Feeding

Feeding your baby is an act of love, no matter how you look at it. Infant feeding is the most important thing a mother will do during her baby’s first year of life. Baby feeding time is a time for bonding between mother and child.

There has been a lot of debate over feeding babies in the last century. In the 1940s and 50s, it was believed that formula was the best method of feeding baby. This view has slowly shifted, and it is now believed that breast feeding baby is the best way. It is unarguable that breast milk is the perfect food for babies, but some moms are unable or unwilling breast feed for whatever reason. These moms should not be made to feel inferior. Feeding infants, whether it is from bottle or breast, is a special bond between mothers and baby that cannot be broken.

Breast Feeding

Ask any breast feeding mother and she will tell you – breast feeding a baby is a lot of work. Breast feeding does not come naturally to most women. It takes several weeks to get the hang of breast feeding, so do not be discouraged if it does not seem natural at first. Many times, the key to successful breast feeding is finding a good lactation consultant to help you. Lactation consultants can help you with any latch issues that your baby might be having, and can show you some tips and tricks for making nursing easier.

If you have had past breast augmentation or reduction surgery, breast feeding a baby might be challenging, but is not necessarily impossible. If the milk glands to the nipple are left intact in breast surgery, breast feeding infants will be possible.

If your baby is having surgery and you are breast feeding, you may have to stop nursing temporarily. After surgery, infant breast feeding can resume, and in the meantime your baby can drink expressed breast milk.

If you are having surgery, breast feeding baby may be interrupted. It is not recommended to breast feed baby and have surgery due to the harmful effects that some anesthesia may have on breast milk. Ask your doctor if it is OK to nurse after your surgery.

Formula Feeding

Feeding your baby formula will not make you any less of a mother. The formula today is almost identical to breast milk. If you are formula feeding, it is important to follow a baby feeding schedule. An infant feeding schedule will make sure that your baby gets formula at regular intervals. Especially in the first months, do not be a slave to the feeding schedule. Feed your baby whenever she gets hungry and you will have a healthy and happy baby.

Introducing Solids

Feeding baby solids is a huge milestone. Studies show that it is good to begin feeding solids between four and six months of age. Before four months, feeding solids is useless because baby still has the tongue thrust reflex. If you wait too long after six months, your baby may balk at eating solid foods. Feeding solids before or after six months for the first time has shown to increase the rate of childhood obesity, so make sure to introduce solids in the right timeframe. If your baby is hesitant, wait a few days and try again. She will soon get the hang of it.