For the correct development of the child, it is important for parents to monitor his nutrition. The indicator of the baby's health is in accordance with his body weight for age. If it differs greatly from the norm, a lack of nutrition can adversely affect the normal functioning of organs. Therefore, it is important for parents to understand how much formula a child should eat at 4 months.
With enough calories, your baby will develop healthy
Daily routine of 4 months
The meal plan is usually different for different types of feeding. Today, pediatricians recommend, if possible, to feed the child with breast milk, the child himself lets you know when he is hungry. Some advise you to stick to a regular diet and feed your baby every 3 hours. Children on IV are fed every 3.5-4 hours.
Toddler's daily routine
| Time | Daily regime |
|---|---|
| 6:00 | Breakfast |
| 6:30 – 8:00 | Activity period |
| 8:00 – 10:00 | First daytime sleep |
| 10:00 | Re-breakfast |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Activity period |
| 12:00 – 14:00 | Second daytime nap, possibly while walking |
| 14:00 | Dinner |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Activity period |
| 16:00 – 18:00 | Third daytime dream |
| 18:00 | Dinner |
| 18:30 – 21:00 | Activity period |
| 21:00 – 22:30 | First night dream |
| 22:30 | Re-dinner |
| 23:00 – 6:00 | Second night dream |
This is the approximate daily routine of a child who is on IV. Under this regime, children eat about five times a day. Babies, which are on the GV, can be applied to the chest much more often - up to 10 times. Breastfeeding is usually enough to keep the baby satisfied once every three to four hours. The mother can breastfeed the child more often - this is a way of communication, calming, communication and a technique for lulling the child. Therefore, children on HB do not always adhere to clear time intervals.
It is easier to follow the regimen with children on artificial feeding
Nutritional norm
From the first days of life, the baby's organs are not fully developed, including the stomach. Therefore, a very small amount of milk or artificial nutrition, even 20 grams, may be enough for a baby to get enough. Despite the rapid satiety with hepatitis B, babies can ask for breasts more than 10 times a day. There are special formulas for calculating the required amount of food in ml, they are all based on the weight of the child.
Gradually, the stomach will develop and its volume will increase. Therefore, the number of feedings is reduced, the portion itself is increased. By the fourth month, children should eat 1/6 or 1/7 of their weight per day. In other words, a baby weighing 6 kg will require about a liter of milk or formula, as a rule, children cost a little less. This rate is divided into 5-6 feeding approaches and is served to babies every few hours. At the same time, the breaks between feedings are not always the same, for example, at night, children can go without food for longer.
How much a baby should eat at 4 months is easier to determine with IV (artificial feeding), since the mixture is always served in a bottle. If the baby is on HB (breastfeeding), then the mother can determine the daily rate with a special measurement after expressing. It is not necessary to do this to determine if the baby is full, because when breastfeeding, babies themselves make it clear when they are hungry.
Features:
- In the fourth month, babies usually eat about 130 ml at a time. If the baby eats up this amount, then after feeding the bottle will not be completely empty.
- The milk remaining in the breast after feeding indicates satiety.
- At four months, a child can be active and not be capricious for about 3-4 hours in a row, which indicates that he is full.
- A sign of adequate nutrition is regular bowel movements.
In general, babies are considered to get enough food if they gain weight and develop according to their age norms.
Important! With HV, the child himself is able to understand how much food he needs for normal functioning. Therefore, with hepatitis B, cases of malnutrition or overeating are rare.
Kids on GW gorge themselves
Usually, by the age of four months, children on GV are already beginning to adapt to the regimen. The number of breastfeeding times is reduced by 10-12 times a day, but the night is still the time when the baby cannot do without feeding. There are times when a child can ask for a breast more often, for different reasons:
- The baby could not eat enough, but only to be distracted, so later he requires the breast again.
- Some babies begin to cut their teeth at 4 months, applying them to the chest soothes them from discomfort. In addition, some children bite their nipples, thereby doing a kind of massage of the gums.
- The period of lactation crisis, when a woman's milk supply decreases for a short period (3-7 days) and the child is malnourished. Subsequently, the milk is restored.
When breastfeeding, it is difficult to determine the rate of the number of feedings, since the baby may require breast more than 10 times a day. Pediatricians do not advise limiting babies at such an early date, it is better to wait until the baby grows up to 6 months.
Calculation of nutrition by weight of the child
The amount of food depends on how the child will develop. More often, mothers of children on IV worry about the amount of the mixture, since it is easy to calculate and notice if the baby is malnourished. When a child is on HB, it is more difficult to do this, especially since he himself determines how much milk he needs.
In order to accurately determine how much milk or formula a child needs, there are several verified formulas. They also take into account weight, height. Parents should be aware that these calculations may slightly overestimate the required amount of ml for feeding. These formulas differ for different ages of babies, the main criterion is the age before and after 10 days.
Nutrition formulas help young mothers navigate
Calculation of food for children over 10 days old
- Baby's weight in grams. divided by the baby's height in cm and multiplied by 7. The resulting number shows the amount of milk or mixture required per day in ml.
- The second method shows the daily amount of milk or formula, excluding other liquid.
Monthly nutritional norms, ml
| How many months is the baby | Amount of formula or milk (ml) in relation to body weight |
|---|---|
| From 10 days to 2 months | 1/5 |
| 2-4 | 1/6 |
| 4-6 | 1/7 |
| From 6 months | 1/8 |
- The third method calculates calories, therefore it is considered the most accurate for children before the introduction of complementary foods. The formula assumes that the baby should receive a certain amount of calories per day. The easiest way to use this method is when feeding with mixtures, because the calorie content is already indicated on their packaging. Breast milk can change its calorie content and composition, so this method is considered approximate for calculating feeding of children on HB.
