Is Baby Getting Enough Food?

Hi,
Is there anything specific that is making you think she's not getting enough milk? I'm thinking like drop in weight gain, not enough wet or dirty diapers etc. If not, she is probably just fine. At this age, they are more efficient so their nursing times shorten and many start to nurse less frequently. Also, as you've noticed they get VERY distractible. You may have to go to nursing somewhere with NO distractions. I'm guessing you are probably fine, though so long as she is gaining and wetting/pooping as usual.
Good luck!

she's at the age where she's curious and wants to play and look around. Its normal. Try nursing her in a quite room with out the tv on and no distractions and she might nurse better.

I'ld always offer the breast first and try to feed her before she gets too hngry and keep directions to a minium. My daughter at that age was too busy looking at everything to bother with eating. She would play with my breast more than drink.
After she nurses then offer her some snacks. She's still young enough that she really doesn't need a whole lot of food. At that age i only gave my daughter food once a day and it usually wasn't a lot(maybe a half jar of stage 1 food or a tablespoon of cereal).
Good luck babies go threw phases that they don't eat a lot and then they'll eat liek crazy.

I hate to tell you, but it sounds like your daughter is weaning herself from the breast early. My daughter began that ritual at about 8 months and slowly feedings started to drop off until right before she turned one. The fact is, the more solids she has, the less she feels hungry for the milk and also the world around her is much more exciting! Sad uh? I've heard of some pumping strategies to keep yourself able to nurse, but if she's not latching on for a good feeding, then you may need to check with your ped. about a vitamin supplement or what else she may need--two meals a day isn;t enough. 5 1/2 months seems awfully young to be eating solids and weaning so early. If she's not nursing enough, you may have to increase her solids to three meals a day and start supplementing something else. Check with your doctor. I know for my daughter, I had to nurse in her room with the lights dim for her to get a good feeding. Any kind of noise or light would make her want to stop and play! Just think of it this way-- you have a very independent girl there!! If you do have to wean, don't worry; you will find lots of other snuggle, quality time throughout the day. Good luck!

I nursed and at 5 months my daughter did not want to nurse as much so I just weined her. You can't force a child to nurse if they don't want to. I tired and she started bitting! You may just have to pump or just let nature take its course.

Can you nurse her in a quiet area? A darkened room in early a.m. Or have a chair somewhere that isn't in front of the tv, a picture window, or wildly stimulating poster, or the radio, you get the picture. And even though you're SAHM, if your dau isn't drinking enough (and you aren't drinking enough), you may NEED to pump (because you feel you're drying up)to keep up and increase your milk production. Because if she isn't emptying your milk, your body won't make more, because it's not being needed. Or if you get tight and 'overfull' and don't pump, you could get mastitis, which is not fun/funny...Try not to give up! I b/f my dau now 8 and it can be frustrating (my dau was 'nosey' and didn't want to think she was missing anything either!)because you can't measure how much she's getting at a feeding, and the constant snacking (which my dau did until I changed both of our habits) made me feel like a 'milk machine' at her constant beck and call. Think of it like this, as long as there isn't a medical reason, if you were formula feeding her you wouldn't fix her a 1/2 or 1 oz bottle constantly throughout the day. Good luck!!

nurse before you feed snacks until she is about a year, then reverse it. She doesn't get enough nutrition from snacking and you want to support nursing as much as possible. Also at 5 months they get "nosy". This in its extreme can mean that you have to take her in a separate room to nurse when activity is going on. Do make sure you nurse before you give any other food, when she's done, then she can snack. Also I would bet she's getting more than you think, they become very efficient sucking machines by that age. La Leche is very helpful on these topics
good luck

Sounds perfectly normal for her age. They are getting intrested in the world around them, and dont want to take the time to eat. My suggestion is keep nursing. The more she nurses, the more milk you make. Just keep offering the breast to her. Good luck!

I too think it is perfectly normal. How often is she "snacking"? Is it frequent? Or is it barely at all? She is coming on the six month mark and should go through another growth spurt and will probably nurse for longer periods when that happens. But at her stage its normal for her to be easily distracted while nursing. I would just go somewhere quiet where the two of you can focus on the feeding.

Also breast fed babies are different - they eat what they need only when they need it. They eat just enough to fill their little bellies again.

Don't feed her solids until she has nursed. She needs to up your supply again. A baby can survive on breastmilk for a long time and they really don't "need" solids. All their nutrients will still come from milk. So unless you are ready to wean, get her back on. It might be frustrating for a bit, but worth it in the long run.

H. Z. (SAHM 5, almost 4 and 15 month old boys)

This is normal. First of all, I would say that you are most likely not drying up. Although you might feel like there is no milk or you little one is "playing around" on the breast, most likely there is milk for her when she wants it. It is normal for them to do this. With my girls, there were many, many times that I was convinced I either had no milk or my little ones were weaning. Neither was the case. Just keep going with it. When your little one is ready for a growth spurt again or needs the extra comfort, the appetite will increase, and nursing will be important to her again....and the milk will be there. Just let her nurse when she wants to.

C.,

Actually what your daughter is doing to natural. Some advice that I recieved was nurse in the same spot as much as possible. So there really isn't anything new for your daughter to look at or be distracted by. Settle in and try to keep her focused on you. You can also try bouncing on an exercise ball. This tends to get my daughter focused too. You aren't drying up either. By this time your breasts have adjusted to the amount of milk your daughter is demanding. If the request for milk goes up your body will adjust and make more. Keep on breast feeding. I enjoy it myself and when my daughter was going thru this stage and still sometimes does I just ofter the breast anytime I think she wants it without concern that she is on or not on a schedule. For the most part my daughter has her times of the day that she really wants to nurse and times that she doesn't. Keep nursing and your daughter will get what she needs.

Enjoy,
L. M

My 6.5 month old is now eating 3 meals a day and is getting disinterested (same way yours is) in the morning and evening BF sessions we have. I've cut out the morning, but lie down with her and a bottle to keep the closeness. We still have the night, but that's getting dubious too. Seems as if she is self-weaning.

I would talk to your doctor, I wouldn't hold back food - help figure out a balance. I wasn't feeding our baby enough food even at the 3 sessions we have. You can also pump if she's not interested in latching on, at least she gets the benefits in bottle form.

my 5 1/2 mon old is doing the same thing! i feed before she eats, and try again after just in case. anytime your breast are stimpulated your body will produce more milk. no worries!!! she eats twice a day now. not much, just a little. my 2 oldest went through it and still nursed until 2yr or older! You will do fine!!! Keep up the great work momma!!!!
even though i am sahm i still use my pump upon occ., also, oatmeal can help with supply, so if you like it - enjoy!

My daughter will be 6 months in a couple of days. I haven't started solids yet. I start them at 6 mos and with 1 meal a day and go very slowly with them since they aren't necessary yet. My daughter does the on/off thing during the day but does longer sessions in evening and early am. They are efficient suckers so she may be getting more than you think. Always nurse before you give solids so she doesn't fill up on solids (breast milk is more nourishing than any solid). I agree about going to a quiet spot to nurse. They are so interested in the world right now every little noise gets their attn. Good luck!