1. What is the normal amount of milk for a 4-month-old baby?
When babies are 4 months old, their stomach capacity has greatly increased and can accommodate more food. Therefore, the amount of milk consumed by a 4-month-old baby increases accordingly. Generally speaking, a 4-month-old baby needs to be fed 5-6 times a day, and the amount of milk each time is between 120-180 ml. If the baby is still in the exclusive breastfeeding stage, he needs to be fed about 8-12 times a day.
2. How to judge whether the baby is full?
For 4-month-old babies, they are already able to express their feelings of hunger and fullness. When you are breastfeeding, you can pay attention to the following points:
1. When the baby stops sucking halfway through the meal or no longer actively opens his mouth to ask for milk, he may be full.
2. If you feel that you have fed enough milk but the baby is still crying for milk, then the discomfort may be caused by other reasons (such as wet diapers or stomach discomfort), which requires further investigation.
3. The baby will appear more relaxed and sleepy after feeding, which is also a sign of fullness.
3. How to deal with the increase in baby’s milk intake?
As babies grow and develop, their demand for food will gradually increase. If your baby\’s milk intake shows a significant trend of increase, you can consider the following points:
1. Increase the frequency of feedings: If the baby does not drink enough milk every time, you can consider increasing the frequency of feedings. For example, if you originally feed 5 times a day, you can try changing it to 6 or 7 times.
2. Increase the amount of milk fed in a single feeding: If you feel that you have fed milk many times diligently, but the child is still not full enough, you can try to increase the amount of milk fed in a single feeding. But be careful not to give your child too much at once, and gradually increase the amount within the range that the child can adapt to.
3. Introduce complementary foods: 4-month-old babies can already start to try some complementary foods. Under the guidance of a doctor or nutritionist, gradually introduce complementary foods such as rice noodles and fruit purees to supplement nutrition.
4. Breastfeeding details that need attention
1. Keep your baby comfortable when feeding: Keep your baby in a comfortable position when feeding. You can let them lie in your arms or use a special feeding pillow.
2. Avoid excessive cuddling when breastfeeding: Excessive cuddling will cause the baby to form bad habits and easily lead to problems such as insomnia at night.
3. Burp in time after feeding: Burping can help the baby expel excess gas in the stomach and reduce discomfort.
4. Pay attention to hygiene: Feeding utensils and breast milk bottles need to be cleaned and disinfected frequently to avoid bacterial infection.
To sum up, the amount of milk for a 4-month-old baby should be 5-6 times a day, about 120-180 ml each time. If the child does not eat enough, you can increase the number of feedings, the amount of milk in a single feeding, or introduce complementary foodsto supplement nutrition. At the same time, during the breastfeeding process, attention should be paid to maintaining comfort, avoiding excessive hugging, burping in time, and paying attention to hygiene.