Breast-feeding. Breastfeeding by month - a reminder for mothers The problem of breastfeeding at 3-4 months

By this period, a woman already knows a lot about her baby: his habits, character, tolerance to a number of foods. Mom and baby now have favorite foods and food preferences. Mom worries less about her milk supply because she knows how to increase it.

The baby is less bothered by intestinal colic, which means the diet can be safely expanded. Let's talk about the list of foods that a nursing mother can eat after 3 months of the baby's life.

Features of feeding a baby at 3 months

• A nursing woman should take into account that a newborn’s need for nutrients per unit of body weight is higher than that of an adult.
• During this period, a woman needs about 3500 kcal per day.
• With a volume of one feeding of 150 ml, the daily amount of breast milk approaches 850-900 ml with 6 feedings a day.
• The need for vitamins remains high at this age.

At three months it is permissible to expand your food intake. A woman need not worry about what she can and cannot eat. Almost everything is allowed; a period of lifting restrictions begins, unless the child suffers from food allergies.

The same principle remains as before: you need to eat tasty, familiar food. When a woman eats deliciously, she produces a lot of gastric juice and enzymes. The food is digested well and the milk is rich in nutrients.

Also good news: there are no diseases related to the diet of a nursing woman. The mother will not be able to seriously harm the child with her diet, unless she takes medications and does not abuse other drugs harmful to health (alcohol, smoking).

Monotonous food with limited protein and vitamins contributes to anemia and there is a threat of iodine deficiency. But this is a separate topic and such pathology does not appear without additional reasons.

The daily diet of a breastfeeding woman should contain:

• 100-130 grams of protein food,
• 100 g fat,
• 400-500 g carbohydrates,
• Food should be rich in mineral salts, especially calcium and phosphorus, as well as vitamins.

A diet consisting of:

• 180-200 grams of meat;
• 800 grams of vegetables and fruits;
• no more than 500 grams of bread;
• 50 grams of butter;
• one egg.

Particularly worth highlighting is the consumption of fruits and vegetables (800 grams). It's a lot! It is through these products that women do not get those vital substances (vitamins and microelements). If you are not able to handle such an impressive amount of plant food, then you can cover your needs with juices from fruits and vegetables.

Be sure to include parsley, dill and other greens in your daily diet. You can make delicious homemade sauces from them; in this form there will be more vitamins.

At this stage, you can already use different bright fruits and vegetables:

• oranges,
• cherry, strawberry, raspberry,
• red apples,
• beet,
• pumpkin, carrots.

To improve appetite, spices will not hurt:

• thyme, tarragon,
• garlic, onion,
• basil.

It is useful to eat grain sprouts.

• drink up to 2 liters of liquid;
• in nutrition, focus on “live” food;
• do not clog your stomach with “dead” foods, which will turn into extra pounds on your hips.

It is advisable to add products such as eggs, chocolate, citrus fruits one at a time. One day we ate, for example, something seafood, and for the next 3 days we look to see if peeling on the cheeks or rashes appear. If everything is fine, then you can introduce the next provocative product.

Your favorite coffee in the morning or tea with honey is not a limitation. Those with a sweet tooth can treat themselves to a piece of cake. Champignons and oyster mushrooms are not contraindicated for mushroom lovers.

Canned food, sausage from the supermarket, sausages are considered “dead” food. They contain many flavoring additives and preservatives. There is no meat in such products. The same applies to confectionery and white bread. Due to the content of dyes, palm oil, and cheap margarine, they are more harmful than beneficial.

Any fish - pollock, cod, flounder, mackerel, herring will be beneficial because they are rich in healthy fatty acids. Sea fish are especially useful: tuna, salmon, cod, sardines and anchovies. Don't forget about olive oil and olives.

Poultry meat - chicken, turkey can be eaten fried, boiled, smoked and baked. And quail eggs can be consumed together with the shell to replenish the body with calcium.

Fermented milk products will benefit the intestines. Especially with a high content of fermented milk bacteria (biokefir, yogurt, ayran). Using a special starter, you can prepare it yourself.

Porridges made from corn, rice, and buckwheat are preferable. They are more useful. Although for the sake of variety, everything is appropriate.

Who are there restrictions for?

