened his mouth, and now he refuses. The reasons are trivial: either the portion is too large (mom overfeeds the baby), or the little one simply did not have time to get hungry. With age, the regimen of children changes, and parents do not always have time to record it: they feed and put children to sleep according to their usual rhythm, while the baby has already "outgrown" it. So, you should reduce the portions, do not feed when you do not want, otherwise the baby will not get used to new food in a year.
Important: Pediatricians and baby food specialists believe that excessively large portions and force-feeding discourage food interest in new foods. It is unlikely that this situation will change in two months or a year.
Then other problems begin. Do not think that you will mark the anniversary date 1 year and all problems will become a thing of the past. Now you are offering the adult toddler other food ─ solid. If he ate from a bottle for 3-4 months, now he begins to eat mashed potatoes and porridge with a spoon. If the baby has not learned to eat solid food in a year, help him. Suggest soft foods: banana, strawberries, delicious mashed potatoes, cutlet. While he has few teeth, knead solid foods with a fork and let's go a little.
Finally
So, we looked at some aspects of newborn nutrition. If there are problems, do not delay, see your doctor. If everything is in order with the baby and mother, then the removal from food is temporary, it will soon pass. Learn to understand the baby, more often take it on the pens, talk, sing songs, walk with the baby more often. Soon the baby will learn to eat well and will delight you with a good appetite again.
The baby, who was recently born, needs the minimum: mother's warmth, food and comfort. And if the child is completely healthy, then meeting these three needs is enough for him to grow and develop well. But the older the baby becomes, the more questions and worries new parents have. So, a situation in which the baby refuses to eat can lead to the most complete stupor. So, what if the baby refuses the formula at 3 months?
Many babies are artificially fed from the hospital. Parents have many reasons for this decision, and today we will not talk about them. Fortunately, modern formulas are able to provide the crumbs with all sufficient nutrients if it is impossible to breastfeed or, if necessary, organize mixed feeding.
Under the age of one year, the baby may repeatedly encounter a natural physiological decrease in appetite when his body needs fewer calories. Most often, this situation is due to changes in the seasons (changes in climatic conditions). And parents cannot influence her in any way, they can only observe the baby, assessing the weight gain and general condition.
Babies at the age of three months may refuse the formula for the reason that they have not yet had time to get hungry. If a baby suddenly cries, this does not necessarily indicate hunger. Perhaps his tummy worries him, or maybe he just wants to be with his mother. Therefore, do not immediately shove the mixture on him. In addition, formula for artificial feeding is digested rather slowly and gives a feeling of fullness for a long time. On average, the duration of the interval between feedings should be three to four hours.
Perhaps the child refuses the mixture because it has some kind of unpleasant smell or taste that an adult simply cannot feel. If you haven't changed the mixture recently, try opening a new package and making a new portion of the crumb. If the child's diet has recently undergone changes, most likely, the innovations are not to his taste. Therefore, consult your doctor about the possibility of replacing baby food.
By the way, keep in mind that the mixture may not be of high quality. Therefore, if you always buy the same mixture, and suddenly the child completely refuses to eat it, perhaps something is really wrong with it.
If the child refuses the formula, look closely at his gums and examine his mouth. Perhaps the reason for the refusal lies in discomfort. Sometimes, as early as three months, babies' gums swell, which indicates the imminent germination of the first teeth. And such a process can cause noticeable discomfort to the baby. Also, the baby may feel pain if there are any inflammatory processes in his mouth, for example, thrush or stomatitis. Having found redness, an incomprehensible plaque, white dots or sores, it is worthwhile to consult a pediatrician as soon as possible and not self-medicate.
Quite often, children refuse to eat if they are simply uncomfortable. You may have taken a bottle with a new nipple and the hole in it is either too small or too large. Both options will be completely uncomfortable for the baby. Indeed, with a large hole, he can literally choke on the mixture, and with a small one, he will need to make a huge amount of unusual efforts to get food. But even if the holes in the nipple are normal in size, the new nipple itself may be just uncomfortable and unusual for the baby.
