babies demand too little food. As a result, the mother’s breast is not
sufficiently stimulated for adequate milk production. Routine feedings
with a time limitation between feedings eliminates this problem. That’s
why neonatal and intensive care units stay close to a three-hour feeding
schedule. It’s healthy.
- Not monitoring growth signs. Many moms simply fail to notice
their baby’s healthy and unhealthy growth indicators. The healthy baby
growth chart will assist you with this vital task. A common mistake made
during the third and fourth months is to assume that just because your
baby has done well up to this point he probably won’t have any problems
in the future. That is not always the case. You must continue to monitor
your baby’s growth throughout his first year of life.
7 . Physical nurturing, holding, and cuddling. The lack of these
gestures can impact a child’s ability to thrive. It is important that moms
cuddle, hold, and talk to their babies frequently throughout the day. Your
routine will help provide these periods, but mom should not be the only
one cuddling the child. Dad, older siblings, grandma, and grandpa are
some of your baby’s favorite people. More people, more love. - Pushing too hard or too fast into the next milestone. Be careful not
to compromise your baby’s nutrition while attempting to establish
healthy sleep patterns. Some mothers fail to notice the warning indicators
of inadequate nutrition because they are overly focused on getting the
naps down, or extending nighttime sleep. If your baby is routinely waking
thirty to forty-five minutes into his nap, it may have more to do with
inadequate nutrition or lactation than the start of poor sleep habits. One
tell tail sign is if this pattern coincides with growth spurts. (See Growth
Spurts, p. 198.)
Infant-Related Causes
Slow weight gain or an absence of weight gain also may be directly
related to your infant. Here are several possibilities.
- Weak sucking. In this case, the child doesn’t have the coordination
or the strength to suck properly, remain latched on, or activate the let-