There are some restrictions for children with allergies. Here you need to take into account products that have different allergenic potential.

TO products with high potential include:

• whole milk, eggs,
• seafood, caviar,
• carrots, tomatoes, red pepper,
• celery,
• Strawberry Raspberry,
• citrus,
• pineapple, kiwi, pomegranate, melon, persimmon, mango,
• chocolate,
• coffee, cocoa,
• mushrooms, nuts,
• wheat, rye.

• fermented milk,
• rabbit meat, horse meat, turkey, lamb,
• refined vegetable oil,
• millet, corn and pearl barley,
• white cabbage, cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli, cucumbers,
• green varieties of apples, pears, white and red currants, white and yellow cherries, yellow plums,
• parsley dill.

A three-month-old baby's own enzymes begin to work. The gastrointestinal tract reaches maturity. The liver starts working. Therefore, there are no special restrictions on food, only mothers with children with allergies will have to limit themselves a little.

Lyubov Maslikhova, therapist, website specially for the site

Useful video:

This article discusses breastfeeding. We talk about the features of the procedure at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months. You will learn what mistakes mothers make during breastfeeding, as a result of which the baby may refuse to breastfeed.

1 month of breastfeeding a baby can be described as the child’s desire to constantly feed and feel the mother’s warmth next to him. At this time, problems are likely both with a lack of milk and with its abundant secretion.

The more often the baby reaches for the breast, the more he tries to show how valuable your attention is to him. The first days after the maternity hospital, the baby sleeps almost all the time.

You need to watch your diet. It is important to exclude any foods that can cause a skin rash, as well as overseas fruits, grapes, sweets, and chocolate. The bitter foods you eat can cause your child to refuse guardians.

Benefits of breastfeeding in the first month:

• Develops the child, helps him grow and gain weight.
• Helps return mommy to her prenatal shape.

Some mothers experience difficulty breastfeeding in the first month. The flow of milk has not yet been fully established; this happens later. At some point the baby may suck all the milk, and at another time he may only enjoy the foremilk.

Don’t make mistakes that lead to the baby’s refusal from guards. It is necessary to feed the child with a spoon; leave the bottles for an older age. A pacifier can reduce the number of feedings per day.

Breastfeeding at 2 months

Breastfeeding for 2 months of a baby’s life is distinguished by the fact that, compared to the previous month, the baby needs less time to feed in order to experience a feeling of fullness.

Breastfeeding at 2 months:

• The baby's diet is almost completely formed. Now it’s easier for you to plan your day based on your baby’s feeding time.
• At this age, the baby can focus his gaze on various objects. Now, while eating, he tries to look you in the eye.
• The baby’s body is already stronger, but still responds to various sweets, which become the culprits of discomfort in the tummy.

Breastfeeding for 2 months differs from the usual diet. Mothers get used to the fact that the baby often asks for the breast, and at 2 months of age the baby needs 10-12 feedings per day to feel full and calm.

Nighttime meals for a baby of this age are also reduced, and the child becomes full faster. Some children at this age begin to sleep through the night without waking up.

If you are worried whether your baby is getting enough to eat or not, keep an eye on the little person’s weight. Children of this age gain weight quickly; those who are completely on guard can gain a kilogram in a month. If the monthly increase is less than one hundred grams, you should contact your pediatrician; you may be advised to use a mixture in parallel with breastfeeding.

What is worth remembering about guards in the first months:

• Offer your baby your breast more often. This will protect you from milk stagnation.
• Abuse of sweets during breastfeeding can cause constipation in the baby.
• Carbonated drinks can be bad for you, as your baby will have an unpleasant feeling in the stomach.

Mothers who strive for a quick end to breastfeeding do not think about what problems they create for their baby not only on a mental, but also on a physiological level. Women who choose formula as the baby's main source of nutrition will cause problems with the baby's gastrointestinal tract until the formula is selected.

Breastfeeding differs month by month from when the baby was just born. During the first month, the baby needs about 30 minutes to be completely satisfied. With each subsequent month, the time for guarding decreases.

Breastfeeding at 3 months

Breastfeeding for 3 months of a child’s life contains the first signs of a lack of mother’s milk. A growing child moves more, grows, and experiences hunger much more often.