Babies at the age of three months often suffer from colic. And if the baby is worried about the tummy, if it hurts, then he may not want to eat at all. Therefore, stroke the child on the tummy clockwise, wear it in your arms, do a little gymnastics with it on the ball. And when the discomfort passes, the baby will eat with pleasure.
By the way, stomach pain can be caused not only by colic. The child can refuse the formula if he feels discomfort after consuming it. Perhaps you are preparing the mixture incorrectly, not observing the proportions. Redefine your approach to baby food preparation.
Quite often, children refuse formula during illness and when they just get sick. If the baby as a whole behaves capriciously, seems lethargic and not too healthy, it is better to play it safe and call a pediatrician. Of course, refusal to eat in such a situation is quite natural, but only a doctor will be able to understand its cause and choose the best methods of treatment. A very common reason for refusing to eat is a sore throat or in the ear, because in such situations, sucking and swallowing only increase the discomfort. Also, very often children refuse to eat if they develop a runny nose. In such a situation, it is better not only to consult a doctor, but also to acquire a special device for sucking mucus from the baby's nose. After all, with a clogged nose, a child simply cannot eat.
Quite common is the refusal of the formula during the transfer of the child from breastfeeding to artificial feeding. After all, the taste of new food is not at all familiar to the baby, and he may not have come across a bottle yet. In such a situation, you only need time, the child will get used to innovations and will eat well.
If the baby completely refuses to eat, behaves restlessly or, conversely, constantly sleeps, it is better to play it safe and call a doctor.
Last updated article: 04/14/2018
Poor appetite in newborns and babies is a serious cause for parental anxiety. Many mothers are worried because it is extremely difficult to figure out why the child does not eat well. Both newborn babies and babies at 4 months cannot explain and tell what specifically does not suit them. They demonstrate all their dissatisfaction with the help of screams and tears, or simply tacit refusal and unwillingness to suckle the breast or drink the mixture. This also complicates the ability to establish the cause of poor appetite, since experts identify many negative factors due to which a small child can start to be capricious, cry and refuse to eat.
Child psychologist
That a newborn baby, that a child at 5 months old can eat poorly for many reasons, among which are the peculiarities of lactation in the mother, health disorders, physiological characteristics at birth and much, much more.
If the baby is not breastfeeding well, it can be assumed that there is a "problem" in lactation. For example, some nursing mothers have an excess of milk secretion, while others, on the contrary, are sorely lacking.
In the first case, the baby simply chokes because of the too powerful "jet" of milk, as a result of which it can abandon the breast. In such a situation, the mother needs to pump a little before feeding. And then, when the children's appetite increases (for example, at 2 weeks), the need for this procedure will disappear.
The opposite situation is when the child does not have enough milk. In this case, the mother must take all measures permitted and approved by the pediatrician that improve lactation:
- more frequent latching of the baby to the breast;
- pumping after breastfeeding;
- drinking a lot of fluids;
- drinking special tea, which improves milk separation.
If all these measures did not lead to a quality one, the only way remains is to feed the child with a formula. But before introducing an artificial product into the children's diet, you need to consult a pediatrician.
Sometimes women are not entirely responsible about their own diet, using those foods that change. For example, spicy vegetables (onions, garlic) change the taste of breast secretions, as a result of which the baby refuses to breastfeed. The way out is quite simple - to approach the menu with all responsibility.
It is not uncommon for a child to eat little because of incorrect attachment to the breast. This happens especially often with inexperienced parents who are raising their first child.
The solution is quite simple - a woman should seek help from an expert on breastfeeding, or even in a maternity hospital, ask employees to clearly demonstrate how to properly attach the baby to the mother's breast.
A newborn baby sometimes does not take mother's breast due to the irregular shape of the nipples. If they are too flat, sunken, it is not easy for the baby to get milk.
Naturally, the child remains hungry, which is completely unacceptable. Usually after a day or two, babies adjust and adapt, but in rare cases, if the situation does not improve, the pediatrician may advise the use of special nipple pads.
