Feeding the Baby

From Breastfeeding to Solids

The importance of breastfeeding

We are all aware of how important it is for babies to be breastfed. In fact, the sooner you start breastfeeding your newborn (preferably within an hour of delivering the baby in normal circumstances), the better it will be for both of you. Though it takes some time for the mature milk to flow in, the breasts initially produce a substance called colostrums (a yellowish thick fluid) in the milk that protects your baby from infections. Breastfeeding requires a lot of patience, so do not get distressed if it takes some time for you to adjust to this exercise.

Feeding basics

It is advisable to feed your baby as often as possible, say every two hours or so as breast milk digests quite fast. The more you nurse, the more milk you will produce. You should try to nurse at least 10 to 12 times a day, better still whenever your baby shows signs of hunger, like increased alertness or mouthing. Crying too, is a sign of hunger, so make sure you feed the baby before he starts to cry. As your baby will practically sleep through the day in the initial days, you will need to gently wake him at regular intervals to feed him. Once he starts sleeping for longer periods at night, you can follow a routine of feeding every two to three hours or even less at night.

How to nurse

Breastfeeding your newborn is an art that you will acquire with time, as it demands a lot of patience and practice. If you feel a little nervy, you can always talk to your nurse, doctor or friends who have already nursed, to guide you as to how to go about it. One thing that you must ensure before giving the feed is, to be in a comfortable position, whether sitting or lying, as feeding can take up to 45 minutes or so, with you having to remain in that position for some time.

The best way to feed your baby (whether breast or bottle-feeding) is to first choose a calm room, away from any noise or distraction. Make yourself comfortable along with the baby in a chair or on a couch with plenty of cushions around for support. You can keep the lights dim and even hum a soft song or play some light music to help your baby relax and enjoy his meal.

Bottle-feeding basics

Bottle-feeding can be as much an intimate experience as breastfeeding. The advantage of this is that you can monitor the exact amount of milk your baby is taking in. Besides, other members in the family can also experience the joy of creating a special bond with the baby.
For a newborn, you can keep about half a dozen of small 4-ounce bottles and change to 8-ounce bottles once his appetite increases, say between three to four months.

Always use a fresh bottle when you start feeding, never refrigerate the left over, or reheat a previously warmed bottle.

How to bottle-feed:

• Always check the temperature of the milk before giving it to your baby. You can do this by putting a few drops of milk on to your wrist. Ensure that it’s warm but not hot.
• Keep the top ring of the bottle a little loose to allow some air to get in. This would help keep the nipple erect, or else continuous sucking can create negative pressure and make the nipple collapse or de-shaped.
• Put a bib (preferably a plastic-backed bib) around your baby’s neck to protect his clothes, as babies tend to spit out a little milk at times. Stroke your baby’s cheek a little, so that he automatically opens his mouth.
• Keep the bottle at an angle of 45 degrees so that the neck of the bottle is full of milk and prevents air bubbles. Put the bottle into your baby’s mouth.
• Hold the bottle steady and keep adjusting the angle so that the top of the bottle is always full of milk.
• If you need to burp him in between, slip your finger into the side of his mouth to break his suction and remove the bottle.
  

Burping your infant

Whenever you feed your baby, irrespective of whether breast feeding or bottle- feeding, your baby will tend to take some air along with it. This can get accumulated in his stomach and cause pain or discomfort, and even lead him to refuse to take any more milk. Thus, it’s important to expel the air in between while giving the feed. However, do not force to disrupt the feed if your baby is not too willing to let go of the nipple. If breastfeeding, you can wait till your baby finishes with one breast. In case of bottle-feeding, you should burp him more often, say between every ounce or so.

Ways to burp your infant:

• On your shoulder: Let your baby rest his head on your shoulder, with his face away from your neck. Supporting his bottom with one hand, use the other to gently pat or rub his back.
• Sitting up: Put your baby in a sitting position on your lap. Use one hand to support his chest and gently rub or pat his back with the other.
• Across your knees: Lay your baby down with his stomach resting on one knee and his chest on the other. He should face away from you with nothing obstructing in front of his mouth. Gently rub or pat his back with your hands.
  

When to supplement with formula food

Although most doctors recommend breastfeeding for at least a year, you can introduce your baby to bottle or formula food any time after your breasts start producing enough milk, which takes at least a month from the time you start nursing your baby. Your infant may refuse a bottle or a new food source at this stage. However, if your baby is used to having breast milk in the bottle, the transition may not be too difficult. Just remember to take this slowly so that your baby is able to accept the new taste and the method of taking it. You can ask your spouse to offer the first few bottles, for if you’re the one offering, the baby will be able to smell you and would probably create more fuss to be breastfed.

