Effective Tips to introduce Solid Foods To your Baby

New born babies are normally fed with breast milk for initial 6 months. This duration can be some more or it can be reduced; but there is no such strict rule – it varies. Most of the Health Organizations recommend after 6 months babies can be slowly introduced to solid foods.

However, here are some signs that child is ready for solid foods:

• He\she can sit up (may be with support) holding head and neck up well (without any assistance).
• Child’s birth weight has doubled.
• Child enjoys eating and tries to grab food from the plate, and put it inside of mouth.
• Baby is able to chew food.
• Child shows signs of being hungry and eagerness for getting more.

Following tips to consider while introducing solid foods to your baby

1. Before introducing baby to solid foods, one must check the medical history of allergy – whether it exists in any of the parents
2. A common first baby food is a single-grain, iron-fortified cereal such as rice cereal or oatmeal. Breast milk, or even warm water can be mixed on occasion. In addition to baby cereal, you can start your baby out with pureed fruits and vegetables. Options include carrots, pears, prunes, sweet potatoes, avocado, bananas, peaches, and much more. You can either buy premade baby food or make your own.
3. If the baby has moved past purees, he/she can also begin to try other table foods, such as meats and poultry, eggs, dairy products, and beans. Just cut or mash the food into a size and consistency that baby can chew or gum, and feed away.
4. There are some solid foods which should be avoided during the first year of baby. These foods include peanut butter, honey, egg whites among others. These foods contain high protein and fat that are not suitable for the baby initially.
5. While introducing solid foods to baby, certain system is advisable to follow so that baby’s reaction can be noticed against varieties of foods. Baby’s likeness and dislikes are observed thoroughly.
6. While eating it’s always important to watch carefully and take precautions to prevent choking. Babies should always be fed sitting upright in a high chair, not reclining in a swing or car seat. And babies should never be offered foods that are clear choking hazards, such as whole grapes, or popcorn.

When a baby starts on solid foods, its almost expected to notice some changes in the baby’s stool. Baby’s poop color and smell may change after starting solids. For breastfeeding babies the consistency of the poop might change too from the looser stool to a bit more formed. The nappies may no longer be as messy and the number of times the baby has a poo may also decrease.

Breastfeeding Problem- A Baby Not Sucking Properly

Parents would want to give what they think of as the best for their children. As a result of recent studies and information dissemination, more and more mothers choose breastfeed their babies.

Even though most would prefer this method, there are some situations that may prevent some mothers in making use of this method. One of these situations is that the baby is not sucking properly. This is a problem because it would mean that the baby will not get enough food.

This is important because most of the nutrients that the baby will receive at this stage will come from the food source.

Is the baby sucking properly?

In order for the baby to receive the nutrients he needs, the mother have to make sure that there is no milk leaking from the baby’s mouth during breastfeeding if there is, it should only be small amounts.

If much milk is leaking, this means that the baby is not getting the right amount of milk. Also, make sure that the baby is swallowing the milk that he is taking in. If the baby is not doing this, he might have trouble sucking properly.

Reason for the problem

The way the mother is holding the baby can also be a cause on why the baby can’t suck properly. The way the baby is held might be uncomfortable the infant which will result to him not eating properly.

If held correctly and the baby is still not eating properly, it is advisable to consult an expert. Some research show that abnormalities related to the oral cavity might also make it difficult for the infant to suck properly. In situations such as this, parent may have to look into alternative ways to feed the baby for baby health. It is also best to consult with a doctor on what method would be the best for that situation.

How to reach a solution

In order to resolve the problem, parents can try alternative feeding methods such as bottle feeding.  This might be more effective in feeding the baby compared to breastfeeding. However, it is also important to consult with a medical professional or expert as this problem might be coming from a bigger problem as well as get more knowledge on what methods might work best for your situation.

It is better to be certain instead of just assuming that everything is fine especially if the bottle feeding works. Consulting a doctor is also advisable especially if the mother still wants to breastfeed her child.

Surgeon General asks Americans to support breastfeeding

Over the recent years, medical institutions encouraged women to breastfeed their newborn babies. Their claims were supported by studies showing the benefits that both mother and child get from breastfeeding. It was found out that even though many mothers set out to breastfeed at the start, on a small percentage of that will see that through the end. In order to raise the numbers, the Surgeon General, recently, began to take action to encourage Americans to support breastfeeding.

What are the advantages of breastfeeding?