Congenital features
Often, babies are born earlier than planned. As a result, the innate sucking reflex is not formed to the extent that would allow the baby to suckle without problems. That is, a premature baby does not refuse to eat, but simply is not able to get milk, because he does not have enough strength.
Naturally, in such a situation, the mother must correct the problem. Feeding with a bottle (it is easier to suck), a syringe or a teaspoon will help her in this. It should only be understood that the habit of eating from a special container is fraught with a complete rejection of the mother's breast.
In addition, impaired appetite can be caused by other congenital features. Usually, such anomalies are found even in the maternity hospital, where they are immediately corrected, but this is not always possible.
- Abnormalities in the structure of the oral cavity. Congenital defects of the oral cavity, which are popularly referred to as "cleft lip" or "cleft palate", can also cause a child to eat poorly and gain little weight. Usually, the operation is performed immediately (if the child's health allows), but if the procedure is postponed to a later date, special feeding pads may be required.
- Short lingual frenulum. If a baby is born with a short film connecting the bottom of the mouth with the root of the tongue, then it will be uncomfortable for him to suck milk. When sucking, you can even hear a characteristic clatter. Usually the problem is solved easily - the surgeon cuts the bridle, and the newborn baby (and a child under 5 months old) does not feel pain at all.
If childbirth took place with the use of anesthesia, then some of the painkillers can get into the child's body. As a result, in the first days, newborns are sluggish, which also affects insufficient activity during feeding.
A decrease in appetite or a complete lack of it in an infant at 5 months old may be due to the first teeth coming out. In such a situation, refusal to eat becomes a completely natural and temporary phenomenon.
The baby's appetite not only decreases, but the gums begin to swell and the temperature rises. The child also feels pain, so it is imperative to help him. So, in case of temperature, an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent can be given.
In order for the baby to start eating with appetite as soon as possible, it is necessary to smear his gums with special gels with cooling, soothing and analgesic properties several times a day. Also in the pharmacy it is recommended to purchase special teethers that massage the gums.
Tummy pain
If a month-old baby does not take the breast well, constantly throws it, tries to draw his legs to his stomach and cries loudly, it can be assumed that he is worried about intestinal colic. In this case, parents should be patient and know how to alleviate this condition.
Experts advise putting a warm diaper on the baby's stomach, massaging the navel area, and giving special anti-colic drugs. This will improve the functioning of the still imperfect digestive system, and at about 4 months the unpleasant symptoms will go away on their own.
It also happens that the baby begins to suckle milk, but then refuses the breast with tears. Probably, poor appetite in infants and a painful condition are caused by dysbiosis caused by the intake of antibacterial drugs by the mother.
Only a doctor can confirm the presence of this condition after a special examination. Parents, on the other hand, may suspect dysbiosis for signs such as an unpleasant odor of feces, a green color of feces and the presence of mucus.
A child at 3 months or at 11 months can refuse breast milk due to malaise. A common problem for babies in the first year of life is thrush. It is recognized simply - by white spots on the baby's tongue, gums and palate.
Oral candidiasis occurs in infants the following reasons:
If a newborn eats little due to thrush, it is better to seek help from a doctor who will tell you what drugs or folk remedies can be used in a particular case. The easiest way is to treat the oral cavity with soda or saline solution.
The mother needs to treat her breasts with the same remedy to prevent relapses. In addition, you need to take care in the future about the cleanliness of toys and feeding devices, as well as strengthen children's immunity, especially if the baby was born prematurely.
If a baby, say, at 11 months old does not eat well, breathes heavily during feeding, sniffs, throws breasts and cries, mucous accumulations interfere with normal breathing. To alleviate the condition, you need to very carefully clean out the nasal passages with cotton swabs or flagella.
Another reason why a newborn does not eat well is inflammation and pain in the ears. The child would like to eat, but sucking leads to unpleasant sensations, so he can refuse to breast. In this case, you need to contact a pediatric doctor for treatment.
