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Infant Feeding Newborn to 6 MonthsBreastfeeding, Caregiver Bonding and Introducing Complementary Foods
Feeding time is bonding time. Parents of infants should watch for hunger and satiety cues for on-demand feeding and also watch for signs of readiness to try solid foods.
The first six months of your infant's life are crucial to developing a bond between you, the caregiver, and your child as well as to giving your baby's body and mind a healthy beginning to build upon. Feeding your baby is central to creating a bond as well as for providing a healthy foundation. The human body was made to survive on mother's breast milk exclusively for about the first six months of life. Infants also need to be close to their parents, and skin-to-skin contact can provide health benefits whether mom is breastfeeding, dad is feeding the baby with a bottle, or anything in between. When babies need comfort, undressing them and holding them next to your own bare skin can provide them with a warm, calming, nurturing experience. Some parents choose to carry their babies in a sling and wear them throughout the day to keep them feeling calm and secure. Hunger and Satiety CuesMake sure to feed your baby on-demand, whether he is breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and allow him to decide when he is full. Watch and listen for your baby's signs that he is hungry such as bringing his hands to his mouth, fussing, opening his mouth, smacking his lips, or rooting around near your breast. Try to feed him before he cries. Crying is considered a late sign. Signs that your baby is full might be that he stops sucking and turns his head away from the nipple or he may fall asleep. Do not try to make him finish the bottle if he seems ready to stop. Teach him to trust his own feeling of hunger and satiety and that you will be there to feed him when he needs you. Complementary FoodsComplementary foods should not be added to an infant's diet until the infant shows specific developmental milestones that coincide with abilities to take in solid foods. Most professional agencies agree that this is usually somewhere between 4 and 6 months of age. Cereal should never be added to an infant's bottle because it could cause choking and could lead to overfeeding. The natural way to feed an infant is for an infant to be exclusively breastfed until he begins to sit up well with some support, at which point he may be showing signs that he is interested in solid foods by grabbing for your plate of food. He may also begin to bring toys and other objects to his mouth. He may simply want to play with the food on your plate. At this stage, it is acceptable to allow your baby to play with a bowl and a spoon or to give the baby some prepared cereal or pureed fruits or vegetables to see if the baby brings food to his mouth. When a baby is ready to eat, he will be able to bring food to his mouth with his hands. Some child development experts believe that a parent spoon feeding an infant is akin to force feeding, while others feel that it is an important part of development. Only you can decide what is right for you and your baby and when the time is right to introduce solid foods. If you pay attention to and bond with your infant, you will make the right decisions for your baby's health.
The copyright of the article Infant Feeding Newborn to 6 Months in Infant & Toddler Health is owned by Tara Bzdok. Permission to republish Infant Feeding Newborn to 6 Months in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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