Help - why is my baby feeding less?

[Jane0506qz]

Hi everyone,

My baby girl is nearly 9 weeks old and has always been a really good feeder. She was born at 7lb and weighed over 11lb at her 6 week check with the health visitor. In the last week or so I have noticed that she has started having a lot less feeding time through the day - it previously averaged about 2 and a half hours a day and now it’s more like 1hr 40. She’s currently weighing about 12lb 5 but her weight has stayed around this point for the last week or so and she hasn’t really put any weight on and has come to abit of a standstill with it. I think she started the week at 12lb 3.

Because of this I’m trying to offer her the Breast more but she gets really worked up and just will not take anymore. I’m wondering do babies suddenly drop feeding time for any reasons? She’s still doing the same number of wet nappies but with the weight gain I’m still abit worried.

Does anyone know why she could be doing this? Or have any advice on what I should be doing ?

Thanks so much!

The often get more efficient at feeding, so what may usually take 30 min to feed could be done in 10min.

Is baby still have lots of wet nappies?

@OverTheRainbow88 yes she’s still having the same amount of wet nappies! Normally about 10 a day.

I was thinking she could just be more efficient at feeding but don’t know if this can be the case with her not gaining in the last week

When mine was 11 weeks she suddenly became a much faster feeder. In all honesty, I was relieved, as she was soooo slow before that!

It’s also the age when they start really noticing things around them and getting more interested in the world. That means they can get distracted from feeding and don’t gain weight as quickly. It’s not a problem at all. Weight gain does slow as they get older anyway. By all means keep an eye on her weight and speak to HV if she doesn’t gain anything at all over a period of more than 2 weeks, but it sounds very normal to me.

As above, they get quicker at feeding so she might just be more efficient. I also wouldn’t panic about weight on a daily/weekly basis - It’s not linear on such narrow timeframes. Babies will have little growth spurts, then nothing for a bit, then another one. As long as overall she’s gaining steadily, and having lots of wet and dirty nappies, all is probably well.
Try not to panic! And I say that as someone who got very stressed about feeding my baby. He’s now nearly 2 and very healthy, so all that early worry was for nothing.

You don’t need to weigh her weekly. That way madness lies. She’s gained two oz in a few days which is perfectly adequate. It sounds as if she shot up the centiles quite quickly and it’s now evening out a bit. Is she feeding as frequently as previously? Just shorter feeds?