If a child is 2 months or older does not want to eat due to sore ears, the mother can try to express breast milk and give it to the baby with a teaspoon. This way of getting food for the baby is less painful than breastfeeding.
Using the bottle
If your baby is not eating enough breast milk, you need to think about how often you use feeding containers and pacifiers. It was noted that babies suck formula from a bottle and mother's breast in completely different ways, using different amounts of muscles.
This happens because the liquid flows freely from the container, so that the child does not make efforts to extract it. But breast milk must be obtained. If this is the problem, then the mother needs to re-teach the baby to breastfeed.
Another reason why babies do not eat well may be their sensitivity to changes in weather conditions. A sharp jump in atmospheric pressure can provoke a headache, loss of appetite and other negative symptoms in a baby.
If these signs are overly pronounced, you should consult a pediatrician and neurologist. Probably the source of the problem lies in the high. Then you will need to take certain medications.
Curiosity
Usually he is only interested in feeding and sleeping, but he reacts weakly to external stimuli. Another thing is a child of 6 months, who is more active, curious and willing to learn about the world around him.
While eating, the baby can be distracted by any irritant: loud noise, bright or new toy, pet, or a person entering. Switching children's attention to feeding is not easy, which is why you should create the most relaxed environment before a meal.
In addition, poor appetite in a tiny newborn can be due to a bad mood. If the crying baby is not approached immediately after the first tears, he begins to cry even more. Therefore, when brought to the breast, he simply cannot capture the nipple due to overexcitation.
In this case, the primary task is to calm the baby by any available means. You can stroke it, kiss it, offer a dummy, shake it a little, and only then offer the breast again. Usually, a calmed infant quickly begins a meal.
There are often cases when a child does not eat a lot due to individual characteristics. Such babies are also called "little ones". If the doctor notes that the baby is active and cheerful, develops according to age norms, why bother?
Above were presented the main reasons why the child does not eat well. If the mother carefully monitors children's reactions, she will be able to understand the baby's condition and normalize his appetite. But in case of unpleasant symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Why does the child eat formula poorly?
This question is placed in a separate section, although some aspects concerning the nutrition of artificial people coincide with the problems of breastfed children. And yet, artificial babies have their own reasons for not eating.
The main problem is choosing the right mixture. It is not very easy to find a breast milk substitute that would suit the child's taste and at the same time do not harm children's digestion. So, for newborns, a mixture is adapted, specially developed for the smallest.
The fifth month of life is already a completely different age period, therefore, nutrition must also change. After all, the baby has grown, which means that his needs for caloric intake of food have also grown. In addition, at this time, the first complementary food for artificial people is usually introduced.
In addition to the incorrectly selected mixture, there are other reasons why a child at 3 months old does not eat well:
- uncomfortable nipple. Even small children already have their own preferences. Some people like thicker latex tips, while others prefer silicone nipples. Parents should purchase several devices at once so that the child can choose the best one;
- a sharp transition to a milk substitute. If the baby is used to eating exclusively with mother's milk, switching to artificial nutrition can lead to negativity or temporary rejection of the formula. In this case, gradual accustoming to a different diet is important;
- the nutritional value of the mixture. Milk replacer is more nutritious and will take longer to be absorbed by the body. Consequently, an artificial child will feel hunger not after 2.5 hours, but, roughly speaking, after 4 hours. This aspect should also be taken into account so as not to overfeed the baby.
Therefore, when feeding a baby with a milk replacer, it is important to choose the right formula, silicone or latex bottle caps, and to optimize the feeding regimen. In this case, children's appetite should soon return to normal.
A child is born with an instinctive-reflexive type of behavior. That is, all his actions are subject to certain instincts, which include the sucking reflex. The kid still does not know how to overeat, so normally he eats as much as necessary. If the mother thinks that the child is eating poorly, you need to check whether he is gaining weight.
