Articles - You and Your Baby
FEEDING TIME
Feeding is one of your baby's most pleasant experiences. At feeding
time, the baby receives nourishment from food and a feeling
of security from parents' loving care. The food helps your
baby grow healthy and strong. Parental love starts your baby
in the development of a secure and stable personality. Both
you and your baby should be comfortable at feeding time. Choose
a position that will help you to relax as you feed your baby.
For your baby's comfort, be sure he or she is warm and dry.
Whether breast-feeding or bottle feeding, hold your baby close.
Face to face contact is very important for you baby. This
is a good time to get to know one another.
TYPE OF FEEDING
Breast-milk is the best feeding for your baby. If you choose
not to breast feed, an infant formula can be recommended.
It is very important to use one fortified with iron. Breast-milk
or formula is the only food your baby needs during the first
4 to 6 months of life. Breast-milk or formula should be continued
until your baby's first birthday. The cow's milk that the
rest of the family drinks is not an appropriate food for the
first year of life.
WEIGHT GAIN AND LOSS
Most newborns weigh between 5 ½ to 10 pounds, with the average
weight being 7 ½ pounds. During the first days of life, infants
generally lose 10% of their weight before they start to gain.
Breast fed babies may lose slightly more weight at first without
cause for concern. This weight loss is from loss of excess
body water and is perfectly normal. Most infants regain their
birth weight by 10 to 14 days, double it by 4 months, and
triple it by one year. Many parents want to know if their
baby is eating enough. The best gauge of this is growth. Besides
growth, satisfaction after eating, wetting 6 or more diapers
daily, and having stools will all let you know if your baby
is eating enough.
BURPING
Burping your baby helps remove swallowed air. To burp your
baby, hold him or her upright over your shoulder, and gently
rub or pat his/her back. Another way is to place your baby
face down across your lap and gently rub his/her back. Burp
your baby during and after each feeding. Sometimes a baby
will not be able to burp. Do not try to force the baby to
burp if the first few attempts are unsuccessful. Don't be
alarmed If your baby spits up a few drops when being burped.
Sometimes just being patient and holding your baby upright
for a few minutes will help.
VITAMINS
Breast-milk contains all the vitamins a baby needs. Formula-fed
babies need no extra vitamins because they obtain enough from
their formula. Your pediatrician can discuss with you whether
your baby requires supplemental vitamins.
OTHER
FEEDINGS
Especially in hot weather, you may offer your baby lukewarm,
boiled water or Pedialyte/Kaolectrolyte once or twice a day.
Do not give your baby so much water that he or she becomes
full and uninterested in breast milk or formula. Do not give
your baby sugary liquids (like soft drinks or juices). They
can harm your baby's teeth or cause diarrhea. Regular milk,
even if boiled, is not good for a baby in the first year of
life, and may cause allergies. To avoid botulism do not give
honey or Karo syrup to a baby until he/she is over 1 year
old. You should wait to give solid foods to the baby until
he or she is 4 to 6 months old. Your pediatrician can discuss
the feeding schedule
with you.