First-Time Parent? 9 Useful Tips For Feeding Your Newborn
Welcoming your first baby is such an exciting, yet, stressful moment. Even if your parents are ready to give you advice, there are times when you need a comprehensive guide on hand.
So, here are the nine most important tips for feeding your newborn.
1. Choose Breast Milk Or Baby Formula
There are a lot of misconceptions about feeding a newborn. The truth is, if your newborn is healthy, they won’t need water, juice, cereal, or similar meals. Breast milk and baby formula are perfectly fine!
2. Check The Ingredients
When using a formula, check the ingredients. Despite being certified and popular, not all brands or products will suit your newborn.
If your baby has any food allergies, choose the formula without allergens. For example, HiPP Hypoallergenic includes partially hydrolyzed milk proteins that reduce the risk of allergies.
Newborns with sensitive stomachs will have healthy growth with BabyMilkBar’s organic formula like HiPP Comfort. Its reduced lactose content helps with colic and digestive issues.
Ingredients you should be wary of are:
- sugar;
- gluten;
- phytin;
- gliadin;
- genetically modified soy;
- palm oil.
3. Position Your Baby Comfortably
Before you start feeding your baby, it’s crucial to position them correctly. The paced bottle-feeding position is your best shot. It helps the baby take the first step in the feeding process, take breaks and stop when full.
To achieve the paced bottle-feeding position, hold your newborn semi-upright. Then, place the bottle horizontally. Don’t forget about a cloth or a wipe – it’s going to be messy!
4. Feed On Time
Caring for a newborn is not an easy task. Your baby will need up to 12 meals a day. That’s one every two hours! Yet, don’t rely on time only – various signs will let you know your baby is hungry, including:
- lip smacking;
- hand movements near the mouth;
- sucking and biting on fists and fingers;
- alertness;
- head-turning;
- crying.
Of course, the latter shouldn’t be a frequent case. It’s better to begin the feeding sooner than later.
5. Don’t Be Scared Of Variety
You will notice that your newborn leaves a different amount of formula in the bottle every day. Don’t fret, it’s completely normal. About two weeks after birth, your baby will experience a growth spurt and eat more.
6. Use This Time To Bond
Feeding is a perfect time to form a close bond with your baby. When feeding, hold them close and maintain eye contact. Talk in a loving, gentle voice, and tell them how happy their birth made you. Your newborn will grow up feeling secure and comfortable.
7. Don’t Ignore Vitamins
Whether you’re breastfeeding or using baby formula, consult the doctor about vitamin intake. Vitamin D, for example, is essential for strong bones. Certified formulas like HiPP HA Dutch and Lebenswert are full of vitamins A, D, and E.
8. Stay Consistent
There’s no shame in taking a break and letting your family take care of your newborn. When they do, let them know how exactly you feed your baby. Also, give them the formula you’re using.
9. Store The Formula Correctly
Newborns have weaker immune systems, so liquid formula suits them best. If you’re mixing it yourself, prepare each bottle separately. After mixing, you have two hours to feed your baby. A prepared formula can be stored in the fridge for 24 hours if the baby hasn’t sucked on the bottle nipple, yet.
And remember that in case of any doubts, your paediatrician can always help solve any problem related to your baby’s health. The first few feedings can be confusing, for sure. If you stick to those nine tips, though, feeding your baby as a first-time parent will be a smooth ride!