One advantage that could be gained from this practice comes from the financial perspective. Mothers who choose to breastfeed don’t have to spend as much for baby formulas which is the alternative for breast milk. This will also lessen the need for more baby bottles as the parents would only need them sparingly.

Studies show that infants who were breastfed tend to develop a stronger immunity to some diseases that formula fed babies. This because the breast milk has components that commercial infant formula can’t replicate which helps in the baby’s development.

Of course, breastfeeding is not only beneficial to the newborn. It was also found out that it is faster for the mothers who breastfeed to lose the extra weight gained during pregnancy. It is because a mother who is breastfeeds their babies can burn as much as 600 calories a day if they do it full time.

What are the possible problems?

One thing that might cause problems during breastfeeding is that the mother might not produce enough milk to feed the newborn baby. This will prevent the mother to breastfeed her child even though it is the method that she prefers.

The quality of the breast milk also depends on the food that the mother eats. If the mother doesn’t eat food that is rich in nutrients, she will not be able to produce milk that will be nutritious enough for the infant.

Because breast milk is a product of anything the makes takes in, some habits of the mothers, such smoking and excessive intake of alcohol, could also affect the quality of the milk that they produce. This is because there are components from these habits, like nicotine and alcohol, which affects the process of producing milk.

Another problem could come up from the lack of support from the community. As the process of breastfeeding is very private, the lack of rooms that can be used as a breastfeeding section in public places might also cause some mothers to discontinue breastfeeding.

Intresting tips to introducing bottle feeding to babies

When our baby is born, we are always told that breastfeeding is the most natural and healthy option for you and your new born, not just from a nutritional aspect, but also the special bonding that takes place whilst breast feeding your infant.

But there may become a time when you feel that you are not producing enough milk for your infants’ needs, or simply a situation arises where you will be separated from your baby at feed time, and baby will have to take a bottle feed.

Reading baby care books suggests that breast feeding is the best option for at least the first six months, and that solid foods may be introduced gradually at a starting age of four months plus.

But you must remember that baby care books give guidelines, and your baby will not have the exact same needs as what the manual states. A mothers’ instinct knows when a new born or small infant is not satisfies after his feed, and fells it is time to introduce supplementary bottles, or, switch over to bottle feeding.

Advantages of bottle feeding are that your new baby will undoubtedly last longer between feeds, but then this must be because of added extras that are put in baby formula milk, making it less natural than breastfeeding.

Many different brand names of baby formula are available both in high street stores as well as pharmacists, and special lactose free formulas being available for babies that suffer from digestive problems.

As well as the vast range of formulas comes the enormous range of teats, bottles, sterilizers and equipment that comes with breastfeeding. Choosing a silicone or rubber teat, a wide neck bottle or narrow, special anti colic bottles, which formula to use.

Again, go with your instincts. Baby will take to the bottle easily as its requires less suction than for him to express milk from the breast, therefore the actual problem that can arise is baby no longer wanting the breast, as it is “too hard work”

After giving a bottle feed, it is likely that your baby will have swallowed more air than if they are breastfed, so it is important to gently wind them to bring up any excess air. Be prepared for changes in frequency, smell and color of your new born s feces when swapping over to bottle feeding, the feces becoming darker in color and more solid than the yellow that we usually find when breastfeeding.

In short this aspect of baby care is one of the least dramatic, the only foreseeable problems being that your new born will loose interest in breastfeeding, or that he will not be suited to the formula, patience always pays of. Swap to a different formula or consult your paediatrician, but most importantly always follow carefully the instructions on the formula when making the feed. Too dilute a solution can lead to under nourishment, too much formula to water ratio can lead to dehydration. Remember always that breastfeeding is the most natural, as well as cost free solution, but if you are free to make your decisions when looking to satisfy your infants’ needs.

How to sterilize baby bottles

When we make the decision to bottle feed are baby, any baby care manually will tell you about the importance of using the correct, sterile equipment.

But it has been argued by paediatricians that we do not sterilize our breasts, we wash them with soap and water, so why should we sterilize our bottles, teats, pacifiers etc.

But it is common practice in Western Society especially to meticulously sterilize all bottles, teats, soothers etc until an age where your  new born starts to grasp objects and put them in their mouth, where the need for sterilization becomes less important, as especially when we talk of the age of around six months where baby starts to crawl, then we would have to sterilize our entire home, obviously asking the ridiculous.

If baby is constantly in a 100% sterile environment, then her immune system will never be given the chance to develop properly, as she will never interact with any germ or infection.

