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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Partner wants to give 5 week old rusk

68 replies

FirstNov2017 · 23/12/2017 00:26

Had a few problems with breast feeding but it seems that they are normal. I have been going to bf cafe/clinics to get advice and they have observed me feeding. Every clinic I've been to says lo latched on fine. Breast hasn't felt empty after a feed and lo was unsettled after 2 hours. Have been putting lo on the breast and then expressing and feeding to make sure he is getting something. This is working well but it's exhausting. He's settled and now gaining weight. My partner wants to give him rusks as him mum told him she did this with him as he was always hungry. I really don't want to give out lo rusks. He's 5 weeks old. As we're both his parents I don't know how to tell him to bugger off with that idea. So much conflicting information about solid food before 6 months. I just want to do what's best for our lo. Anyone done this or something similar?

OP posts:
Rainbowandraindrops67 · 23/12/2017 00:30

No. Don’t do it. And just your oh no too. Ask your health visitor and get her to speak to your oh too. No food before 4 months minimum

Littlelambpeep · 23/12/2017 00:31

No .. Rusks are very bad. At five weeks - no way

readyforapummelling · 23/12/2017 00:31

No No No No just No.
it's dangerous on so many levels. Choking risk, immature digestive system, will fill him up too much so he won't take as much milk, full of sugar.

You cannot give a 5 week old baby rusk so tell your DH to educate himself on infant feeding.

Butterymuffin · 23/12/2017 00:32

There is only conflicting information once you get past about 4 months as solids were once thought ok at that point. Not 5 weeks! It's a massive difference to your baby - it's twice again the amount of time he's been alive.

Tell your partner no way to anything but milk at least for a couple of months more. Google the NHS guidelines and point out that lots of baby advice has changed over the years.

On the breastfeeding front, I did it and it's totally normal for them to want to feed a lot. On one hand it's a faff but personally I found it helpful to just be able to sit down and feed straight away and not have to make up bottles etc. But if you wanted to either stop or introduce mixed feeding, it should be formula milk, definitely not rusks yet. You're not doing anything wrong though, so if you can bear with it all well and good.

Cakescakescakes · 23/12/2017 00:33

Your baby is only 5 weeks old so it’s totally normal that he will be unsettled 2 hours after a feed. They feed really frequently in the early weeks. My babies fed every 1.5-2 hrs daytime and 2-3 night feeds until they were at least 6 months old. Night feeds continues till about 10 months.

Solid food at 5 weeks is totally crazy.

endofthelinefinally · 23/12/2017 00:43

What you describe is normal.
I wouldnt wear myself out pumping tbh.
Could you just put your feet up, eat and drink plenty, and feed as frequently as your baby wants?
No, no, no to rusk.
If your partner wants to be useful he should be providing you with nutritious food and drink and allowing you to rest and feed.

SammySays · 23/12/2017 00:44

No don’t do this, absolutely not. In this case it doesn’t matter that you are both parents if one parents actions will potentially harm your child. In this case stand your ground and tell him in no uncertain terms that this will not be happening. If your concern is that your milk is not enough (which I’m sure it is if you have a good supply although I’m no expert on BF), perhaps follow/top up with formula. That would take some of the pressure off of you. I know breast is best but I know several people who top up with formula and it will definitely be better than topping a 5 week old up with rusks.

endofthelinefinally · 23/12/2017 00:45

2 hourly feeds is normal at this age. Your baby is increasing your supply.

ByeByePrivacy · 23/12/2017 00:46

Your doing great!
Absolutely no to the rusk or any kin of food. Maybe forget the expressing and just feed him again, 2 hours sounds about right to be starving hungry again.

TeddyIsaHe · 23/12/2017 00:48

There isn’t any conflicting advice about giving food before 6 months and certainly not at 5 bloody weeks!

1 rusk has more sugar in than a custard cream. You don’t hear people offering those to babies to help them sleep. Please put your sensible head on, tell your husband he’s being an idiot and continue feeding your baby the only acceptable way - with milk only.

Ketzele · 23/12/2017 01:00

Hell, no. The conflicting views come into play at 4-6 months, certainly not before. Please, please get your dp to read up on why this is a terrible idea. And good luck with the bf.

OhforfucksakeFay · 23/12/2017 01:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LyannaStarktheWolfMaid · 23/12/2017 01:09

No, no, no. Not appropriate at all. You are doing great. Stick to your guns.

Timetobookaholiday · 23/12/2017 01:40

I do not agree with waiting until 6 months for solids, 3-4 months I have given solids of both of mine.
But I completely and utterly disagree with giving a 5 week ok a rusk..or any solid food.
Breast feeding takes a while to get into a routine, if the clinics are saying that they are latching fine, keep going for another few weeks before you give up bad try a bottle

VimFuego101 · 23/12/2017 01:56

It sounds like a growth spurt - there will be times when they seem hungry and constantly feeding. That's what tells your body to make more milk.

doleritedinosaur · 23/12/2017 02:01

Every 2 hours is normal in fact you’re getting to the 6 week growth spurt so baby could get unsettled & feed more.

