4-month-old babies are lazy to breastfeed, which can make mothers worried and very confused. If you know the cause of this, it can be easy for you to help your baby breastfeed again.
Why are 4-month-old babies lazy to breastfeed?
There are many reasons why the baby is suddenly lazy to suckle, even though it was very good before. Babies may be lazy to feed for a few days, or for up to 10 days. These are common causes:
The mother's milk flows quickly and strongly, making the baby uncomfortable.
The baby has a stiff neck muscle on one side, which causes pain while feeding. If you find your baby is not feeding on one breast, you should have your baby examined by a doctor.
Your baby has gastroesophageal reflux, which makes breastfeeding painful.
The baby's mouth hurts. It can be caused by thrush, or hand, foot and mouth disease.
Baby has a cold, stuffy nose, so it is difficult to breathe while feeding
Baby has an ear infection, which causes discomfort while feeding.
The baby is distracted or annoyed by the noise while feeding
During a suck, your baby bites you and is startled by your reaction
The baby has a change in habits, maybe because the family has just moved, or the mother returns to work.
There are special reasons why babies are lazy 4 months old
These are uncommon reasons, but should still be considered when mothers see their babies lazy to suckle:
Your baby doesn't like the smell of the lotion or perfume you put on the chest. Your child likes your natural smell. So don't use products with strong odors
Altered milk flavor. It may be because the mother eats other foods or she has mastitis . Mastitis can make the milk taste salty, and when the baby is finished, express the milk to clean the affected breast. As mastitis decreases, the same milk salinity will decrease.
How do you feed your baby again?
The most important thing to help the baby suck again is to keep calm, not force the baby to eat. Trying to force your baby to suckle only makes him uncomfortable. Your baby may cry or struggle and refuse to suck. Instead, watch for cues for your baby to feed before he is hungry. It can be much more difficult to feed while your baby is crying.
The signs that your baby is hungry can be opening and closing his mouth, making noises, opening his eyes or turning his head to you. If the baby is lying on his back, he can shake his head, wave his arms and kick his feet to find the breast.
The mother can also have more skin-to-skin contact with the baby to increase closeness to the baby. In addition, when the baby is not in the mum, the baby will find it easier to find a breast to suck. You should also try many different breastfeeding positions to see how comfortable your baby is.
If the baby is used to the steady flow of milk while bottle feeding and refuses to breastfeed, the mother should express the milk before feeding the baby. To release more milk, mothers should massage or put a warm towel on the chest.
From 3 to 6 months, some babies cannot suckle when there is noise around. So you can try breastfeeding your baby in a dark, quiet room. If the baby still refuses to suckle, the mother can breastfeed when the baby is sleepy.
Sometimes the mother will not be able to know the exact reason why the 4-month-old baby is lazy to suckle. However, with the above information and solutions, you can help your baby to breastfeed again without knowing the reason. If you are concerned that your baby is not nursing due to illness, you should take your baby to a doctor for support.
See more:
The baby is taking a bottle. All the knowledge mothers need to know
Breast massage for abundant milk to breastfeed
Let's find out why the baby refuses to take a bottle