So you have decided to bottle feed your  new born baby, then now you must decide which method of sterilization you wish to use, more and more products coming on the market, making it almost impossible to choose.

Traditional sterilization in baby care was achieved by submerging the bottles and teats etc into boiling water, as once water boils, it kills of all germs that mat be present on the bottles etc..

This can and is still a commonly used method of sterilization, being the cheapest and most natural method, the only disadvantage is that teats and pacifiers made from latex rubber not silicone perish more quickly when frequently immersed in boiling water.

It is also very important to make sure that all the objects to be sterilized are submerged under the water, although it is only necessary y for a few minutes, or less, as constant bolling will rapidly perish teats.

First wash the bottles normally to get rid of any visible residue of milk using a bottle brush. These are usually double ended, one side for the bottle, a smaller brush on the end for the teat. Make sure also that the bottle brush is correctly stored in a hygienic place.

Sterilization tablets for use in water are also available for sterilizing your new borns feeding equipment. These are used with a sterilizer unit, which can have a grate that sits on top of all the pieces to be sterilized before closing with the lid, ensuring that all pieces are submerged.

With this type of equipment, you can leave the bottles in the water until you need them, changing the water every 24 hours, or as to the instruction on the tablets or your baby care book.

In recent years the microwave sterilizer has been invented. This type of sterilizer works with only a small amount, of water, which must be quite precise, as well as a certain length of time in the microwave. The top is placed on the sterilizer and when heated creates a sterile environment on boiling of the water.

The disadvantage to this type of device is, that like sterilizing in boiling water, teats and pacifiers tend to perish rapidly, but more importantly, once you remove the lid, you must use the bottles straight away, as the products do not remain sterile, raising the question of if this new innovative procedure for sterilization is actually any better than traditional methods.

Feeding a picky eater baby

All baby’s are different and their appetites will be different from other babies of the same age, just as some babies are small and some are large. Fussy eating habits however generally develop later in child development, the new born generally being contented with her feed.

If we find our new born is not feeding correctly, then we should consult our baby care specialist or paediatrician for advice, as it is vital, especially in the first few weeks of life , that our new born receives the correct nutrition.

As baby grows from being a new born, sometimes you will notice that she is “off her feed” being reluctant to suckle or rejecting her bottle. There is usually an underlying cause for this, and often will be accompanied with baby having a raised temperature, a cold, or having some infection either of the mouth, or other, that is making them unwell and not wanting of their feeds.

When this happens, and we find baby reluctant to feed for more than a day, then we must take baby to see her paediatrician or baby care specialist to see what is the underlying cause or infection.

When baby has a cold for example, she will not take her feed well because she will have difficulty in breathing, her nasal passages being blocked. This is usually accompanied with a slightly raised temperature, and is easily solved by clearing baby airways first by introducing a saline solution into either side of the nasal passages, and then using a special apparatus to suck out the excess mucous.

But true picky eating does not start until baby is being weaned. Baby will accept what food she is given, and will generally eat what she is given, as ultimately she has no choice. We will notice which foods baby prefers, be it that she prefers fruit to vegetables, or fish to meat, as she will eat faster the foods she prefers and will show her enjoyment on eating them.

But we must not only let baby eat the types of food he prefers, as this later in life can have disastrous consequences and even food phobias that even the best of specialists find hard to tackle.

Some suggestions for older picky eaters are to make mealtimes fun, and to cut vegetables into interesting shapes, or make faces with the food on the plate. When your new born has developed into a picky eater, it is unfortunately a long process to correct, one which requires a great deal of time from the parents and the very slow introduction of a new food , maybe one new thing each week, until gradually your infant will be eating a normal, healthy and balanced diet.

If you have worries or doubts about your infants eating habits, discuss them with your paediatrician or health specialist or baby care advisor, as a healthy diet starting from an early age is vital in us growing into healthy adults. Help is always on hand in these situations, so the best advice is to try to stay calm, and take things slowly and calmly, as forcing the issue will only make matters worse.

Breastfeeding Positions

When we make the choice to breastfeed our new born, one of the most important factors is finding a position that is comfortable for both you and baby in which to breastfeed.

Feeds should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience for both mother and baby, and finding the right position is important. If you are relaxed, and you and your baby are comfortable, then your milk flow will be increased, making this most natural process hassle free.

Remember that all babies are different and what it states in your baby care manual are guidelines, don’t worry if your baby needs feeding every one and a half hours as a new born instead of every too, just as it is your decision if to follow a strict routine, waking your baby for feeding, and feeding by clockwork.

