Feeding and Nutrition
When you have a newborn baby, one of the things you have to prepare yourself for is rapidly changing nutritional needs, which means that you need to learn more about your baby’s dietary and nutritional needs from birth onwards. It can be difficult to predict what and how much to feed your baby as his or her nutritional needs develop, but there are some general guidelines that you can follow, as well as advice that is available from professionals such as your doctor and health visitor.
- Remember that for the first six months of life you need to feed your baby exclusively on baby formula or breast milk depending on how you have decided to feed. Do not use regular cow’s milk, as your baby cannot properly digest this and this does not contain the nutrients and vitamins that your baby needs. Also do not use solids until around six months of age, as recommended by experts.
- You should feed your baby when he or she is hungry, and you will usually know this because the baby will let you know by crying. Many breastfed babies feed around eight to twelve times a day at first, and as they get a little older this reduces. Bottle fed babies tend to want feeding less often. As your baby start to take in more milk with each feed as he or she grows, the required feeding times will fall and you can start settling into a routine.
- Don’t forget that your baby’s feeding requirements may change on a daily basis, and some days he or she may not want as much to eat as on other days. Prepare yourself for a little unpredictability at first, where the times, amounts, and number of times that the baby requires feeding may change.
- When your baby reaches around six months and is ready to be weaned, try some simple foods at first such as baby rice, pureed fruits, and pureed vegetables. You can also get jars of pre-prepared baby food, but many parents prefer to make their own solid foods using fresh ingredients.
- If you are worried about your baby’s eating habits or your baby doesn’t seem to be very interested in feeding contact your doctor or health visitor, who will be able to offer valuable advice on your baby’s eating habits and can determine whether there is any underlying problem resulting in your baby’s disinterest in feeding.