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For most infants, feeding from the breast is a natural response. Others need a little help from Mom. Here’s some basic information to help you both get started:
If you find you need more advice and support, you always can seek the expertise of a lactation specialist. Your health care professional, or the nurses where you delivered your baby, can help you locate a specialist in your area.
Breast Feeding and Bottle Feeding: Nutrition for Baby
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) indicates that breastfeeding is the best way to nourish babies and should be the main source of nutrition for the first 12 months. Breast-fed babies will generally nurse every couple of hours, eating more often than bottle-fed babies as human breast milk is more easily digested.
Similac® formulas come in three forms: Ready-to-use, concentrated liquid or powdered.
When preparing formula, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly. Adding too much water may prevent your baby from getting the calories and nutrients necessary for proper growth, while not adding enough water to the concentrated formula may cause diarrhea or dehydration, or be higher in calories than needed.
Cow’s Milk vs. Breast Milk or Formula
Your baby can digest breast milk or formula more easily and completely than cow’s milk.
Cow’s milk contains a high concentration of protein and minerals that can stress your baby’s immature kidneys and cause dehydration. In addition, this feeding lacks the proper amount of iron and vitamin C that is needed. In some babies, feeding cow’s milk may cause iron-deficiency anemia. The protein can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestine, leading to blood in the stool.
The Importance of DHA and ARA
A baby’s best source of nutrition is breast milk, as it contains proteins, micronutrients and antibodies that boost the immune system. Breast milk also has DHA and ARA, important nutrients that support mental and visual development. Some infant formulas, such as Similac Advance EarlyShield™, also have DHA and ARA. Check with your pediatrician to learn more.
Colostrum: Your First Milk
Once your baby is born, and for three to four days afterward, your breasts produce colostrum. It’s thicker than typical breast milk, but packed with nutrients your newborn needs. The flow of colostrum is slow, making it easier for your newborn to practice sucking, swallowing, and breathing at the same time.
By day five, your baby probably will have mastered the rhythm of feeding, and your milk supply will increase to match his increasing appetite.
How Do You Know When Your Baby Is Hungry?
Crying can be a telltale sign of hunger, but there are others. When your baby makes sucking movements or puts her fingers to her mouth — even if she’s sleeping — she may be telling you she’s ready to eat. It’s best to feed her when she’s fully awake. You can help wake her by playing with her, changing her diaper, or talking to her before she eats.
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