During infancy, babies always eat and sleep, and their growth and development are very rapid. As they grow older, they quickly reach the stage of aversion to milk. Babies who are tired of breastfeeding show no interest in feeding, and this period happens to be between 4-6 months old. So what should a four month old baby do if they don't feed?
1、 Reasons why a four month old baby doesn't like to breastfeed
A four month old baby doesn't like to breastfeed, so mothers don't need to worry about this situation. Parents should first understand that over 50% of babies aged four to six months will experience a period of aversion to milk. Some babies even experience it around three months old. Since there is a period of aversion to breastfeeding, it is normal for a four month old baby to not love to breastfeed. Firstly, it is important to understand the reasons why a four month old baby does not like to breastfeed. There are many reasons for its occurrence, including:
1. Curiosity: Full of curiosity about everything around them, it is easy to get distracted and unable to concentrate on drinking milk.
2. Rejecting the old: no longer only liking baby formula, wanting to try other foods.
3. The environment and atmosphere are not good: wearing too many clothes, feeling stuffy at home, feeling scolded, and other reasons make the baby feel uncomfortable.
4. Slow growth rate: The demand for nutrition and calories is not as high as in newborns.
5. Illness: Non pathological aversion to milk is generally more common. So parents had better spend more time and patiently observe and care. After all, the baby can't express itself, so parents should carefully understand the reasons to meet the needs.
2、 What should I do if my four month old baby doesn't like to breastfeed
If a four month old baby doesn't like to breastfeed, don't worry first. You can try the following measures:
1. Do not change formula milk powder at will. The baby has already become accustomed to the taste of the milk powder they drink, and if they switch to a new variety, it is more likely to cause the baby to dislike it and go on a hunger strike. Generally, after the weaning period, babies will still like the original formula milk powder, so a four month old baby who doesn't like to breastfeed is also a transitional period.
2. Do not force breastfeeding. Anorexia may occur at different stages of a baby's development, which is a normal phenomenon. If parents are anxious and force their babies to eat before they can regain their appetite, they will exhibit resistance and exacerbate their baby's anorexia.
3. A four month old baby doesn't like to breastfeed, so mothers can diversify their food choices. If a baby develops aversion to milk, parents can put some effort into the types and colors of complementary foods to improve the baby's acceptance of food.
4. Provide a quiet eating environment for the baby, reducing external attraction or stimulation.
5. Observe the growth of the baby. If the baby's growth curve is normal and their mobility remains the same as before, without any other abnormal phenomena such as just getting vaccinated, teething, bloating, etc., the aversion to milk usually returns to normal after a few days, and parents do not need to worry too much. If the baby's appetite is still weak and their activity decreases, it is necessary to check if there are other physiological diseases.
This article explains the reasons why infants do not breastfeed at four months old, as well as some specific measures that mothers can take when infants do not breastfeed during their aversion period. In fact, the period of aversion to milk is a very normal period, and mothers do not need to be nervous. As long as the baby's growth and development are normal, there is no need to worry.