Experts have developed special tables that stipulate how many grams a child should add every 7 days, every 30 days and every 12 months. Reconciliation with the standards allows parents to understand how well the food is organized, whether there is enough milk for the baby or needs to be fed.
After birth, the baby's body weight decreases within 7 days. However, you should not worry, since this is a completely natural process. Meconium (newborn feces) comes out of the child's body, besides, the child is in a stressful state. After a week, the weight will begin to increase.
Consider the average weight gain over the first 12 months:
Less weight gain does not mean that the child is having any problems. Such indicators are very conditional, since everything depends on the characteristics of the infant himself.
As already noted, poor appetite does not always mean soreness or pathology. In any case, an experienced doctor can dispel all concerns.
Correcting the situation
The child does not eat well, what should I do? Many mothers turn to specialists with this question. We have already talked about some ways of solving the problem, it's time to talk about more specific and particular cases.
Feeding frequency
The question of why a baby is constantly breastfeeding is not entirely correct when it comes to a newborn baby. Very young children eat very often - at least every 2 to 2.5 hours. This feature must be "used".
If the baby does not want to eat right now, then, perhaps, at the next feeding he will want to try milk or mixture. The number of meals should be temporarily increased in order to catch the moment when the child's appetite will be optimal.
Duration of food intake
If before you calculated the time during which the baby was near the breast, now this practice should be abandoned. Try to increase the duration of feedings, have the baby suckle at the rate that is typical for him today.
Offer your baby one breast first and apply to the other only after emptying. Back milk is especially nutritious - it is fatter and more nutritious. With a sharp change in breast, the baby will not receive the required amount of calories, having consumed only liquid front milk.
If the child does not want to eat during the day or at this time his appetite is not very good, try applying it to the breast at night. Put the baby in your bed so that both you and the baby come to the time of feeding in the most relaxed state.
It is curious that the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for milk production, is more actively secreted at night, so that such feedings can be considered more productive. Perhaps the child will eat more food at night.
Refusal from wrapping
If the newborn is not eating, try not wrapping him up when feeding. On the contrary, skin-to-skin contact with the mother's skin will allow him to activate. This method is especially suitable for sleepy and "inhibited" babies.
Does the baby passively behave near the chest? Take off his undershirts (you can simply cover the back with a blanket), throw off the upper part of your clothes and thereby create close bodily interaction.
Sling application
As you know, appetite grows at the sight or smell of your favorite dish. The same is the case with newborn babies. If they are constantly near the mother's breast, they will want to eat more often.
Try carrying your baby in a so-called sling - a cloth bandage that will allow you to take your baby with you almost everywhere and at the same time free your hands. In addition, the constant movement of the mother will not allow the baby to fall asleep during feeding.
Mom's rest
Another useful tip, which, unfortunately, is not always easy to implement, relates to maternal rest. However, this recommendation can really improve the quality of lactation. Therefore, try to rest more yourself.
Try to devote more time to yourself: increase the duration of walks, try to sleep during the day, take every opportunity to get some rest. Of course, for this you need to enlist the support of family and friends.
The advantages of such an attitude are obvious: if the mother gets a good sleep and rests, then the amount of stress hormones that slow down the release of milk will decrease. As a result, lactation is improved and some feeding problems disappear.
A few words in conclusion
Thus, a reduced appetite in an infant can be due to a number of physiological or psychological reasons.
A healthy baby eats well and gains weight. He is active, sleeps well and cries little. If the baby does not eat well, you need to understand the reasons.
If the child does not ask for food or refuses to eat, then the parents immediately question why this is happening. The most common reasons why a baby does not eat well are as follows.
If the problem arose during breastfeeding, then perhaps the reason is that there is little or, on the contrary, a lot of milk. If the mother has little milk, then the baby refuses to breast and does not ask for her. In this case, you need to introduce complementary foods. If there is a lot of milk, then it can enter the baby's mouth with a strong pressure. He will begin to choke, and this circumstance will alienate him and reduce his appetite.
