My baby is not starving!!!!

[haydn'smommy]

I'm so so annoyed with daycare right now! I get a note "Can we feed him cereal? He seems like he's starving!"
First, he's not even 4 mos old yet! He's not remotely interested in food. He doesn't even pay attention when I eat except to notice that I'm not holding him.
Second, I've weighed him before and after several feedings. He gets 3-4oz at a feeding when he nurses and he nurses every 2-3hrs. So, I know that 3.5oz in a bottle every 2 hrs is plenty for him.
Third, he's gaining 3-5oz per week so he's definitely not starving!

I don't care that he sucks his hand. He doesn't take a paci! I know he cries about an hour after a feeding; it's cause he's sleepy! Try to spend some time playing with him and then try to get him to go to sleep when he's fussing. Geez!!!

[PatioGardener]

how frustrating!!! Here is a handout that may be useful for his daycare providers... http://www.kellymom.com/store/freeha...le_feeding.pdf

You may also want to reiterate that he is not to have solids (!)

Glad to hear all is going well with you and baby (good weight gain etc!)

[hezasan]

I can totally relate, people are always telling me that my DS looks hungry when he sucks his fingers, but he does that when he's sleepy. I have occasionally fed him (though he ate recently) just because I don't feel like belaboring the point he's never minded that though! Only if I'm going to be with that person for a while. Maybe theyve never seen a kid w/out a paci before.
We're lucky to have a friend of a friend watch him the few hours my DH's work overlaps w/ mine, and she is always supportive! Sorry to hear yours isn't so much -- have you told them what his signs mean and how to respond? If they're not listening to you, and they're suggesting rice cereal of all things, I think I'd look for a new daycare -- although we've been down that road before, it's not easy!

[feminist~mama]

On the bright side- they asked and didn't just start feeding him, and they are paying enough attention to him to know that he's sucking on his hands... Right?

[cmhermes]

I agree, at least they are asking. I think they may need more education on breastfed babies. 3.5 oz. every 2 hours seems a lot! At least it sounds it to a Mama whose babies took 2 3-4 ounce bottles of BM during the 8.5 hours I was away and then nursed all night to make up for it. Haha. kellymom.org has a lot of great reasources to print out for them.

I got frustrated at my Mom, too, who was the primary caretaker while I was working. She always assumed crying=hungry. Especially with my YDD. She was a crier and a lot people mentioned she might not be getting enough BM (despite being 17 lbs at 4 months) Mostly she was tired and needed rocked to sleep. Have you offered them suggestions to help to get him to sleep the hour after her is fed? I would also gently remind them that babies chew on things and at that age their hands are readily available, so yes he chews.
You know your baby and they need to follow your lead.

[phrogger]

I would really talk to them about it, let them know that they need to work on learning his cues. I have a daycare baby who you would think was starving all the time with the way he cries sometimes. Frankly, the kid is bored and gets tired really fast. He can go from 0 to 60 in a second and when he does that, he wants nothing but to be held and rocked to sleep. His hungry cry is totally different. I am not his mom, but being with him for 8 hours a day, I better figure out what he wants fast and that doesn't mean shoving a bottle in his mouth.

[haydn'smommy]

I told them in no uncertain terms that he is NOT to have cereal or any other solids. He is TOO YOUNG!!!!!
I told them that we had done before and after weights and that 3.5oz is what he gets from me and that I don't have problems with him "starving" at home. I explained about how he's always been a hand sucker and also how he's majorly teething. I told them that I think he's crying cause he's sleepy.
I think they are just not used to bottle feeding a bfed baby. I got there yesterday and he was finishing taking a bottle and he was a happy little man. I got him, he gave a huge burp, a huge spit up and then just grinned and kicked and snuggled. Within 1.5 hr though, he was fussy and trying to suck my face off. I put him to the boob and he was passed out cold in about 3 sucks.
That's the thing. He wants to suck to go to sleep but he won't take a paci. I think that makes it hard for them to get him to sleep. IDK how to combat that. I nurse him down and I'm not about to change it. He sleeps like a dream at home and mama likes her sleep.

[phrogger]

Originally Posted by haydn'smommy

I told them in no uncertain terms that he is NOT to have cereal or any other solids. He is TOO YOUNG!!!!!
I told them that we had done before and after weights and that 3.5oz is what he gets from me and that I don't have problems with him "starving" at home. I explained about how he's always been a hand sucker and also how he's majorly teething. I told them that I think he's crying cause he's sleepy.
I think they are just not used to bottle feeding a bfed baby. I got there yesterday and he was finishing taking a bottle and he was a happy little man. I got him, he gave a huge burp, a huge spit up and then just grinned and kicked and snuggled. Within 1.5 hr though, he was fussy and trying to suck my face off. I put him to the boob and he was passed out cold in about 3 sucks.
That's the thing. He wants to suck to go to sleep but he won't take a paci. I think that makes it hard for them to get him to sleep. IDK how to combat that. I nurse him down and I'm not about to change it. He sleeps like a dream at home and mama likes her sleep.

My own son does this and sometimes I just let him suck on my thumb. His hand was too small at that age and he wanted something bigger, but wanted the feel of skin, like a nipple, but didn't want to actually eat. Now at almost 7 months his own thumb is fine, but it was mine for a while. Could they wash really good and do that while rocking him?

[haydn'smommy]

Originally Posted by phrogger

My own son does this and sometimes I just let him suck on my thumb. His hand was too small at that age and he wanted something bigger, but wanted the feel of skin, like a nipple, but didn't want to actually eat. Now at almost 7 months his own thumb is fine, but it was mine for a while. Could they wash really good and do that while rocking him?

I will mention this to them and see if it helps. I know he'll suck on my finger. He just hates pacis. We've tried them all, including some $10 all natural rubber one. I've spent a small fortune trying to find one he will take, but he prefers mommy (fine by me!!!!) and his knuckles.
Thanks!!!!