To determine whether your baby has enough milk or not, you should pay attention to:

• Weight gain. If the increase is at least one hundred grams per month, there is no cause for alarm.
• Number of urinations. A well-fed baby will pee more than ten times a day.
• Baby's behavior. A hungry child will worry, cry, and behave restlessly.

GV at this age passes calmly, since the child reacts poorly to external stimuli and is less distracted by the environment. One feeding is enough for approximately 3 hours of active play with the baby.

Breastfeeding at 4 months

Breastfeeding at 4 months differs from other months in that it is at this age that variety is introduced into the baby’s menu. Now, in addition to milk, the child is offered various vegetable purees. Usually, the baby’s body accepts new food without problems. Vegetable purees help normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, for this reason the baby practically ceases to suffer from constipation.

Breastfeeding 4 months of a child’s life is a turning point during the guardianship period. The child may completely refuse the breast if you often offer him purees. Make sure that the baby has enough milk, otherwise you will have to feed him additionally with formula.

It is advisable to add special children's tea to pureed vegetables if the baby does not drink regular water. GV will not suffer from such variety, but the baby will experience a feeling of satiety.

A breastfeeding day at 4 months consists of:

• More frequent applications compared to previous months. Complementary feeding reduces the baby's desire to eat milk alone, for this reason milk flow may decrease.
• If there is a shortage of milk, the mixture is introduced.
• Adding apple juice to your diet. A child who is completely on guard should be given various liquids in addition to water.

Breastfeeding at 5 months

Breastfeeding is gradually reduced at 5 months. Usually the baby reaches for the chest before going to bed, and also when waking up. The duration of the guard also decreases over time.
GW at 5 months:

• The child is distracted by extraneous sounds, for this reason the mother needs to take care of a calm environment.
• At this age, the baby's first teeth erupt. In this regard, the little man is able to refuse breastfeeding and can remain near the chest around the clock.
• The number of daily feedings is reduced if you introduce complementary foods. Now it is no more than 7 times during daylight hours.

Breastfeeding at 6 months

Breastfeeding for 6 months is supplemented by the introduction of various cereals into the diet. Complementary foods should be introduced little by little to avoid skin rashes or negative reactions from the body.

Some mothers decide to stop breastfeeding at 6 months, believing that the child is mature and can be safely transferred to baby milk. But mothers do not always realize what kind of mental trauma they inflict on their baby.

Undoubtedly, breastfeeding at this age is not as urgently necessary for a child as it was at birth. In addition to breastfeeding, mothers give their babies various dairy products suitable for this age, believing that yoghurts can replace breast milk.

Breastfeeding is not only a way to protect the baby from various diseases, but also a special bond between the baby and the parent.

Video: Komarovsky about breastfeeding

Mother's milk is the only and irreplaceable product for a baby, a source of a whole complex of substances necessary for full growth and development.

The diet of a nursing mother at 3 months affects the quality and nutritional value of breast milk: everything that ends up on the mother’s plate, one way or another, ends up in the baby’s body. How to organize your diet in order to provide your baby with all the necessary and useful substances, protecting him from unwanted and even harmful chemical components.

The diet of a nursing mother at 3 months of age should contain carbohydrates, proteins and fats in a ratio of 4:1:1, the necessary complex of vitamins, macro-microelements, as well as essential amino acids, pectins, fiber, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The basic set of products remains the same as in the first months of breastfeeding. These are cereals, meat and fish, seasonal vegetables and fruits (preferably local), animal and vegetable fats, milk and fermented milk products.

The nutritional structure corresponds to the standard food pyramid.

• At the base of this pyramid are cereals, pasta and bakery products.
• Vegetables and fruits follow next in percentage terms.
• The next step is fish, meat, eggs, milk and dairy products.
• The pyramid of balanced nutrition is crowned with fats - vegetable and animal, sugar and confectionery, salt.

In grams it will look like this:

Cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, rice – 200 g;

Bread (coarsely ground)– 50 g;

Meat or fish– 200 g;

Vegetables and fruits– 800 g, half – fresh;

Milk and/or dairy products– 700 g;

Cottage cheese– 200-300 g;

Cheese– 15-20 g;

Butter– 25-30 g;

Unrefined vegetable oil– 15 g;

Some nutritionists recommend that nursing mothers drink up to 1 liter of milk per day. But since whole cow's milk is a strong allergen for a baby, it would be better to replace it with natural fermented milk products. It could be kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, homemade yogurt.

