Many novice mothers encounter this problem: during the first three months of their baby's life, they mostly eat and sleep, and when they get hungry, poop or pee, they will cry loudly. One day, I will suddenly realize that my baby doesn't like to eat breast milk much or eats very little. So, what's wrong with my baby suddenly eating less at three months old?
What happened when the baby suddenly ate less at three months old
Generally speaking, this is a normal physiological phenomenon that occurs in babies, belonging to physiological anorexia, which is only a temporary situation. Usually, the appetite will naturally recover after about a month.
For babies aged three to five months, even if their breastfeeding time is not as long as during infancy, their sucking is already very efficient, and even just a few minutes of sucking can provide enough breast milk intake. So, if it is a temporary aversion to milk, as long as the baby's overall mental condition is good and their weight steadily increases according to the growth curve, there is usually no need to worry excessively.
If the aversion to milk lasts for more than a month and there is no increase in weight (approximately 700-800 grams/month from the first three months of birth, 600 grams/month from the fourth to sixth months, and 200-400 grams/month from the seventh to twelfth months), mothers should pay attention and take their baby to the hospital in a timely manner to see if it is caused by a disease.
What should I do if my baby develops aversion to milk
1. Mom keeps her emotions calm. It is natural for mothers to experience emotional anxiety when babies develop aversion to milk. However, if mothers can maintain a calm attitude as much as possible, it will be more conducive to solving problems.
2. Actively try to feed but do not force feeding. During the period when the baby is tired of breastfeeding, it is still necessary to provide sufficient breastfeeding opportunities for the baby and constantly actively try. But mothers should avoid forcing their babies to eat due to nervousness and anxiety. This approach may backfire, making the baby more irritable and refusing to breastfeed.
3. Mom adjusts her diet by herself. If it's a mother's problem, she should pay attention to whether her diet changes and causes changes in the smell of milk, and adjust her diet at any time.
The above is a detailed introduction about what happens when a baby suddenly eats less at three months old, hoping to be helpful to novice mothers. At the same time, parenting experts also kindly remind that although babies during the lactation period eat less, most of them can still maintain their growth and development, and there is no data showing that it will affect their intellectual development. So, mothers can just go with the flow.