Whichever method is best for you is the method you should use, be it feeding on demand, or every two or three, hours.

First find a quiet place where you can relax, make sure that your house is at the correct temperature, the optimum recommended temperature being that of 21 or 22 degrees centigrade. You may choose to breastfeed your baby sat on the sofa, or you may choose to feed in the privacy of your bedroom, where you can lie down and relax.

As you will find in baby care manuals, when breast feeding, it is vital that you are taking in a large amount of liquids daily, preferably water, as too much caffeine or alcohol for example can be passed on to the baby.

If your baby was born in summer, it is even a good idea to have a drink of water beside you while you are breast feeding, sip away gently to replenish your bodies’ supplies of fluid. If you don’t drink enough fluids, you cannot expect to produce enough for your new born too.

In baby care manuals, you will see various recommended positions for breastfeeding, sitting, lying down, supporting your new born with a cushion etc… what inevitably is most important is that both you and baby are comfortable. Remember that a normal feed will take ten minutes per breast, so you must be prepared to have set aside at least twenty minutes where you can be calm and relaxed and not be interrupted.

Especially when we talk about night feeds, baby care books and magazines will recommend that you breast feed your baby by your side in bed with you, then gently laying her back in her crib once she has taken her feed. This is the first introduction to getting your new born used to a day and night pattern. During the day, interact with baby as you feed her, talk to her, and caress her, at night lift her gently from her crib and feed her by your side, letting her begin to understand that nighttime is when we sleep. If you follow this pattern, you will find that baby will wake less regularly during the night from a very early age, and success at getting baby to sleep through the night, can be achieved as early as six weeks.

If you prefer to follow your baby  manual and feed your baby every three hours, for ten minutes each side, waking them if the y are asleep , and letting them cry whilst waiting for their feed, then do so. The decision is yours as their mother, and each mother adopts her own method or schedule, what fits her and her baby’s’ needs the best.

The Complete Guide to Bottle feeding your baby

Although recommended by all paediatricians and baby care books that breastfeeding is the best option for you and your new born, there are situations where it is not possible. Sometimes a mother will be separated form their baby after birth after a complicated delivery, or she may return to work as soon as her infant is born. Maybe simply you are a mother who does not produce enough milk to meet your baby’s demands, or you have made the decision that you wish to bottle feed your baby from birth.

The decision is entirely yours, regardless of what any baby care specialist may tell you, but if you have made the decision, or it has become necessary that your new born be bottle fed, then you must understand the importance of accuracy of making feeds, sterilizing procedures etc.

We can pay anything form 1 dollar to 15 dollars for a baby bottle, but does it really matter, your new born certainly will not notice what design their is on the bottle. We can choose to purchase the baby formula from a high street store, or from a chemist, the variety of different brand formulas becoming every increasing.

What brand formula or what shape bottle you use are really not crucial. What is more important when we talk about this aspect of baby care is the correct usage of the formula, as well as the correct sterilization of bottles. We are recommended to sterilize all bottles and teats, again which come in an enormous variety, normal, varied flow, natural shape, silicone, rubber etc.., as well as teats and pacifiers. There are again many options open to us : The traditional method of simply dipping into boiling water for no longer than a few minutes all the necessary articles. This is obviously your cheapest option.

Another option are sterilizers that are used with sterilizing tablets, using normal told water, you being able to leave the bottles etc in the sterilization unit until use. The most modern sterilizers on the market are microwave sterilizers that use a specific amount of water and no tablets.

When making up your new born’s feed, it is essential you have the correct formula, for example stage one milk is suitable from day one up to six months, this then being followed by continuation milks and toddler formulas.

Like referring to your baby care manual, read the instructions carefully, adding the correct amount of scoops of powder to the amount of water on the chart. Do not be tempted to make up enough bottles for a whole day, as although this saves time, each bottle of formula only keeps its correct properties for a maximum of three to four hours, after which time you must dispose of the formula.

When we take the decision to bottle feed, the most important things to remember are to use properly sterilized equipment, and to always follow the instructions correctly, the chart giving guidelines of how many feeds a day your baby should take and of what quantity. Do not stress if your baby takes a little more or less than what the chart says, as long as they are happy and healthy and within the normal weight range, then you too can be happy.

Baby feeding tips

Whether you decide to breast or formula feed your new born, you will find endless amounts of tips on how to feed baby in baby care magazines, as well as useful advice from your local baby care visitor or paediatrician.