We consume vegetables in any form, but remember that the maximum vitamins are found in fresh foods.

Methods of preparation and processing

The main types of heat treatment for a nursing mother are stewing, boiling, baking, steaming. These gentle cooking methods allow you to retain the maximum beneficial substances of the original products and eliminate the harmful by-products of fried foods. Believe me, dietary ones are tasty and good for health, not only for the baby, but also for the mother.

Another healthy eating tip: minimal cooking. With each reheating, food loses a significant proportion of biologically active substances.

Approximate diet for breastfeeding at 3 months

Another healthy eating tip: minimal cooking. With each reheating, food loses a significant proportion of biologically active substances.

And of course, the diet of a nursing mother at 3 months should consist only of fresh and high-quality products.

Approximate diet for breastfeeding at 3 months

Forget about pizza, sushi, cakes and hot dogs - this food is harmful even for a healthy adult, and it is unacceptable for a woman who is breastfeeding. The same applies to sweet carbonated drinks, buns, cakes and pastries, hot sauces and seasonings, fatty and fried foods.

Love healthy food: natural healthy foods are very tasty, especially if they are prepared correctly and with love. Enjoy vegetable dishes: a variety of salads, stews, casseroles, eat dairy products and cheeses, diversify your menu with fruit desserts and homemade baked goods.

Very soon you will see that healthy eating benefits not only the baby, but also the mother - you will feel a surge of strength and optimism, become prettier, and gain wings behind your back.

Pediatricians and breastfeeding specialists recommend adhering to a free daily routine, in which the child himself sets the optimal routine for himself, based on his needs. Breast milk is fully adapted to the baby’s gastrointestinal tract and is quickly absorbed, so the baby can and should be put to the breast as often as he wants. This is the so-called feeding on demand, in which the intervals between feedings and the duration of sucking are set by the child himself. The baby's stomach has a small volume and is designed to receive milk in small portions. If the intervals between scheduled feedings increase to 3 hours, the baby needs a much larger portion of milk to be satisfied than he can absorb, which leads to overstretching of the stomach walls and regurgitation.

In addition, breastfeeding is hard work for a newborn baby. He may simply be tired and not suck enough milk at one feeding. That is, in one feeding the baby can suck out very little milk, but after 20–30 minutes he asks the breast again to finish eating.

It is important to remember that the more often the mother puts the baby to the breast, the more it will be produced in the following days. So, to maintain full lactation at first, at least 10–12 applications per day are necessary. With rare scheduled feedings, insufficient stimulation of the breast occurs and, as a result, a decrease in the amount of milk.

By mode
It is recommended to maintain a three-hour interval between feedings only for children who are bottle-fed, since infant formula differs in composition from breast milk and digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates requires a certain time.

Error two. Canceling night feedings

At a time when our mothers and grandmothers were raising children, it was believed that the baby should not bother mom and dad at night. Using all possible methods (rocking in arms or in a crib, supplementing with water, sucking on a pacifier), parents tried to ensure that the child slept all night without waking up. Night feedings were also “forbidden” because it was believed that at night the child’s stomach should rest from food.

Currently, there is a completely different point of view - night feedings are needed. Moreover, the baby should be applied to the breast as many times a night as he wants. The baby's body is designed so that its stomach can digest breast milk without interruption. In addition, after continuous intrauterine nutrition, the baby is not able to withstand long breaks between meals, and it is natural for him to wake up and eat at night.

Night feedings contribute to the production of sufficient milk and the establishment of good lactation. The maximum amount of prolactin (the hormone on which the volume of lactation depends) is formed at night: from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. If the baby is not put to the breast at night, prolactin is produced in small quantities and, consequently, milk production decreases.

Error three. Limit feedings to 10–15 minutes

Properly organized breastfeeding implies that the duration of feeding is set by the child himself. One of the rules for successful lactation is this: the baby should be kept at the breast as long as he needs, i.e. Feeding should end when he releases the breast on his own.