Calorie intake
| How many months is the baby | Calories per day (per kg) |
|---|---|
| From 10 days to 3 months | 120 |
| 3-6 | 115 |
| 6-9 | 110 |
| 9-12 | 100 |
Calculation for one feeding
The amount of milk or mixture is usually calculated per day. Many mothers do not know how much milk is considered the norm for a single intake. Young parents can act based on the tables correlated with the child's weight.
Rate per feeding
| How many months (by the end of the month) | The norm of milk or mixture for a single feeding |
|---|---|
| 1 | 90-100 |
| 2 | 120-130 |
| 3 | 150-175 |
| After 6th month | 180-200 |
Introduction of complementary foods
Some parents believe that 4 months is the age when it is time for the baby to introduce complementary foods. Pediatricians have different opinions on this, most tend to believe that the child is still able to meet his needs without additives. In general, it is recommended to wait with the introduction of new food for children on IV up to 5 months, for children on HB - up to the 6th month of life.
When feeding with mixtures, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods from the moment when the child is already full 4 months, not earlier. Breastfeeding babies can be satiated with milk longer, as artificial milk prepares the baby's body for a different type of food. Therefore, children on IV are transferred to complementary foods faster.
Pediatricians approve of the introduction of new food to babies at 4 months, if there are problems with digestion or difficulty in choosing a formula. Then the parents are instructed on all the rules for introducing complementary foods. At this age, the child can be gradually taught to baby puree and juices from vegetables and fruits. It is best to start with a homemade green apple puree.
The introduction of complementary foods from 4 months is carried out gradually
A mother may know how much a 4 month old baby should eat, but there are times when milk or formula alone is not enough for her baby. Based on small tips, mothers can understand that her baby is already ready for the introduction of complementary foods:
- Children 4-6 months old intensely experience a gag reflex when a spoon or other object hits the middle of the tongue. As soon as this reflex dies down, this is a sure sign that the baby is ready to introduce other food and can swallow it with a changed consistency.
- Interest in food. In children 4 months old, this is rare, but it happens as an exception. A toddler may start reaching for food or imitate chewing when he sees his parents eating.
- If the child does not correspond to the weight norm of his age, this indicates that he does not have enough milk or mixture, and it is time to introduce complementary foods.
- Constipation or lack of iron in the blood. In such cases, pediatricians try to introduce complementary foods instead of drugs in order to normalize stool and iron levels.
In case the baby has stopped eating milk or formula, parents should consult a doctor. When the baby is transferred to a different composition of the mixture, then complementary foods, as usual, are introduced from 6 months.
If the baby corresponds to the weight of his age and does not have medical indications for the introduction of new products into the diet, then parents should not rush to complementary foods.
If a child on HB is overweight, then the introduction of vegetable complementary foods will even be useful. Vegetables are not as high in calories as cereals and will not affect the baby's weight gain.
Note! If the baby does not have problems with weight, then complementary foods can be started at least with cereals, at least with vegetables. If the weight is not enough, it is recommended to start with cereals in order to gain it.
At the same time, they do not stop breastfeeding or formula. Fruit is recommended to be administered if the child has frequent constipation. Prunes are especially helpful. They try to be more careful with fruits, otherwise the child may not want to try porridge after that.
There are few examples among fruits and vegetables that can be successfully incorporated into complementary foods. Most of them are allergenic and poorly absorbed by the children's stomach. Recommended products include:
- zucchini;
- cauliflower;
- broccoli;
- apple (puree);
- pear;
- peach.
Parents make mashed potatoes themselves or buy
The introduction of complementary foods should be carried out carefully so as not to provoke allergic reactions, abdominal cramps or stool disorders with new products. The transition should be gentle, if you start with vegetable or fruit purees, choose a composition from one product. Mixed purees begin to be given to children from 6 months. The first complementary food is given to the baby diluted with water and served with a spoon.
There are some simple tips, following which, a mother can quickly accustom her baby to a new product:
- For the first time, baby puree is given to eat very little - about a quarter of a teaspoon. Every day, the amount of mashed potatoes is increased so that by the end of the month the baby can eat 5 teaspoons.
- Introducing a new product into the child's diet, they monitor the reaction of the body. Stool changes are normal, especially for those who have trouble emptying them. You should be more careful with foods that cause rashes in the child.
- Complementary foods are given before feeding with milk or formula. Because after the usual food, the baby can fill up and refuse a new product.
- Between approaches to feeding, the child must be given water to drink.
- With the successful introduction of complementary foods from the 4th month to the end, the diet can be diversified with beets, carrots and homemade cottage cheese. At the same time, several new products are not given at once, one is enough; at least 2 days should pass between the introduction of a new vegetable.
Closely monitor the body's response to complementary foods
So, the nutrition of a child at 4 months of age can only be on milk or mixture, or requires the introduction of complementary foods. If necessary, complementary foods are introduced gradually and from one type of vegetables or fruits. Mixed mashed potatoes and porridge are advised to eat after six months. If one milk or IV is enough for the baby, they calculate the norm and try to enter the diet. It will be easier to do this on IV, but while breastfeeding, mothers can start introducing a regime, albeit not a strict one.