If the child stops eating at night, it is possible that he simply does not want to eat. Moreover, the timing of when this happens is influenced by the type of feeding. How many months do babies stop eating at night? Children who eat the mixture at night may not eat as early as 3-4 months. With breastfeeding, the baby can hang on the chest all night.
If the baby eats only breast milk a year and day and night, you need to begin to wean him from this. In this case, you can try to follow several recommendations.
- Every day you need to give more food, he should drink such an amount of milk, which is equal to the daily rate. There should be a hearty dinner before bed.
- You need to communicate more, play and pick up the child in the daytime.
- The baby goes to bed earlier than the parents a year, and before going to bed, you will need to wake him up to feed him. In this case, he will sleep longer at night and will wake up at most once.
- It is necessary at the same time to wean the child from joint rest at night. It is better if the baby sleeps in another room.
It is possible to start weaning from feeding at night from 6 months. In a year, the child will no longer ask for anything in a dream.
How many times a day does the baby eat? In the first months, a breastfed baby should eat up to 12 times a day with an interval of 2 hours. Moreover, he can eat only in a dream. How long should one feeding act last? The time spent at the breast can be 15-40 minutes. But you should not increase it, as the child falls asleep and begins to simply play with his chest in a dream.
How many grams of breast milk should a newborn eat? In the first days when colostrum is produced, one teaspoon is enough, and nothing else is needed to offer the child. Gradually, every day the amount of milk will increase by one teaspoon. By the fourth day, the baby should drink 30 ml of breast milk. On the fifth day, the amount of milk required for the baby is increased to 70 ml.
If a child eats a year only in sleep, it means that during wakefulness there are many distractions (sound, light, the presence of other people). A child can eat only in a dream a year simply due to the fact that such a regime has been established.
Poor appetite with artificial feeding
If a baby who is fed with mixtures refuses to eat, then there may be several explanations for this.
- The formula is more nutritious than milk and takes longer to be digested by the baby's body. The feeling of hunger occurs at a greater interval. How long does it take to give the mixture? It is not necessary to give the formula earlier than 4 hours after the last feeding.
- Perhaps not satisfied with the taste of the mixture. You can try another brand of mix. The main thing is to make the right choice. Carefully read the composition, take into account the age of the child.
- Incorrectly fitted nipple. The size of the hole in it should correspond to the age and developmental characteristics of the baby. If the child is sick, was born prematurely, then a non-rigid nipple with a large opening should be chosen.
- Refusal to eat may be due to abdominal pain.
- Teething, diseases of the oral cavity, infections also lead to the fact that the child does not eat anything other than milk or formula.
If the child eats only the mixture, then you cannot overfeed him. In this case, it is better to underfeed. To correctly calculate how many grams of the mixture you need to dilute, the instructions and recommendations of the doctor will help. You can calculate yourself how much mixture you need to make in the first week of life. To do this, the number of days from birth is multiplied by 10. For example, at 5 days he should drink 50 ml.
The day needs to be planned so that the baby gets the mixture after 3-4 hours. It is very important how long it takes to give the mixture at night. At night, the interval is extended to 5 hours. The mixture is absorbed and digested by the stomach more difficult and slower than breast milk.
Problems with new products
Often mothers are faced with a problem when the baby refuses to eat complementary foods. Why it happens?
- Perhaps the previous portion of food has not yet been digested, and the baby is not hungry.
- The baby may not like complementary foods, you should not insist on eating the dish.
- The dish is too hot or cold.
- You should choose the right spoon for the first feeding. It shouldn't be too big and metallic.
- Inflammation of the nasopharynx or ear also causes refusal to eat.
It happens that a child is one year old, and he does not eat anything except breast milk. Breast milk fully fulfills its functions only up to 6 months, after which complementary foods need to be introduced. By this time, the digestive organs begin to work quite well, and the child shows interest in new products. This interest can be easily discouraged by starting complementary foods with the wrong foods or foods that your baby doesn’t like. Large portions and force feeding can also push the baby away.
