Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 9/18/2010

Question
hi sally
hopefully i get the right answer of my question as iam tensed regarding my baby.
my first baby boy is 8month&4weeks.he is active and healthy,his weight is 17.1 lbs,& weight70.
he's sleeping hours are 3:00am and wake up at 1:00pm.he don't sleep on time as i tried allot of schedule but no use.he wake up at night and sleep at morning.and evening he will not sleep more than a hour.
Iam a stay at home mom leaving in a joint family.iam breastfeeding my baby.but my baby dont take my breast more than for a 2min.he take it only at the time of sleeping.he looks thin my mother in law forcing me to give him formula becoz he is not chubby.but iam not agreeing atleast i want to give him breastmilk till 1year.(as before i wish to give him  breast milk for 2years but he is a poor eater)i tried to give him 2tsp apple juice when he was 4months but till now he dont like apple juice only by force.he dont like any fruit juice,no cerelac,no babybiscuits,no babyfood.he take vegetable only not more than 4to5 tsp by force.anyhow he dont like solids at all.his teeth is also not out yet.As he do 1 r 2 bowl movement in  a day.he is active in playing.he do crawling,he sits,he dont have any problems like cough,constipation.
As our family people see him and say that he is so thin give him formula milk.i have milk but he dont take it properly.i never saw his stomach filled like balloon.my cousion is having a baby boy of 4month he is 18.1lbs she give him formula milk he is more bigger than my baby.My baby is more on playing side.i tried to take him in a dark room with out light but stil he dont take breast more than 4min.
My friend told me to give him vitamins(which make him hungry) which will let him drink milk more and solid tooo and he will become a little chubby.i want to ask is this good for him please help me this is my first child and i dont know what to do.i want him to have my milk alot alot and become healthy.i dont want to give him formula.

Answer
Dear Somi,

First, congratulations for giving your son the best start in life by breastfeeding him!

It can be very hard when your family members and your friends tell you what to do. Your baby's doctor is really the one who should look at your son and see whether he is developing okay, or whether he may have some kind of medical problem that is causing him not to eat enough. Not every baby is chubby, and not every baby develops the same way. The fact that your baby is active is a good sign. However, if he is not taking enough breast milk or solid foods he may not be getting enough to eat.

Take your baby in to see the doctor. Before you go, make a list of what your son has eaten in the past day or two. Also tell the doctor exactly what hours your baby has been sleeping.

It might be helpful to have your mother-in-law come with you to the doctor's office -- that way if the doctor supports you in your desire to continue breastfeeding, she will not force you to switch to formula. But if the doctor does want you to supplement with formula, your baby may be able to put on weight, and you can continue to nurse him in addition to the formula. Then if he fills out a little, you may be able to gradually cut down the amount of formula and go back to exclusive breastfeeding.

Good luck!

Sally
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Olds & Marks, 4th edition, September 2010, published by Workman Publishing, and soon available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.