It wouldn’t be wrong to describe life with a newborn as a wild roller coaster ride. You may constantly feel like you can never prepare enough for what’s ahead. This holds even for subsequent babies because each is unique and that’s the beauty of it.
If you are a new parent, we understand that there are too many aspects to take care of. Among these, the most crucial would be your baby’s feeding because it provides them with the nourishment needed for proper development.
It’s natural to have questions surrounding breast milk or formula, milk production, latching, and more. Getting this one area right during the early months of life can lead to a healthy and happy baby. This is why in this article, we will discuss five crucial baby feeding tips to follow.
Choose the Right Nutrition Source
The very first thing you need to be careful about is what you feed your baby. Naturally, newborns thrive on liquids, milk to be precise. However, the options today are not as limited as they once were.
In other words, you have options like breastfeeding or formula feeding. The most ideal of the two would be the former. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers breastmilk to be the clinical gold standard for infants.
Babies who are exclusively breastfed for at least the first six months of life show signs of better health and development. It is literally love translated into food for your baby. On the flip side, commercial baby formulas have been criticized for not only low nutritional value but also for causing necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC.
It is a serious gastrointestinal condition in which the tissue lining the intestines becomes inflamed. It eventually dies and may slough off. As a result, harmful bacteria can enter into the bloodstream.
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The condition is so serious that it has a mortality rate of 50% among neonates. The two main formulas that have been criticized include Similac and Enfamil. Parents of injured infants have even filed NEC lawsuit claims against these brands.
As per TorHoerman Law, around 496 such cases have been filed. The risks are highest among babies born prematurely or those having a low birth weight. In any case, it is best to ditch bovine commercial formulas.
If you can, breastfeed your child or feed them breastmilk. If that’s not possible due to valid reasons, consider feeding them milk from a human milk bank. You need to be careful about hygiene practices. Otherwise, the milk will not seriously harm your child.
Create a Nursing Nest
The next tip revolves around finding a comfortable position to feed your baby. At least in the first few months of their life, initiate frequent skin-to-skin contact with your baby, whether you breastfeed them or not.
Any normal baby will require food frequently. Initially, it may be as frequent as every two to three hours. You need to create a nursing nest to ensure maximum comfort.
Keep in mind that there is nothing known as ‘the right position.’ Ideally, you should experiment with the laid-back, cradle, and crossover hold to see which one works best. Use pillows if required to support your back.
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Moreover, alternate between each breast during your feeds. This will enhance comfort and ensure sufficient milk is available in each.
Help Your Baby Latch on Correctly
Our third pro feeding tip for a happy and healthy baby is to help them latch on your breast correctly. This will ensure that your baby feeds well and finds it easy to get their required milk supply. Also, proper latching will spare you cracked and sore nipples.
Newborns do have instincts that help them locate their mother’s breast. However, they may not be able to latch on correctly each time. Even this process requires some time, patience, and effort on your part.
Guide them using the nipple. Just touch their upper lip with it, encouraging your baby to open their mouth wide. Then, gently bring their head to your breast (not the other way around) and lift their chin to the nipple followed by their mouth.
When a newborn is latched correctly, the American Pregnancy Association states that the mother should not experience any pain. It also ensures that the baby receives adequate milk for feed. Improper latching can disrupt both.
A tugging or stretching sensation is normal and to be expected. In case the discomfort continues, try readjusting your baby. When your baby is positioned and feeding well, they will suck deeply and swallow. Also, their chin will be gently pressed against your breast.
After the feed, your breasts should feel softer. This indicates that they have been drained of milk. If you feel pain and wish to break off the suction, do not remove your breast abruptly. Instead, gently press on your skin near your baby’s mouth or insert a finger in the corner of their mouth.
Never Wait for Your Baby to Cry
Babies indeed cry for several reasons, including when they’re hungry. However, keep in mind that crying is a late cue for hunger. It often happens when they’ve reached a peak point.
If you wait this long, you will have a hard time calming your baby down for a feed. It is best to be on the lookout for early signs of hunger. These would include smacking their lips, opening the mouth and moving their head from side to side, and sucking on their fingers.
When you observe any of these signs, do not wait for the intensity to grow. Take them as your call to settle in for nursing or warm the bottle. Also, it is normal for newborns to feed frequently.
For the first few months, you may feel like all your baby does is feed and cry for a diaper change. This is because your little one is constantly growing and their tummy is stretching to accommodate more food. Breastfed babies generally tend to require more feedings than bottle-fed ones.
This is due to the fact that breastmilk is easier to digest. However, all babies should call for 8 to 12 feedings in a day. The frequency will gradually decline only to increase again during a growth spurt.
Burp Your Little One Frequently
Besides frequent feeding, your little one requires sessions of regular burping. This need stems from the simple fact that babies tend to swallow air during each feed. If not relieved frequently, it can lead to gas formation and pain.
According to UNICEF, signs of gassiness in infants would include arched back, crying, clenching of fists, incessant crying, and drawing legs to their tummy. You must help your baby burp to release the air they swallowed.
This can be done through gentle pats on their back. Hold them over your shoulder to do this or rest your baby face down on your lap. We would suggest stopping a couple of times in between feeds to check if your little one needs to burp.
On a final note, it all may seem overwhelming but remember that you’re not alone. Keeping your baby well-fed should not be complicated but it will surely require some getting used to.
Add to these feeding tips regular doctor checkups and a whole lot of love and TLC. You will have a happy, playful, and healthy newborn.
