Pregnancy And Baby Care Baby Feeding Stages Baby Feeding Problems

• Tweet
• 

...born baby feeding problems including soreness and pain caused by teething.

Breastfeeding your new born baby

Breastfeeding the newborn baby has many advantages that cannot be ignored. It is the best for the baby’s digestive system. It contains vital nutrients, vitamins, iron, lactose, fat, and proteins required for the baby. It is enriched with antibodies that help protect the babies and help them fight infectious diseases like diarrhea, common cold, etc. Moreover, breast fed babies are less susceptible to medical conditions such as high cholesterol, asthma, diabetes, and other allergies. It also prevents them from getting obese in childhood or later. Breast milk provides the ideal food as the baby grows. The milk is adapted to suit your growing baby every day.

If you choose to breast feed you may need to feed the baby every 2 to 3 hours throughout the day. As the baby grows, the intake will increase. Since it is easily digested, you will be feeding the baby more often, leaving you exhausted. You can choose to pump the milk, and allow family members to help bottle feed the baby.

Bottlefeeding your new born baby

In case you decide to bottle feed your baby, choose the right infant formula available. Although it is not similar to breast milk, it comes close to it. Formula milk takes longer time to digest, will need 4 to 5 ounces every feeding time, and will increase to 30 ounces in about four months of age. Bottle feeding will give more flexibility and also enhance involvement of the father and other members of the family. You will know how much the baby is getting and you will be less tired.

Feeding your premature babies

Premature babies require extra care, and you need to keep constant watch over their weight gain and eating patterns. If the baby is too weak to suckle, you can pump and bottle feed the baby or give special formula milk. You may have to give additional iron and vitamin supplements as the baby does not have enough iron stored in the body. The baby requires 8 to 10 feedings for a day. Premature babies may develop slower than normal babies. To know that your baby is doing well and gaining weight, you will be changing 6 to 8 wet diapers a day. If you still face any problems during feeding, you should take the advice of your doctor.