If the baby does not ask for anything other than breast milk in a year, then you need to take actions:
- Play more with the baby, distract from the need for breast. How much milk does a baby need per year? After the child is one year old, 500 ml of milk per day is enough for him. If he gets more, he will not want to eat complementary foods.
- Remove all sweets from the menu.
- Choose a dish that your baby will like.
What to do to fix the problem
After the reason is established that the baby does not eat well or completely refuses to eat, a further plan of action will be outlined.
If the baby does not want to eat or eats only in a dream, while being active, playing, communicating, it means that he has enough nutrients. You can try increasing the time interval between feedings.
Perhaps a complementary food has been introduced, which is offered to the baby from a bottle. Eating from a bottle is much easier than sucking on your mother's breast. Any complementary food is given from a spoon, all bottles and pacifiers are removed.
Any disease requires a doctor's consultation. Therefore, if the baby refuses to eat due to illness, appropriate treatment should be started. Stomatitis, cough, otitis media, and other illnesses can lead to loss of appetite and other complications.
During the period of teething, you should use special teethers, gels. You can massage the gums. There is no need to offer new complementary foods during this period.
If colic periodically begins to bother and this leads to weight loss, you need to give the child medications, do gymnastics and massage. It helps to lay the baby on the tummy before each feeding.
A nursing mother needs to establish a daily routine and adjust her nutrition. You can not eat too fatty, spicy, salty foods. It is necessary to refuse products containing dyes, stabilizers and flavor enhancers.
Constipation is rare, painful, hard stools. Normal bowel function indicates good health of a child of any age. In the first months of a child's life, parents are especially attentive and sensitive to the frequency of bowel movements in their baby. On average, infants in the first weeks of life have 4 bowel movements per day with a gradual decrease in their number with age. Often, parents feel that their child poop too rarely, and they think that their child is constipated, which requires immediate attention. But, in fact, babies, especially those who are breastfed, rarely have true constipation. Breast milk is so well absorbed that babies can have a bowel movement once a week, or even once every 2 weeks. If the stool is soft or mushy, then there is no question of constipation, even if, according to the parents, defecation is rare. The same applies to formula-fed babies. The fact that the baby is pushing and grunting during bowel movements does not at all mean that he has constipation, provided that the stool is soft or mushy. Remember, too, that the iron in all iron-fortified infant formula does not cause constipation. N-to words about when to see a doctor. If you note that the baby rarely poops and, at the same time, every act of defecation is painful for him, and the child constantly cries during bowel movements, the feces are hard, like raw smoked sausage or resemble "sheep feces", if you see blood in the feces, then all this - a reason to show the child to the doctor. now what to do with hepatitis B is a breast rejection clinic. Sometimes during feeding, the baby may behave in an unusual way - he is worried, throws a nipple, cries, bends, prefers only one breast or position. This condition is a sign of the baby's “refusal” from the breast. Refusal makes the mother nervous and insecure - after all, it becomes difficult to feed and calm the child, weight gain may slow down or even stop. Reasons for refusal may be the baby's illness, improperly organized breastfeeding. To successfully overcome the failure, it is necessary to create the most comfortable environment for the baby, to identify and eliminate errors in care and feeding. Why might a baby refuse to breastfeed? A child may be anxious and not breastfeed if he feels some kind of discomfort: a stuffy nose, fever, pain in the ears or abdomen, erupting teeth can interfere with sucking, and cause discomfort during feeding. The use of a pacifier or a bottle can also cause reluctance to suckle at the breast: the principle of nipple sucking is different, the baby gets used to it, and later refuses to make any effort to “get” milk from the breast. In the first 6-8 weeks, until lactation is established, the flow of milk may be too strong, the baby cannot cope with it, chokes - this can cause temporary refusal of the breast. For some children, refusal can also cause stress: for example, too active, early swimming and "diving" while bathing, the stay of the baby in the hospital or medical procedures that he needs to undergo (instillation in the nose, taking bitter medicines). One of the reasons for refusal is mistakes in childcare. If the mother is often