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Feeding Baby - Tips for New Moms
Is my baby getting enough to eat? Breast or bottle? How often should my baby eat? When should I start solids? New parents are full of questions about feeding baby. Here's some information to help sort out some of the questions new parents and grandparent might have.
Breast or Bottle?
Babies need only liquids for the first six months of life. For optimum nutrition, breast milk is best for baby during these critical months of development. Breast milk provides nutrients that support healthy brain development and causes less gastric discomfort for baby than formula.
Formula Choices
If you decide to formula feed your baby, talk to your baby's doctor about which formula is recommended for your baby. You may need to try several types before finding one that is easily tolerated by your baby.
Bottles & Nipples
There are many types of bottles on the market. Find one that your baby easily sucks on and swallows from without taking in excess gas. If your baby has difficulty, try a different bottle or nipple until you find the one that best suits your baby.
How often should my baby eat?
In the early months, if you're breastfeeding, it is not uncommon for babies to eat every 2 - 3 hours. Sometimes your baby may want to eat more frequently. Feeding on demand or feeding on schedule is a personal choice. Some moms find keeping a journal of baby's eating schedule helpful to be sure he or she is eating often enough. Keep track of how long and how often baby eats. Baby will generally not go longer than four hours between feedings.
How do I know if my baby is hungry or full?
Learning the cues of all your baby's cries is an essential task of early parenting. Recognizing the initial stirrings of your baby when he or she is hungry and before full-out crying begins will lead to more peaceful eating times. You can tell baby has had enough to eat when he or she turns away for the bottle or breast. Sometimes, though, this may mean that baby needs to be burped and can then continue feeding.
Tracking how many wet and dirty diapers are produced each day is another clue to knowing whether your baby is getting enough to eat. Speak with your doctor about guidelines for your baby.
Starting Solids
Most babies can start solid foods at around five or six months of age. Here are some of the foods your doctor may recommend for starters.
Rice, Barley, Mixed Grain or Oat Cereal – mixed with formula or breast milk. Each is easily tolerated and you can make it as thin as you like for those first meals. It is very important to serve cereal from a spoon. Do not put cereal in bottles.
Organic Whole Milk Yogurt – This is a very healthy first food. You may want to try yogurt with fruit mixed in after your baby is well initiated to solid foods. Be sure that whatever you buy is low in sugar.
Yellow Vegetables – Many babies' favorite first foods fall into this category, including squash, carrots and sweet potatoes.
Mild Fruits – Babies love a sweet taste and these fruits are all excellent choices: applesauce, bananas, peaches and pears.
