Drop in nursing frequency in a 4 month old

[lalemma]

Okay - I suspect I'm just having irrational first-timer paranoia, but please lend me your insight:

My four-and-a-half-month old (he was 7 weeks early, so his adjusted age is closer to 3 months, but for size he's basically caught up now) has been a great and frequent nurser. I haven't been keeping close track of just how often he nursed, but at least 8 times a day, plus two or so night feedings. (And I think this is probably conservative - he really likes to eat.)

Since traveling, about a week ago, I've felt like his nursing frequency has just... dropped. Over the past month he's gone to, mostly, a single night waking, although his daytime frequency was still high. But since getting home, he's just nursed less often. I don't think this is getting into nursing-strike territory, but he's definitely less interested in nursing than he was before.

Also - I do notice that he's been through a developmental leap recently. He seems much more "independent": he enjoys lying on his back and kicking his legs for several minutes at a time now, whereas before he was stuck to me or another adult constantly. So I'm guessing there's just less opportunity for very brief/frequent snacking now, because he's not next to my boobs 24/7. (I don't mean that I put him down and leave him: just that he is now interested in lying on the floor and looking at rattles with me, which previously would have been considered torture.)

What should I do? I've never scheduled his eating, just offered a boob whenever he seemed interested. Should I start offering more often? Going into quiet rooms to nurse? Is it okay that he dropped to one night feeding? Could this be residual stress from a bad plane trip? Am I totally overthinking this, and this is normal for someone his age?

Our nursing relationship is great, but he was in the NICU for two weeks, and my milk came in just from pumping. So even though he's roly-poly, I guess there's always this bit of paranoia about supply in the back of my mind. Help?

[doubledutch]

how often is he nursing?

let's say he wakes up at 7am to nurse. then 10:30 or so, 2pm, 5pm, bedtime and a night-waking. that's 6 times in 24 hours (instead of the 10 you're used to). that's every 3-4 hours. a lot less than he used to nurse, but it seems normal to me . . . ?

[Llyra]

I think it's pretty common at that age. Not all babies drop in frequency, but some do. It's because they get so much more efficient at extracting the milk, and because they start to wake up and take more of an interest in the wide world. I think you can very safely just follow his cues and let him lead you. I would be more concerned if he was getting bottles or solids, and losing interest in nursing-- that could easily lead to premature weaning. But if you are completely or even just mostly his only source of food, he'll certainly not starve himself, so I think it's just fine.

If he's nursing fewer than eight times in 24 hours, though, I'd definitely start offering more often. If he isn't interested, that's fine, and he'll let you know, but offering can't hurt.

[lalemma]

Good to hear! He doesn't get any bottles or solids, so I think I'll just write down how often he nurses for a few days, and try to relax about it.

Thanks!

[strawberryprincess]

If the number of wet/poopy diapers is normal, and he seems satisfied, I would say this a totally normal age-appropriate stage. he is getting more efficient at nursing, and it doesn't take as long or as often. continue to offer on-demand and there shouldn't be an issue. pretty soon, you'll probably post about his increase in nursing

[Xavismom]

Around 3.5 months, DS was going almost the whole night without nursing. I was getting really worried about it, but then all of a sudden he started nursing almost ALL night long. I try to relax about it and trust he knows how much he needs, but I hear you, its hard not to worry about them and your supply!