BABY'S FIRST MONTH: FEEDING AND NUTRITION

Breastmilk or formula should be your child's basic source of nutrition for the first 12 months. Although you don't have to worry much about his diet, you need to establish a regular pattern of feedings and make sure that he's getting enough calories for growth.

Establishing a pattern of feedings does not mean setting a rigid timetable and insisting that he eat a full 4 ounces at each feeding. It's more important to listen to your baby's signals and work around his needs. If he is bottle-fed, he probably will cry at the end of his feeding if he is not getting enough. On the other hand, if he is getting an adequate amount in the first ten minutes, he may stop and fall asleep. Breastfed babies behave a little differently in that they do not always cry when they are hungry, and the only way to be sure yours is getting enough milk is to watch his weight gain. Also, he should be fed at least every three to four hours and not be allowed to sleep through a feeding until at least 4 weeks of age.

The most important thing to remember, whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed, is that your baby's feeding needs are unique. No book can tell you precisely how much or how often he needs to be fed, or exactly how you should handle him during feedings. You will discover these things for yourself as you and your baby get to know each other.

How to Know if Your Baby Is Getting Enough to Eat

Your baby's diapers will provide clues about whether he is getting enough to eat. During the first month, if his diet is adequate, he should wet six to eight times a day and have at least two bowel movements daily (usually one little one after each feeding). Later, he may have less frequent bowel movements, and there may even be a day or more between them.

Sleeping for a couple of hours right after a feeding is another sign that he is getting enough. On the other hand, a baby that is not getting enough to eat over several days may become very sleepy and seem "easy" to care for. In the early weeks, a baby who sleeps for long periods (four hours or more) should be seen by the pediatrician.

Signs of Nutritional Problems

If your baby has a nutritional problem, he's likely to start losing weight. There are some signals that may help you detect such a problem.

If he's breastfeeding, one warning signal is a lack of fullness in your breasts after one week. If they don't drip milk at the start of each feeding, the baby may not be providing enough stimulation when he sucks. Some other trouble signs are listed below. These also may be signs of medical problems that are unrelated to your baby's nutrition. You should call your pediatrician if they persist.

Too much feeding:

· If bottle-fed, the baby is consuming more than 4 to 6 ounces per feeding (120 to 180 cc).

· He vomits most or all the food after a complete feeding.

· Stools are loose and very watery, eight or more times a day.

Too little feeding:

· If breastfed, the baby stops feeding after ten minutes or less.

· He wets fewer than four diapers.

· His skin remains wrinkled beyond the first week.

· He does not develop a rounded face by about three weeks.

· He appears hungry, searching for something to suck shortly after feedings.

· He becomes more yellow, instead of less, after the first week.

Feeding allergy or digestive disturbance:

· Your baby vomits most or all food after a complete feeding.

· He produces loose, very watery stools eight or more times a day.

· If breastfeeding, he becomes more yellow, instead of less, after the first week.