Breastfeeding
Breastfed newborns need to eat 8 to 12 times in 24 hours (about once every 2 to 3 hours). Here's how to breastfeed your baby:
- Sit up and hold your baby with his tummy touching your tummy.
- Cup your breast and tickle his lip with your nipple.
- When he opens his mouth, firmly bring him to your breast. Your baby has to have at least 1/2 inch of your areola (the darker skin around the nipple) in his mouth to start milk flowing. If your nipples hurt or are cracked or bleeding, the baby may not latch on correctly.
- Talk to your health care provider if you need help.
For more information, read:
Feeding with Formula
Formula comes ready to serve or in a liquid or powder that you mix with water. Check with your provider to see how much and what kind of formula your baby needs. Newborns eat about 2 to 3 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours. Here's how to feed your baby formula:
- Fill the bottle with the right amount of formula. If you use a bottle with a plastic liner, squeeze out all the air before you fill it so it won't cause your baby to have gas. Never heat a bottle in the microwave; it could get too hot for your baby.
- Tip the bottle to keep the nipple full of milk. Put the nipple in your baby's mouth. Never prop the bottle or put your baby to bed with a bottle; she could choke on the formula.
- After feeding, wash bottles, nipples and anything you use to prepare the formula in hot soapy water.
Starting Solids
Your baby won't be ready for solid foods until he's 5 or 6 months old. He won't be able to digest solids until then. Solids can cause allergic reactions if your baby isn't ready for them. Talk to your health care provider before you give your baby solid food.
December 2006