Each child takes a different amount of time to feed: some need 5 minutes, others 30 minutes. Some babies suckle quickly and come off the breast on their own, others fall asleep while doing so, while others suckle for a long time and with pleasure. To a large extent, this depends on the child’s temperament, adaptation processes, the state of his nervous system and age. As a rule, babies suckle for a long time in the first weeks of life, when falling asleep, when they are sick, or in the presence of psychological discomfort. Short feedings are most often associated with the need to quench thirst or calm down at the mother’s breast in a stressful situation, fear, or pain.

Limiting feeding time can lead to unpleasant consequences. If the mother interrupts feeding ahead of time, the baby does not receive the “back” portion of milk, rich in nutrients and enzymes. Undigested substances (lactose) from the “front” portion of milk enter the large intestine, where they cause digestive disorders in the form of fermentation, increased gas formation, stool disorders, and abdominal colic. All this, in turn, leads to poor weight gain in the baby, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

In addition, poor emptying of the breast due to insufficient sucking leads to a decrease in the production of a new portion of milk, and can also contribute to the development of milk stagnation (lactostasis).

Error four. Supplementing your baby with formula

Many nursing mothers think that if the baby is often put to the breast, this means that he is not getting enough to eat and needs to be supplemented with formula milk. Actually this is not true.

For babies in the first months of life, frequent breastfeeding is a normal and natural process. The fact is that at the age of up to 3 months, the baby needs the breast not only for food. With the help of sucking, he satisfies his many needs: for physical and emotional contact with his mother, for warmth, safety, for constant care and love. When experiencing any discomfort, the baby calls his mother. We should not forget that young children have a well-developed sucking reflex and the baby needs to satisfy his need for sucking.

Particularly frequent breastfeeding is typical for children in the first month of life. A newborn baby can ask for the breast up to 12–16 times a day. But from about 2 months he begins to do this less often, and by 3 months the baby develops its own feeding schedule with breaks of 2-3 hours.

Attention!
Only a doctor can prescribe supplementary feeding of a baby with formula milk after assessing his general condition and weight gain.

Error five. Giving your baby water

The question of whether it is necessary to supplement the baby with water is one of the most frequently asked questions to specialists. The thing is that in Soviet times it was customary to give the baby water between feedings. Today, one of the rules for successful breastfeeding, set out by the World Health Organization, is: “No supplementation or introduction of other foreign liquids and products for up to 6 months.” Thus, a breastfed baby should not be given any additional fluids until 6 months of age.

There is a simple explanation for this rule. Breast milk contains a sufficient amount of water, approximately 85–90%, and is able to fully satisfy the baby's fluid needs. In addition, supplementing with water negatively affects lactation. Even a small amount of water fills the baby's stomach and creates a feeling of false satiety. He is less likely to want to latch on to the breast, and the amount of milk produced decreases.

Error six. Pumping after every feeding

If the mother feeds the baby on demand, then there is no need to regularly pump the breast. In this case, sufficient stimulation of the mammary glands occurs and the woman’s body itself “calculates” how much milk to produce. A nursing mother who puts her baby to the breast on demand and expresses her breasts after each feeding provokes an increase in milk production. Thus, the breast receives “false” information about how much milk has been used. By the next feeding, the milk will arrive in the following quantity: sucked by the baby plus expressed. The baby cannot eat the large volume of milk produced; it stagnates in the breast and, as a result, the likelihood of developing lactostasis and mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) increases.

Pumping the breast may be necessary in case of problems such as breast engorgement, in the treatment of lactostasis, mastitis, cracked nipples, in case of insufficient milk to increase its production, in case of forced separation of mother and baby.

Error seventh. Drinking large amounts of liquid

The most common mistake breastfeeding mothers make is drinking too much liquid. Many people believe that the more fluid a woman drinks, the more milk she produces. In fact, the process of milk production is regulated not by the amount of fluid entering the mother’s body, but by pituitary hormones (prolactin and oxytocin).

In addition, breastfeeding experts say that excess fluid not only does not stimulate lactation, but can also reduce it. Excess fluid intake often leads to the formation of more milk than the baby needs, which, in turn, often causes lactostasis. For stable lactation, a nursing mother needs to drink 1.5–2 liters per day.

