What's a healthy eating schedule for a 4month old?

Question

She's wanting to eat every two hours but I'm wondering if I should start stretching it and just entertain her in the mean time to distract her. She's pretty chubby, I mean not unhealthy, just cture baby chub, but maybe that's just because I'm still nursing her.

That's what I figured, just to feed her when she's hungry. I've just keep getting asked "she's STILL every two hours?" I wasn't super worried about it but I wanted to hear what some other people did...Thanks guys.

Answer 1

You need to feed your baby when she is hungry. Babies will not overeat. Making your baby wait is only frustrating for u and your baby.

Answer 2

Attachment parent advocates would say to let her nurse however long and whenever she likes. THis is fine for the first 3 months, but as babies get older, they develop habits, and you would like to do someting besides have a baby on your nipple 24/7 for the next year, probably. Does she act hungry and eat a lot when you feed her? Did this start recently? She may be going through a growth spurt, typical around 4 months, so go with it for now.
Or, you may have a grazer, who has gotten used to "snacking" when the mood hits , often, instead of eating a substantial meal when actually hungry. Also, if you have an especially bright baby, they are starting to get the game now, and she may decide that she would like to have the all-day and all-night night buffet open for q 2 hour snacks. Sometimes life's demands necessitate encouraging baby to eat more, less often perhaps. If your milk supply is well-established, and baby thriving, which sounds like she definitely is, you can start guiding her toward a schedule of eating that works a little better for you.
I combined attachment parenting with reality, and let my baby eat when really hungry (distracting him a little to slowly elongate the sessions), and it began to be 15-20 minute feedings every 4 hours instead of 5-10 minutes every 2.5-3 hours. He is perfectly happy and gets gold stars from the pediatrician in all categories (who is HUGE breast-feeding/atttachment parenting promoter). All bets are off when he has teething pain, or is sick etc... as he is then nursing for comfort (although, I try not to let him regress too too much) and then, when the problem passes, we get back to schedule within a few days.

Answer 3

She may be going through a growth spurt.

What I do is to feed on demand, so I can't tell you a "healthy" eating schedule for a 4 month old. But if you want to compare, I have 6 month old twins and they nurse every 3-4 hours. Sometimes they get hungry after 2 hours.

If you want to stretch out the feeding, that's certainly something you can try. If your baby is trully hungry, you'll know that she'll be hard to console no matter what you do. On the other hand, if you can console her, then she may not be hungry or just not THAT hungry. Give it a try, but be flexible if it doesn't work.

Answer 4

My formula fed 4 month old boy still likes to eat every 2 hours. Just feed when hungry, still way too young to put them on a schedule for eating.

Answer 5

I wouldnt put ur baby on a feeding schedule at four months, that's too young. I would just feed her when shes hungry and she wont over eat. She may be chubby cuz most babys are chubby. She will lose it when she gets older. Dont put her on a shedule untill clost to her one year birthday.

Answer 6

Regardless of if you are nursing or bottle feeding or both, at this age, the baby still determines the schedule. At that age their tummies are so small they don't hold that much so the cycle is very fast between eat, poop, repeat.

Answer 7

I began stretching my feedings out to 3-4 hours at 4 months, and my daughter had no problems, and it was nice for me to have the extra time. She ate the same amount, she just nursed longer during feedings.

Answer 8

Healthy schedule = no schedule.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/bf-links-concerns.html#schedule

Answer 9

when he or she is hungry or feed him or her fruits or vegatables