(MayoClinic.com) Whether you're a new parent or an experienced one, you may have questions about feeding your quickly changing and growing newborn. Here's what you need to know.
Stick with breast milk or formula
In most cases, breast milk is the ideal food for babies. Breast-feeding provides physical and emotional benefits for both mothers and newborns, and most experts recommend exclusive breast-feeding for at least the first six months of life.Whether you feed your newborn breast milk or formula, avoid giving water, juice or other fluids. Introducing these liquids too soon can cause diarrhea.
Other key points to keep in mind:
- Feed your baby on demand. Most newborns breast-feed eight to 12 times a day — about every two to three hours. Within two to three months, your baby may be satisfied with six to eight feedings a day. Eventually your baby will fall into a fairly predictable feeding schedule, taking in more milk in less time at each feeding. If you feed your baby formula, you'll need to feed a little less often because formula digests more slowly than breast milk does.
- Discuss vitamin D. If you're exclusively or partially feeding your infant breast milk, talk with your doctor about vitamin D supplements for your baby. Breast milk may not provide enough vitamin D, which is essential to help your baby absorb calcium and phosphorus — necessary for strong bones. Too little vitamin D may cause rickets, a softening and weakening of bones.
- Follow your baby's feeding cues. Look for early signs of hunger, such as stirring and stretching, sucking motions and lip movements. Fussing and crying are later cues. The sooner you begin each feeding, the less likely you'll need to soothe a frantic baby. Of course, not every cry means hunger. Sometimes your baby may simply need a clean diaper, a change of scenery or some cuddle time.
- Know when your baby is full. When babies stop sucking, close their mouths or turn away from the nipple, they may be full — or simply taking a break. Try burping your baby or waiting a minute before offering your breast or the bottle again. If your baby is ready to end the feeding, he or she will resist more vigorously. In general, breast feedings should last at least 10 minutes — and usually no more than 20 minutes — per breast.
- Expect variations in your baby's eating patterns. Your baby won't necessarily eat the same amount every day. During growth spurts — often at 10 to 14 days after birth, as well as at three weeks, six weeks, three months and six months — your baby may take more at each feeding or want to feed more often. After a few days, the pattern should become more predictable. When your baby begins to drop middle-of-the-night feedings, he or she may want a morning "catch-up" feeding.
- Trust your instincts — and your baby's. Parents often worry that their newborn isn't eating enough. But babies usually know just how much they need. Don't focus on how much, how often and how regularly your baby eats. Instead, look for contentment between feedings, alertness, good skin tone and steady weight gain — about 4 to 7 ounces a week for the first month.
- Know the signs of underfeeding. If your newborn isn't gaining weight, wets fewer than six to eight diapers a day or doesn't have regular bowel movements, seems sleepy all the time, and shows little interest in feeding, he or she may not be getting enough to eat. If you notice any of these signs or have concerns, call your baby's doctor.
- Get regular well-baby checkups. Your baby's doctor will likely want to weigh your newborn and discuss feeding 48 to 72 hours after you and your baby leave the hospital. Be sure to keep this and other follow-up appointments so that you and your doctor can track your baby's progress.
- Consider each feeding a time to bond with your baby. For babies, feeding is as much a social activity as a nutritional one. Your baby's growth and development are based, in part, on the powerful bond that forms during feedings. Hold your baby close during each feeding. Look him or her in the eye. Speak with a gentle voice. If you're using a bottle, resist the temptation to prop it in your baby's mouth while you do other things. This could lead to choking or tooth decay — and a missed opportunity to build your baby's sense of security, trust and comfort.
©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).
Terms of use.
More features from MayoClinic.com
/health
ASK AN EXPERT
