Modern wisdom is that babies should be fed on demand and allowed to feed until satisfied. Breast Feeding may need to be every 2 hours at first. Time to introduce solids is when baby's hunger increases, causing more frequent waking at night; this usually happens from four months onwards, although breast-feeding should continue until about six months.
Consult your medical doctor or health visitor if baby loses interest in food or stops gaining weight (see Slow Weight Gain). Regurgitation of small amounts of food is quite normal, but this should happen less and less once solids are introduced. However, if baby actually vomits (brings up large amounts of half-digested food), and this happens several times within 24 hours, or if Vomiting is accompanied by Fever or Diarrhoea, consult your doctor if there is no improvement in 12 hours. Possible causes include a digestive tract abnormality, Gastroenteritis, lactose intolerance, and Intussusception; see Vomiting for further information.
Breast-Fed Babies
Baby should be put to the breast as soon as possible, and certainly within 24 hours of birth, and then fed on demand, if possible, until age off four to six months. If breasts are too full for baby to suck comfortably, some milk should be expressed before feeding. If milk is too watery, salty, or bitter, baby will probably cry and draw away from the breast.
Bottle-Fed Babies
Carefully follow mixing instructions on container. Feed which is too dilute will result in small, firm, dark green stools; feed which is not sufficiently diluted will make baby thirsty because salt content is high for its volume; in both cases baby is likely to express discomfort by crying. If baby nods off while feeding, wake him or her up.
Weaning
Best policy is to introduce solids one by one at first, just in case there are any intolerances. Best foods to wean on are rice, potatoes, vegetables (especially carrots and greens), fruit, avocados, and fish or lean meat, all well pureed of course. Avoid wheat, nuts, corn, and mushrooms, which are not digested well, and keep dairy products to a minimum. If any food produces wind or other upsets, note it down and wait for a month or two before reintroducing it. If there is a family history of food intolerance, delay introduction of wheat and dairy products until age of twelve months.
Self-help: measures and homeopathic remedies for distended breasts, sore nipples, loss of milk, unpleasant-tasting milk, etc. appear under Breast Feeding Problems. |
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