Error eight. Following a strict diet

Many women associate breastfeeding with a strict diet, which until recently doctors recommended that mothers follow during breastfeeding. The purpose of the diet was to exclude from the nursing woman’s menu all foods that could cause allergic reactions or digestive disorders in the baby. A competent approach to the issue of nutrition for a nursing mother at present is to monitor the baby’s reaction to a particular product eaten by the mother, and not refuse them. That is, products that cause disturbances in the baby are excluded after the fact, and not in advance.

In addition, a nursing mother should not eat twice as much as usual. This is nothing more than a myth. The volume of foods eaten does not affect the quantity and quality of milk produced. A nursing mother should receive complete and balanced nutrition every day. Its calorie content should be 400–600 kcal per day more than usual, since approximately the same number of calories are spent per day on the production of breast milk.

To avoid mistakes when establishing lactation, if various questions and difficulties arise, a nursing mother can seek help from a pediatrician or a breastfeeding specialist.

The first year of a baby's life is characterized by rapid rates of development. News appears literally weekly. This applies most of all to the 3rd month. During this time, the child has already learned a lot. After the baby has adapted to the new conditions of existence, he actively explores the surrounding space and society.

The formation of his body is gaining momentum. Mothers highlight the key achievements that the child achieved at 3 months: development and nutrition proceed rhythmically and interdependently, the baby becomes stronger, rounder, his movements and some skills improve. The baby's daily routine is stabilized: he eats, sleeps and is awake at approximately the same time, which makes it easier for the mother to plan her affairs.

During the 3rd month, the baby gains about a quarter of its original weight, and its height increases by about a tenth of its previous size. This only happens in a fairy tale, where they talk about a hero who grows by leaps and bounds. All internal organs and systems of the baby are actively developing. Such rapid growth of the baby requires a proper supply of energy to the body. And the sources of energy necessary for the baby are long sleep and adequate nutrition, which will ensure an extraordinary speed of development of the baby.

A baby's proper sleep during the day lasts 18-20 hours, and during the same time he eats mother's milk equal to a fifth of his weight. Of course, this is an average. All children are different and they grow differently. Mothers should not worry if the baby eats a little more or less. He himself knows how much he needs, and will be able to convey this to his mother in his own ways. If in the 3rd month the baby’s sleep and feeding patterns are not established, the baby sleeps and eats less than normal, and his weight and height are insufficient, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

Height and weight depend on:

• height and birth weight indicators;
• genetics;
• gender;
• method of feeding.

During the 3rd month, a boy usually gains about 800 g, and a girl 750 g.

Energy for growth is in nutrition

Feeding a 3 month old baby is the main goal and joy in his life. The baby acquires his initial concepts of reality from the conditions in which he grows, and his first ideas about people - from the mother who feeds him. The instinct of hunger is familiar to all living beings, and especially to infants. A chronically malnourished baby will not allow himself to be left hungry; he will scream to demand the required portion of food. Usually the baby wakes up from hunger and cries most often because she wants to eat. This can be easily determined by how greedily he catches a nipple or pacifier.

The sucking process is a difficult task for a baby. He puffs, doing a difficult task, even sweats from zeal. It will not be possible to take away his source of food before he is completely satisfied, otherwise an indignant cry will tell about his appetite. Only after receiving exactly the volume of milk that is required does he quickly fall asleep. Even while sleeping, he continues to smack, as if he is dreaming of continued feeding, and you can see a manifestation of bliss on his face.

You should not force your baby to eat more milk than necessary. For this reason, he may lose his appetite. Trying to avoid excess food, he will try to fall asleep early or stubbornly refuse to breastfeed. By this he instinctively protects himself from excesses. But such a situation is fraught with loss of interest in the feeding process itself and loss of pleasure from it. Receiving food should remain bliss for the baby, and the mother should be his best friend and nurse. This is an essential factor for the baby’s confidence in the trustworthiness of others, which is established by the child’s diet at 3 months.

How to establish a feeding routine

A three-month-old baby will feel more comfortable once he gets used to sleeping and eating at certain hours. Adaptation to the regime occurs faster with the help of mom. As the baby's weight increases, the time intervals between feedings increase. Supporting the mother in establishing regularity of feedings and reducing their daily amount is of great importance. A long wait for food makes an impatient baby suffer, but he will not resist, but, on the contrary, will be very happy if he is gently woken up 3 or 4 hours after the previous feeding.

