Question
An 8-month-old baby is fed breast milk every 2 hours while the mother is at work, but after the mother returns home, the baby is reluctant to drink formula milk, usually consuming only 100 milliliters every 4 to 5 hours, and sometimes not eating at all. The baby cries when hungry. Currently, the mother expresses breast milk before work and stores it in a bottle for the baby to eat when hungry, but it’s trouble to warm the milk from the fridge. I would like to ask if it’s okay to keep the breast milk in a warmer all the time? Can doctors provide some suggestions? Why does the baby not like formula milk and is it harmful for the baby’s health if they only eat once every 4 to 5 hours? Additionally, can breast milk be kept warm in a warmer indefinitely?
Answer
The temperature on the warmer cannot be controlled, which may lead to breast milk spoilage. Eating every 4 to 5 hours is normal as long as the total amount remains consistent. The baby’s reluctance to drink formula milk is because at 4 months old, babies begin to have taste buds, and the flavors of breast milk and formula milk are different, so they are not accustomed to it. If you want to continue artificial feeding, you can let the baby gradually adapt.