Amy Spangler

	How often should my 1 year old nurse?
	Baby has persistent rashes
	Suggestions on giving a bottle?
	Baby won't nurse during the day
	Do breastfed babies prefer less solid foods?
	Can I replenish my milk supply?
	How can I cut back on the number of feedings?

How often should my 1 year old nurse?

How often should my 1 year old nurse (he currently nurses about six times a day) and how much and what type of other liquids should I be offering him?





Frequency of breastfeeding is extremely variable at this age.  Weight and climate often dictate intake.  For example, a 20-pound toddler living in a cool climate needs less liquid than a 30 - pound toddler living in a hot climate, but both need a variety of foods - liquids as well as solids.  Your best indication of whether his intake is adequate is his growth rate and his health status.

At age 1, Jeff can have cow's milk, juices, and water in addition to breastmilk.  Typically, toddlers nurse 4-6 times a day, however, curious toddlers can be easily distracted with other foods or activities if a mother wants to reduce the number of breastfeedings.  Many toddlers find finger foods appealing such as soft fruits or vegetables and most drink readily from a cup.

Baby has persistent rashes

My baby has developed some serious rashes behind her ears and in the creases of her neck that won't go away easily. I've tried Desitin, and now I'm told to try a yeast infection cream.  It has helped, but for some reason the rashes will not fully go away.  It may be the way I'm nursing in the middle of the night, lazily in bed and maybe the milk ...I'm not sure.  What do you think?  Have you ever heard of this kind of rash before?





Check with your baby's doctor before you apply another cream or ointment. Eczema often occurs behind the ears in the skin folds and is treated with a steroid cream not an antifungal cream.

Suggestions on giving a bottle?

I am leaving for a five-day vacation without my baby (I cannot take him with me).  I will pump every four hours to keep up with my milk supply.  I have a Medela Pump in Style.  Do you think it will be enough?  Any suggestions on giving my baby a bottle?  He seems to hate every nipple in the market (Avent, Playtex, Nuk).





Your plan to pump every four hours should be sufficient as long as a four hour schedule effectively relieves breast fullness.  If you allow your breasts to fill and do not relieve the fullness in a timely manner, your breasts will respond by making less milk.

You might consider a cup rather than a bottle.  Cup feeding is easier than you think.  If you prefer a bottle, you might try the Munchkin nipple.  Let someone other than you offer the bottle. Remember to watch Felipe for early signs of hunger such as finger sucking, coughing, yawning, and hand-to-mouth movements and offer the bottle at those times.

Baby won't nurse during the day

Just in the last three days, my baby begins to wail when I put her in the position to breastfeed during the day.  At nighttime she's fine, but during the day, she cries so much she won't latch on at all.  I try not to give in and give her a bottle, but sometimes I feel that's the only way she will eat.  Someone told me it's because Jordan is impatient and can't wait for the milk to let down, but she's not even latching on to see if there's anything there or not.  I am so frustrated, every day is a struggle not to give up. Help!





Jordan may be more alert during the day and less patient as a result.  Try to recall the position you use at night and use the same position during the day.  In addition, during the day, don't wait for Jordan to cry to be fed but watch instead for early signs of hunger such as finger sucking, coughing, yawning, and hand-to-mouth movements and offer the breast at those times.  In addition, gently massage the breast with the flat surface of your fingers while Jordan breastfeeds to increase the flow of milk.  Finally, you can pump or hand express to stimulate milk flow before you offer the breast. If milk is readily available, Jordan may be more cooperative.  Please know that if you continue to offer the bottle, Jordan may continue to refuse the breast. You can supplement with an eye dropper, teaspoon, or cup if Jordan refuses to breastfeed. Small amounts of supplement (expressed breastmilk) may calm her and allow you to then place her on the breast.

Do breastfed babies prefer less solid foods?

Thomas really isn't into solid food.  Some days he does okay, but some days he will eat literally 2 Cheerios.  He is growing fine and nurses a lot.  I'm not really concerned about it, although his dad is.  My question is: do you think that this kind of "extended" "exclusive" nursing is related to breast-feeding?  I ask because, in my own informal study, it seems like breast-fed babies are less into the solid food and start later, while formula-fed kids seem to be big "eaters."
thanks!





Every baby is different and few generalizations can be made about the feeding habits of breastfed and bottle-fed babies.  More often feeding patterns are a reflection of individual personalities and lifestyles.  While breastmilk may continue to satisfy most of Thomas's nutritional needs, feeding is a social and cultural activity, as such, children need to learn that there are foods other than breastmilk and mechanisms for eating other than at the breast. Developmentally, finger feeding gives babies an opportunity to practice large and fine motor skills and to improve hand-eye coordination.

Many toddlers find finger foods appealing such as soft fruits or soft, cooked vegetables.  You might also offer a cup of expressed breastmilk or fruit juice in an effort to introduce an alternative feeding method. Thomas may be more cooperative if the food is offered by someone other than you.  In the beginning, you might find it helps if you leave the room entirely.  If Thomas "nurses a lot" he may be too full to eat other foods, so you might want to offer only one breast and follow it with solid foods and a cup of milk or juice.

Can I replenish my milk supply?

I experienced a very painful healing process from a c-section and my appetite severely decreased.  I chose to feed my infant formula and regret my decision.  However, it seems as though my ducts have dried up.  Is there any way to replenish my milk supply?





The ability to replenish a milk supply depends upon your previous lactation history and the amount of time that has elapsed since lactation last occurred.  Is this your first child? Did you breastfeed prior children?  Did you breastfeed Jason for any amount of time? Will Jason latch-on and attempt to breastfeed when offered the breast?

The milk-producing cells will often respond to stimulation either by breastfeeding or breast pumping.  If Jason is willing and able to breastfeed, you could supplement his intake at the breast with a special device while your milk supply increases.  If Jason is unwilling or unable to breastfeed, you can stimulate milk production with a breast pump.  As you develop a milk supply you would also need to teach Jason to breastfeed.

Relactation requires patience and persistence so I would recommend that you secure the services of a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in your area. She can help you formulate a plan that is best suited to your circumstances and provide ongoing support.

How can I cut back on the number of feedings?

Zoe is my second child, and since she was born I have become a full-time mom. Recently, she has seemed to want to nurse quite often throughout the day.  She doesn't stay at it for long but just seems to want to "graze."  She has also become much more aggressive about pulling up my blouse, etc.  I would like to continue nursing her but possibly cut back to 2 or 3 times a day.  She still has no teeth and I'm wondering if teething can cause babies to want to nurse more?  Also, she is still waking at night and wanting to nurse.  She then easily goes back to her own bed to sleep.  She is eating plenty of solids.  I have never been one to let a baby "cry it out" but I'm tired much of the time.





Teething or any discomfort can cause a child to want to nurse more often.  In an effort to limit your breastfeedings to 2-3 times a day you might try to distract Zoe with other foods, choosing those foods she especially likes. Games and outdoor play provide good distractions as well.  Some mothers designate a particular place for breastfeeding and their children learn that they will need to interrupt their activity and go to that place if they want to breastfeed.  This sometimes diminishes the snacking throughout the day.

When she wakes at night, you can offer her a cup of juice or milk, cover her with a lightweight blanket, and give her reassurance by rocking or holding.  You may find this approach more successful if the juice and reassurance are offered by someone other than you.  You simply need to decide what you are most comfortable doing as this point in time.  While Zoe is still quite young, she can be taught some breastfeeding parameters.  However, if you are reluctant to hear her cry, you might consider delaying the process 4-6 months.  As she approaches 18 months of age, she will be more active during the day and the number of breastfeedings may decrease as a result.



 

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