Diet - Introduction of Complementary Foods
In principle, infants still need only breast milk or formula before they reach 4 to 6 months of age. The best way to determine if a baby is eating enough is by monitoring their growth. Each time you take your child for a check-up, the doctor will measure their weight, height, and head circumference. When deciding how much milk to feed your baby, pay attention to their hunger and fullness cues, which are often more important than the amount of breast milk or formula they consume.
For babies fed formula or expressed breast milk from a bottle, by around 4 months old, the amount consumed per feeding increases from 60 to 120 milliliters to 120 to 180 milliliters. If a baby is exclusively breastfed, they should be fed 8 to 12 times within 24 hours. Some breastfed babies may feed more frequently. This is your child telling you they are growing and need more milk. The more frequently you breastfeed, the more hormones your brain releases to stimulate milk production. As your milk supply increases, the frequency of your baby's feedings will decrease. If your baby still appears very hungry after 4 to 5 days, consult a pediatrician and schedule a weight check.
Frequent or repetitive coughing during feeding is abnormal and should be evaluated by a doctor. If your baby pauses frequently or changes color during feeding, move the breast or bottle away to allow them to breathe. This may indicate difficulty breathing, and prompt medical attention is warranted.
During this stage, even without changes in diet, you may notice changes in your baby's bowel movements. Their intestines can now hold more and absorb more nutrients from milk, so compared to the first month, their stools may be easier to form. In fact, by the time a baby is 2 to 3 months old, their bowel movement frequency will significantly decrease, regardless of whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. Some breastfed babies may only have a bowel movement every 3 to 4 days, and a few completely healthy breastfed babies may have a bowel movement once a week. As long as your baby is eating well, gaining weight normally, and their stools are not too dry or hard, there is no need to overly worry about decreased bowel movement frequency. If you are concerned about changes in your baby's bowel movements, consult a pediatrician.
Some breastfed babies may start sleeping for 5 hours or more continuously at night when they are approaching 4 months old. These babies may consume more during the day, allowing their fortunate mothers to sleep longer at night. At this stage, there is no need to wake up breastfed babies at night for feeding.