4 feeds in 24 hrs at 18 weeks?

[ac1974]

My 18 week old has been losing interest in his daytme feeds - either the one around 11am ish or 3pm.

Today he fed at 7am, midday, and was not interested at all at 3/4pm, so then fed at 6pm (and I will feed him again at 11pm).

This has happened a few times e.g. the 3pm feed is a bit of a battle - he is more easily distracted than ever, often seems just not hungry, and at times seems in some discomfort (teething I think).

He has also been waking very early lately 4-5am - not hungry/crying and has eventually gone back to sleep but woken at regular intervals from 4am onwards. (The 4mo sleep regression from what I've read)

He is a big boy and a very healthy weight so I keep thinking I should probably just relax.

But is he getting enough?

I should probably point out that he's EBF

ac1974, my 19 wk old is a bit like this. Today we were out and about and I tried to feed her in a busy cafe and she was just too distracted.

At home I have started taking her to her room to feed (when possible, which with a 20 mo around is never!) so that she feeds in peace and with nothing to look at of any much interest. Try that maybe??

Do you feed on a schedule or to demand? Is he still having lots of wet nappies? Is his poo soft and unformed? Some straining is to be expected at such a young age whilst they get used to using those muscles - it's the hardness of the poo that determines constipation not the frequency/effort put in.

You could try offering ~2 hours after his last feed to see if feeding more often stimulates his appetite.

Or try feeding/carrying him in a sling (not the baby bjorn carrier style but a ring/wrap type) which could help concentrate his mind on feeding rather than the everything else that distracts them

my ds2 is so distracted... feeds more if lying down in bed with lights out!

at that age my ds2 fed at 7am, 10am, 1pm,4pm, 7pm, 10pm. He never really demanded it but was happy to fed.

try offering 3 hourly?