What is the right kind of formula food

As most of the formulas today are packed with enough nutrition required for a growing baby, it is perfectly safe for infants to have these as a healthy alternative to breast milk, if there is a necessity. You will find a variety of formulas available in the market, but the powdered formula based on cow’s milk still remains the most popular choice amongst parents. It is however advisable to consult your doctor about the right one to be used for your baby.

Some important tips to follow when preparing the formula:

• Always ensure that your hands are clean
• Sterilize properly all the equipments required, i.e., the pan or kettle, measuring jug, stirring spoon, bottles, nipples, discs, rings and caps.
• Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when making the formula. Remember, adding too much of formula in the water can make your child sick while too little of it can leave him undernourished. So be sure to put the right measurement to suit your baby’s needs.
• You may make a number of bottles at a time that you think will be required in a day and keep them refrigerated. Use them one at a time whenever necessary but always throw away the left over milk.
  

Steps to prepare the formula:

• Boil some fresh water in the kettle or pan and let it cool. Measure the required amount into the jug.
• Measure the required amount of formula with the scoop and add to the water. Mix well to ensure that the powder dissolves completely and you get the right consistency.
• Pour the prepared formula into the bottles through the sterilized plastic funnel.
• With the nipples placed upside down in the bottles to ensure that they remain clean, cover the mouth with the discs and screw on the rings. Put the caps on the bottles and store immediately in the fridge.
  

Introducing solids

Getting your baby to start on solid foods besides milk is a major milestone in your baby’s development stage. As your baby reaches about four to five months of age, you can probably consult your doctor and introduce him to solid foods. However, do not give him solids till about three months of age. A change in his habits, like his ability to keep his head steady, sit up well with support, growing appetite, weight gain will be good indications for a go-ahead. Keep in mind not to start too many things at a time. Proceed gradually, giving about 15-20 days gap before offering a second type of food and observe what your baby likes and what he doesn’t.

The ideal foods and the way to introduce:

When you start giving solids to your baby, remember to keep the foods soft initially, in pureed form, that will be easy for him to chew and easily digestible. The traditional choice has mostly been semi-liquid cereals of rice, barley or oatmeal. Apple sauce, pureed carrot, banana, and sweet potato are good choices to start with.

Keep a brief period of gap while introducing each food and observe if there’s any negative reaction. You can give a couple of spoonfuls of the pureed food item while breast-feeding or bottle-feeding in the beginning. Do not cut down the milk supply because the solids basically provide some extra calories, but most of the protein, vitamins and minerals that the baby needs come from the milk. You can slowly increase the amount of solids over the next few weeks.

*Tip to feed solid food to your baby:
Sit your baby in an upright position in your lap. Don’t forget to put on the bib to protect his clothes. It will be convenient for you to use a plastic bowl with a long-handled weaning spoon. Just ensure that they are well sterilized before use. Your baby may take up about a month or more to get a hang of being fed from the spoon.

Encouraging your baby to feed himself:

By the time your baby reaches six months of age, you will notice certain developments that may change his mealtimes and eating habits considerably. With strengthened back and neck muscles by this time, your baby may be able to support his back and sit in a highchair. As his taste develops, appetite grows, and the hand-mouth coordination improves, he may be in a position to start feeding himself --- like gnawing on finger foods, or eating mashed or pureed items with a spoon. Since self-feeding invites a lot of mess as well, you will need to be prepared to handle it. To make this less cumbersome for yourself while helping your little one to learn to feed himself, you can do with some helpful tips.

• Keep a safe, stable, easy-to-clean high chair especially for your baby.
• You can buy small plastic spoons, shatter-proof plates, and unbreakable plastic cups with tight-fitting lids having integral sprouts. These cups will be safe and easy for your baby to use when you are trying to wean him.
  

How to go about it:

• Start by offering finger foods which are firm (but not hard) so that your baby can easily hold and chew them. Thin slices of apples, carrot sticks, chunks of cheese, and bananas are good choices as well as nutritious. Do not give pieces of foods such as nuts, or food pieces which are too small, unpeeled fruits or those with seeds, as these may cause your baby to choke.
• You must always keep an eye on the baby while he eats to prevent any chance of him choking or gagging. It is not uncommon in babies to gag, i.e. pushing out excess food out with their tongue or if they feel full. This will become less with time as the baby learns to chew well and take in the food properly.
• Allow him to use his hands to eat if he wants to and ignore the mess he creates. It is more important for him to practice and learn to eat better.