Tips on Feeding Your Baby

A healthy baby usually gains five to seven ounces each week and grows one inch each month for the first six months. A baby will double his birth weight usually by five months. Feeding is very important and changes during various stages of development.

Babies require many feedings since their stomachs are small. A newborn's stomach will only hold one to three ounces. Very young babies usually want to be fed every two or three hours while older babies may wait four or five hours between feedings. The size of the baby may affect the times of feeding as well.

Breast feeding is highly recommended even if done only for a short period; but will boost a baby's immune system and aid in positive overall health. Most babies nurse about 10 to 12 times in a 24 hour period. Offer both breast as each feeding. When he loses interest in the first breast after 10 to 20 minutes, burp, and then offer the second breast. Alternate which breast your baby will begin nursing from with each feeding, to equally empty both breasts.

There is a wide variety of formula available for babies and with the help of your doctor the correct formula can be chosen. There are organic formulas, soy formula, as well as formula made to handle specific digestive troubles. Formula is thicker than breast milk so baby may not demand to be fed as often. If your baby is getting enough, he will be gaining weight at a normal rate.

When your baby has doubled in birth weight and/or weighs at least 13 pounds, he may be ready for solid food. If your breast fed baby frequently demands feedings before two or three hours have elapsed since the last feeding, he may be ready for solid food. If your bottle fed baby is not satisfied on 32 ounces of formula in a 24 hour period, he may be ready for solid food.

Start with rice cereal (not wheat) since it is less likely to cause an allergic response. Mix one tablespoon dry cereal with breast milk, formula or water until fairly thick. Offer cereal twice daily when your baby is hungry, usually morning and evening. Your baby will gradually take up to three to four tablespoons of dry cereal mixed with liquid.

After three to four weeks, begin vegetables. Offer twice daily starting with yellow, alternating with green. Fruits can be started after vegetables to avoid sweet taste preference. Meats may be added at approximately six to eight months.

When starting new foods, offer a few tablespoons at first and add one new food three to five days in a row before starting another food to determine any reactions such as gas, diarrhea, constipation or rash. Avoid orange juice until six moths and no eggs or wheat until 12 months. Avoid honey because of the risk of infant botulism.

Amounts of solid food vary with each baby. Some babies eat on jar each of vegetables, fruit and meat plus two servings cereal in a day. Some babies will eat more or less. Babies will give signs of being satisfied by leaning back or turning away from the food. Do not push your baby to finish all the food in the dish or jar.

It is appropriate to begin finger foods between seven and nine months. Baby should be able to sit up in a highchair, has teeth and is anxious to put things into his mouth. Offer only one to two pieces of soft foods at a time. Cut up bananas, cheese, soft veggies, canned fruits, French fries, and fish sticks all make perfect first solid foods. Small items such as raisins or Cheerios make snack time fun too!

A cup can be introduced at about four to five moths and weaning from the bottle can be done anytime after one year of age, depending on your baby's readiness. Weaning from breast or bottle should be a gradual process. Replace on bottle or breast feeding at a time, the last feeding to b e discontinued is the nighttime feeding. Do not switch to cow's milk until 12 months of age.

Feeding time for your baby is also a social time. Try to have baby at the table with the rest of the family. Talk to your baby, chat about the colors of his food, count out pieces of banana, and make meal time fun. You don't have to produce a Broadway show, but simply make mealtime enjoyable for both you and your baby.