Question
A seven-month-old baby has lost interest in breastfeeding since three months ago, only willing to eat if forced. When seeing others eat, the baby smiles or gets excited, but seems helpless when trying to feed themselves. The baby’s sleep quality at night is poor, tossing and turning and having difficulty falling asleep, often crying out of frustration. Recently, the baby has been suddenly crying before naps, which only subsides after feeding. When the mother’s milk supply is insufficient, the baby spits out the nipple and no longer seeks more milk. How should this situation be handled? I am currently using a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding, but the baby also dislikes the formula. No treatment measures have been taken yet.
Answer
For the above issue, here are some suggested handling measures: First, consider giving “Xingpi Yang’er Granules” (a traditional Chinese medicine) for a period of time (4-8 weeks) if there is no constipation. Second, consider gradually introducing complementary foods such as rice water, rice porridge, vegetable juice, and egg yolks. Additionally, you might consider administering a preventive dose of vitamin D orally (once daily, 400 units per dose) for two weeks to observe the effects. Hope these suggestions can help you solve the problem.