What is most important when feeding your infant or new born, is that both you and baby are relaxed, and in a comfortable position. Remember if you are breastfeeding your baby, your baby will be on each breast for an average of ten minutes so it is essential that you are “sitting comfortably” so to speak.

Finding the right position for breast feeding is important, as if you are relaxed, then your milk will flow better and baby will feed better in turn. Depending on the type of birth you have had, you might find it uncomfortable to breast feed baby sitting up due to vaginal stitching, or stapling in the case of having had a cesarean birth. Sometimes putting a cushion over your lap will help, as when baby wriggles, he will not directly touch or hit the delicate wounded area.

In the first few weeks of life, a lot of mothers prefer to breastfeed baby lying on their side, with baby lying snuggly beside her, either on the sofa, or equally good, in or mothers bed. This is obviously the optimum position for nighttime feeds, disturbing everyone as little as possible.
A good tip to remember, right from when your baby is new born, is to distinguish between daytime feeds and night time feeds, using dull lighting, and interacting as little as possible with baby during the night, as he will then learn from a very early age that night time is for sleep, and will progress rapidly in sleeping more hours during the night than during the day.

When giving a daytime feed, talk and chat to your new born, sing to her and interact with her, making feeding time a joyous occasion. When new born reaches a few weeks old, she will start to stay awake for a short while after her daytime feeds, and this method will help get baby into a good routine.

When breastfeeding, a good tip is to have a drink by your side, especially if you baby is summer born or you live in hot climes. To produce milk, you need to drink an increased amount of liquids, and even during a feed you may feel thirsty, so keep perhaps a bottle of mineral water at your side that you can sip away from, keeping you happy, and not having to move.

Tips for bottle feeding babies are to always follow the instructions on how to make the formula, and follow the guidelines as to how many feeds baby should take, and the amount at each feed. If baby seems to be taking a lot less feed than the chart on the formula, take a visit to your baby care center, but you must remember, these are just guidelines, and if it states on the formula that you must increase the amount of the feed by 30ml after each month, this does not mean that from one day to the next, just because your baby is now two months old instead of one, she will automatically adjust the same day to the new amount.

The best tip when feeding baby is to do what you think is best, and what both you and baby are comfortable with. If you are relaxed and happy, baby will be too.

Feeding Problems in Infants and Children

When a baby doesn’t take to her feed properly it can be a very stressful time for both mother and baby, as baby is left unsatisfied and often wont settle, and mother often feels that she is in some way incapable of feeding her new born properly. At this stage a lot of mothers give up on breastfeeding their infant, feeling that is their fault, and change to bottle feeding, which lacks the essential nutrients of breast milk especially in the first few days of life.

If you are experiencing problems breastfeeding your new born, consult your baby care manual for tips, or better still take baby along to see the paediatrician at your local baby care center where there are always nurses and specially trained professionals on hand to show you techniques for breast feeding and to ensure that you are doing everything right.

When baby is first born, she is so tiny, that sometimes it is difficult for him to latch on properly to the nipple of the breast, only catching the nipple, when baby needs to suck on the areola, the area surrounding the breast for milk flow to be consistent. When baby appears to be feeding, but in fact is only get a tiny amount of milk as she is not suckling properly, you might find that your nipples will become irritated and dry, and that each feed seems like an eternity, and yet as soon as you take your new born away from the breast he cries. This is purely because he has not took sufficient feed, although has appeared content as he is suckling his mother’s breast.

When we allow this problem to continue for more than a day or so, our body stops to produce enough milk for baby, and then the problem becomes double sided, baby not taking properly to the breast, and mother not having enough milk for her baby.

In all good baby care manuals, you will find illustrations of how the milk ducts work and the process of breastfeeding will be explained in detail, giving pointers and possible reason for why you don’t seem to be able to give sufficient feed to your new born. Always make sure that you are drinking a lot of fluid when you are breast feeding, as you need liquid to produce liquid. Make sure you do not drink large quantities of either alcohol or caffeine, as these will be passed into your breast milk.

Feeding problems associated with bottle fed babies are commonly an intolerance to the formula, special lactose free and sensitive formulas being available in your chemist. When a baby is bottle fed, he will generally swallow more air than if he is breast fed, and if you do not wind your new born after his feed, he may develop colic or painful stomach. Don’t be preoccupied if baby appears to vomit a small amount of her feed on winding, this is completely normal, if you feel that your baby is constantly bringing up too much of her feed, take her along to your baby care visitor who will check for any underlying problems.