Expert: ruth kraft - 8/25/2009

Question
My son is little over 5 months old and is breastfeeding 5 times a day and I am giving him 1/4 of a cup of cereal with fruit twice a day.  His last feeding of the day is around 8:30 pm and is really more of a top off for the night. He is sleeping through the night 9 to 10 hours.  I have just recently been able to get him to take a bottle (breastmilk).  I have noticed that when I pump I am only getting about 4oz.  My older son was taking at least 6oz by now and I was making more milk.  Should I be concerned?  He looks like he is growing and seems to be satisfied after a feeding.  I have been breastfeeding him and then giving him cereal.  Should I flip this? Today I experimented with this and I had a very difficult time getting him to take the expressed milk from a bottle after the cereal.  Do I need to cut back the amount of cereal? I am worried he is not getting enough milk a day. Any advise welcomed.

Answer
It sounds like he is getting enough. at this age I would still nurse him before I give him cereal only because the breastmilk is so much better for him. you can always mix the breastmilk in with the cereal also. If he is gaining and where he needs to be developmentally and having wet and dirty diapers then he is definatly getting enough.

4 ounces is fine to get when you pump... each baby nurses differently so it really is hard to compare each child. that is why its best to go by how the child is doing developmentally :)

Hope that helped!