Feeding a 5 month old?

Question

I just wanted to ask if giving a 5 month old smaller amounts over a period of 4 hour is wrong??

And when he burps he has a vomit deposit and then crys is that reflux??

My baby is 7.3kg is that healthy for a near 5 month old on the 8th Feb 2007...

Answer 1

Every baby is different. And they haven't yet learned to read all the baby books to find out what they're "supposed" to do. :-)

My baby is almost seven months old (on the first), and she RARELY takes more than 4 oz at a time. She MIGHT take 5-6 for her very early morning feed, but, other than that, it's usually 2-3 oz at a time. Sometimes she'll cluster feed (drinking 2 oz every half hour for a couple of hours), other times she'll literally go three hours without eating again. It doesn't seem to matter to her whether it's breastmilk or formula. There just is no pattern for her other than "small" meals. So long as your baby is growing adequately, don't worry too much.

Answer 2

Hi

I am a first time mum to my little princess - Isabella 6 months old. As long as your baby is happy, contented, putting on weight etc etc then nothing you are doing is WRONG so to speak.

However feeding your baby smaller amounts over a longer period will probably be a lot more difficult and time consuming for YOU in the long run. My baby girl had the most horrendous colic for the first 4 weeks of her life - i mean 24 hour colic. I was breastfeeding on demand - little and often - whenever she wanted it.

However i was advised to read the contented baby book by Gina Ford and seriously i would recommend it to anyone. Within 2 days of following the routines in the book my baby's colic disappeared completely and we have never looked back. Once you get them in a proper routine with feedijng times they do just fine. Of course you will always get your hiccups but overall everyone is much happier. Everyone always comments on how lucky i am because my little girl is always laughing and smiling but seriously if i take her out of her routine she is a nightmare.

Do whatever feels right because as long as you love your child and do your best for her then absolutely nothing you do is wrong.

Oh and my baby also had reflux although she never actually was sick loads. she was given infant gaviscon which is not absorbed by the body so it does baby no harm - works a treat for any symptoms of reflux tho - my baby's main symtom was she couldn't be put flat on her back or she screamed and screamed- she always had be kept upright in the early days - a little sick on burping is normal and i wouldn't wprry about it - however if you think its really destressing your baby go and see a doctor and describe all the symtoms. They can only put your mind at rest and dont worry about going to the doctors all the time - i mean i got my little girl checked out for absolutely anything in the early days and the doctors always said to be better safe than sorry. There is no point worrying - just make that appointment if its really on your mind.

Answer 3

No smaller meals are better for everybody. So long as the meals are so small he is hungry all the time. But just because he will drink (for example) 6 oz doesn't mean you have to give him 6 instead of 5. Particularly if 6 makes him puke.

A baby's stomach is the size of their fist.

Info on GER
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T106000.asp

My baby has undiagnosed GER, why undiagnosed because I do not believe that GER should be treated unless it is causing pain OR not enough weight gain AND can not be managed by behavioural changes such as feeding on an angle, keeping the baby on an angle after feeding, smaller feeds more often, baby wearing (crying causes reflux), elevated sleeping, etc etc. Medications all have the potential for side effects.

Oh and about thickened feeds:
What about thickened feeds?
Baby cereal, added to thicken breastmilk or formula, has been used as a treatment for GER for many years, but its use is controversial.

Does it work? Thickened feeds can reduce spitting up, but studies have not shown a decrease in reflux index scores (i.e., the “silent reflux” is still present). Per Donna Secker, MS, RD in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease , "The effect of thickened feedings may be more cosmetic (decreased regurgitation and increased postprandial sleeping) than beneficial." Thickened feeds have been associated with increased coughing after feedings, and may also decrease gastric emptying time and increase reflux episodes and aspiration. Note that rice cereal will not effectively thicken breastmilk due to the amylase (an enzyme that digests carbohydrates) naturally present in the breastmilk.

Is it healthy for baby? If you do thicken feeds, monitor baby’s intake since baby may take in less milk overall and thus decrease overall nutrient intake. There are a number of reasons to avoid introducing cereal and other solids early. There is evidence that the introduction of rice or gluten-containing cereals before 3 months of age increases baby's risk for type I diabetes. In addition, babies with GERD are more likely to need all their defenses against allergies, respiratory infections and ear infections – but studies show that early introduction of solids increases baby’s risk for all of these conditions.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html#thickenedfeed

Answer 4

try feeding him/her "Enfamil A+ Thickened" formula .... and feed him only when hes hungry...schedules are stupid and useless because the baby usually is not hungry enough and only drinks half the bottle and then you gotta throw the rest out.