absent, delegates her duties to numerous assistants, rarely picks up the child or ignores his needs - this breaks the psychological connection between them, undermines the child's trust - he has a "resentment" against the mother. If the baby drops breast at the beginning of feeding - is it a rejection? Anxiety at the beginning of the next feed does not always mean giving up breast, there are also "false" refusals. It is important to know that in the first weeks of feeding the baby can “aim” when taking the breast, shake his head, grab the nipple not the first time - this behavior at the breast is not a refusal and goes away by itself, usually by 4-5 weeks of the baby's life. At the moment when the baby grabs the nipple, you can gently direct its head towards the breast - gently, without pressing on the back of the head. After 4-5 months, during feeding, the child is actively interested in the environment, can easily be distracted by noise, throw the nipple and look for it again - this behavior also does not mean giving up breast. Does not breastfeeding mean a lack of milk? Yes, a child's long-term reluctance to breastfeed may indicate a lack of milk, if accompanied by slow weight gain, rare urination. In this case, you need to make sure that the feeding method meets the natural needs of the baby (on demand, without night breaks, the baby is attached to the breast correctly), and if necessary, take measures to increase lactation - offer both breasts during feeding, feed more often, do not limit the duration feeding. Could a refusal be a signal of a violation of the relationship between mother and child? There is an opinion that giving up breast is a way of a child to inform his mother that something does not suit him, an expression of "resentment" towards her. Breastfeeding for a baby is not only getting food, but also a way to communicate with mom, a guarantee of safety and comfort. Ignoring the baby's needs by the mother - for example, trying to wait for the "correct" feeding time when the baby is already crying, or involving too many helpers in caring for him, while the baby is very important in bodily contact with the mother, unpleasant manipulations - all this can disrupt close psychological connection between mother and child, cause him to "resent" and "strike", which will be expressed in the only way available to him - the refusal of the breast. If a mother feels insecure, worried, doubts whether she has enough milk, her nervousness can be transmitted to the child and cause his anxiety. How to overcome breast rejection? First of all, you need to try to find the cause, and, if possible, eliminate it - this can be helped by a breastfeeding consultant. If the refusal is caused by the use of a bottle and a pacifier, you will have to refuse them (the child can be supplemented with a spoon or syringe without a needle). Strong milk flow can be managed by using a position where the baby suckles while lying on the mother's life, or taking short breaks during a single feed. If the reason for the refusal is stress from hardening, diving, a course of massage, while overcoming the "strike", you need to abandon these activities (perhaps in a month and a half the child will react more calmly to them). For two or three weeks, the mother should go into a state of "symbiosis" with the baby: take care of him, without involving any assistants, ensure maximum bodily contact (joint sleep, sling), and quickly respond to his needs. It is better to limit or temporarily exclude visits from friends and relatives, going on a visit with the child; it is also better for the mother to bathe and change the baby's clothes. You need to continue to feed the baby on demand, often offer breast, but not insist if the baby refuses to take it; distract him, rock him. Be sure to offer the baby to suck on the breast before bedtime: a sleepy baby will eat more willingly. It is very important to offer the breast immediately after sleep, at the moment when the baby has just woken up. Usually, the situation will return to normal within 2-3 weeks. The rhythm of attachments to the breast during overcoming the refusal is determined by the mother - this is once every half an hour for a newborn and once every hour or two for a baby of 4-6 months. This “mode” gives the baby more opportunities to suckle, even if the feeds are very short. Should I switch to mixed feeding when giving up breast? If the baby stubbornly refuses to breast - weight gain may slow down or stop. It is necessary to find out if the child has enough milk by means of urination control: there should be more than 8-10 of them per day. If there is enough urination or more than 12 per day, and the child agrees to breastfeed before bedtime and after sleep, suckles a little, but often, supplementation is not required. If urination is less than 8-10 per day, the child needs additional nutrition (supplementation with a mixture or expressed milk). The amount of supplementary feed and the type of mixture will be assigned