Children weighing up to three kilograms at birth usually require a 3-hour interval between receiving food, and with a weight of about 4.5 kg, 4 hours is enough. A mother can reinforce the stereotype of a 4-hour break between feedings by feeding the baby after 4 hours. Thus, the child’s nutrition at 3 months will become stable, in accordance with the regime. If the baby tries to disrupt the regularity of feeding, crying after 2 hours, you can overcome this difficulty by not approaching him for some time and giving him a chance to fall asleep again. If the crying continues, you can give him some water to drink. In this way, the baby will adapt to regular breaks in meals.

A mother who feeds her baby as soon as he moves, even if she fed him less than 2 hours ago, develops the child’s habit of eating small portions at short intervals. Different babies get used to the regimen in different ways, although most of them already switch to a 4-hour interval with skipping night feedings after a month.

Learning to follow a routine is not easy; it requires patience and effort.

Age diet

The powerful progress that occurs in the development of a three-month-old baby requires a change in the feeding process. The basis, as before, is liquid food: the consumption of breast milk or artificial formula continues. No complementary foods are allowed into the diet from 3 months onwards. Accelerated growth and physical activity cause an increase in appetite. Because of this, a regimen that has been so laboriously established, or even one that has not yet been established, may collapse in order to resume breastfeeding on demand, which most likely will have to be increased. This is not a reason for disappointment; the incentive will be closer contact with the baby and his smile.

Observing the reaction of a 3-month-old baby gives the mother the opportunity to pay attention to signs of satiety or, conversely, lack of food. A well-fed baby slows down sucking and turns away from the breast or bottle.

By the end of 3 months, most infants begin to experience increased growth. Appetite also grows. Mothers may have the impression that she does not have enough milk, and the baby wants to eat more and more often. Some, on the contrary, turn away from the breast and become capricious. Breastfeeding is sometimes hindered by the baby's interest in the world around him, when he spins around, looking at everything around and being distracted from the breast.

Not realizing such situations, mothers turn to complementary feeding in a panic, which should not be done. The smart little one, realizing that it is much easier to get food from a bottle, completely refuses to breastfeed. This is a fairly common reason that three-month-old children switch first to mixed, and later to artificial nutrition.

In reality, there was no less milk, the baby simply increased his nutritional needs. This phenomenon is called a lactation crisis. It does not last long and goes away after a few days.

Premature supplementary feeding

Transferring the baby to supplementary feeding will not solve the problem; on the contrary, it will worsen it. Formulas take much longer to digest and are absorbed worse than mother's milk. A sharp transition to a different food composition changes the microflora in the infant’s intestines. Going back to breast milk will not bring her back to her previous condition. The child’s intestines are filled with anaerobic microbes, and their reproduction begins. Just one feeding of the formula per day can cause irreversible consequences.

When introducing supplementary food into baby food from 3 months, its range should not be diluted by using goat's milk or kefir, which are not adapted nutrition. These products are not suitable for children aged 3 months; they are harmful to children under one year of age, increasing the load on the kidneys and pancreas.

There are situations when breastfeeding is not feasible (medication, illness). In such cases, the child is transferred to formula feeding. Not being able to breastfeed should not make a mother feel guilty. When artificial feeding, pediatricians advise using partially free feeding - a method in which the amount of food is given at the baby's request, but within limited limits, and is fed at a fixed time. At the same time, a little more mixture is poured into the bottle than is required to find out how much food the baby needs. You shouldn’t force him and feed him extra food if he doesn’t want to.

• give the child water;
• strictly follow the method of preparing the mixture;
• do not recommend increasing or decreasing the dose;
• It is strictly forbidden to combine different mixtures;
• It is advisable to pour out the contents of the bottle that the baby has not finished;
• It is not recommended to force feed your baby.

By the age of three months, the child grows up, gains weight and develops. This period is conducive to establishing the baby’s diet and sleep patterns. Mother's milk continues to be the only source of nutrients. Due to the baby's increased need for breast milk, it is advisable to increase the intervals between feedings. Breastfed babies receive breast milk on demand and are not limited in the time they spend at the breast. Doctors advise not to rush into introducing supplementary feeding, so as not to harm the baby’s health.