DO NOT GIVE RUSKS! Seriously full of sugar for one & not to mention will do more harm than good. Speak to midwife, health visitor, doctor, take your partner to one of those groups.

I know no one who even gives them to their child at 6 Months any way because of the shite in them.

I had exactly the same off my mother in law over those bloody things & I told her how much sugar was in them & she may have done it but I wasn’t.

This is your baby & follow your instincts & just be prepared to feed a lot more now. Look up cluster feeding.

Good luck.

Helbelle75 · 23/12/2017 02:55

I agree about following your instincts.
Our dd is 8 months old and still feeds every 1.5 - 2 hours in the daytime, even with her now having solids as well. The only difference from when she was younger is she feeds less at night and feeds are much shorter.
You're doing brilliantly, just carry on doing what you're doing.

Original poster
FirstNov2017 · 23/12/2017 06:07

Sorry, I mean lo feeds for 2 hours at a time and doesn't seem full so that's why I've been expressing to top up. Bf cafes say I look like I'm doing everything right so they have no idea why he doesn't seem to be emptying or on for so long.

Really good to see no one else has introduced things like rusks just to settle their children. I'd be so upset if I had to leave lo with his dad or grandma and came home to them feeding him crap like this Angry stressing me out so much! Which probably isn't good for producing milk!

OP posts:
comeagainforbigfudge · 23/12/2017 06:53

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/solid-foods-weaning.aspx#

The nhs link on feeding. Half way down it advises you on 0-6month olds.

Forward it to your partner and MIL
Although with you partner play the "I looked it up because I wasn't sure if I remembered the advice correctly...." card aka as "dont be so fuckin stupid" card

Hth

Flowers on your squishy 5 week old.

SaturdaySauv · 23/12/2017 07:02

There is no conflicting advice here. In no way is it safe to give a tiny baby rusks. I'd think carefully before leaving your baby with anyone who you think may do something so stupid.
If you feel like it's too much to express/feed for as long as you are, you could think about formula supplementation.

IamChipmunk · 23/12/2017 07:11

Cluster feeding or feeding for hours at a time is normal. Your baby is building your supply, it's hard work and the constant attachment can be draining but it wont last forever.
Agree with pp, get comfy, grit ur teeth and just keep feeding as much as baby wants, if they are putting on weight they are getting enough.
By 10-12 weeks you should find they settle a bit more and will have more defined feeds.

Don't feed anything solid until at least 5.5 months and then start with some veg sticks. They never need rusks!

strawberrypenguin · 23/12/2017 07:12

Pretty sure even the rusk box has an age guide of 4-6 months on. There is no way a 5 weeks old should have solid food.

My DS1 fed a lot like yours although mine was bottle fed not breast. He would take over an hour with a bottle of milk - not distressed just slow. He’s still a slow eater now. DS2 who would chug a bottle in minutes was a revelation!

Callamia · 23/12/2017 07:20

Feeding for two hours at a time does sound exhausting. Keep going to the baby cafés for support - and I hope the baby speeds up a bit soon. Has he been assessed for tongue tie? (I know... but this is at the long end of feeding time I think).

In the meantime, I agree that the best support for you is plenty of food, drink and rest. I know - easier recolnended than done - but it’s a practical and useful job your partner can do.

I understand the feeling of desperation about wanting a baby to be sufficiently fed and full, but it sounds like you are doing a good job. I didn’t even know rusks we’re still sold.

AdidasGirl · 23/12/2017 07:23

I breastfed on demand until my DS was 2 and a half.
What you're doing is totally normal.I felt at times that DS was always on my boob as I didn't express ever so it was all just me.
By feeding for so long he was increasing my supply.
Please don't feed rusks.Wrong on so many levels.

Mustang27 · 23/12/2017 07:50

No to rusks.

I'm surprised you haven't been told this is completely normal at the bf cafe/group. My wee boy was attached to my boob until about 12 weeks it was exhausting but worth it we bf until he was 2. It's not always enjoyable and there are lots of hurdles but don't resort to solids. I had a family members gf tell me to stop bf and give my baby formula milk with mince and tatties in it as I clearly had a starving baby Hmm. I was very lucky as he never lost any weight ever, people think because they did it it's ok and she had boys before me and they are all so hungry Angry. "No they are babies and babies are hungry now p off lol" was my opinion.

Good luck I hope it gets easier soon. Have you tried putting him to the breast you last fed him first? That way it ensures he is getting plenty of hind milk but tbh I never felt my boobs were empty as such. Hard to tell when bf made them each the size of my head lol.