First Feeding Q & A

When is your baby ready for solids?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (http://www.aap.org/) recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for at least six months, therefore introduction of solids would be at 6 months. Of course, when faced with the reality of working outside the home, many mothers have moved their babies to formula before six months old. Until 6 months old, breast milk or formula provides all the calories and nourishment your baby needs and can handle. His digestive system probably isn't mature enough for solids until he nears his half-birthday. Introduced early, different foods can cause unpleasant reactions and even trigger allergies. These problems can be avoided by waiting until your baby is ready for solids. Some parents have found introducing solids before their baby is ready to be a waste of time, energy and money.

Will my baby give me signs that he is ready for solids?

You will know that he is ready to start solids when:

1. he is about six months old
2. he can sit up with help
3. his birth weight has doubled
4. he has lost the tongue-thrusting reflex and does not push solids out of his mouth

Listen to your baby! Babies with a tendency to allergies may refuse solids until later in their first year. As long as they are growing well and are happy and healthy, there is no need for concern.

How should I start feeding my baby?

The best way is to just mix a little rice cereal with water, breast milk, or formula and feed it to her on your finger. The mixture should be very soupy, room temperature, and should only be about 1 teaspoon. You will instantly see if the tongue-thrusting reflex is still present, and evaluate if your baby is interested in more.

How much should I expect my baby to eat?

Breast milk or formula continues to be the most important source of nutrition for your baby during the first year of life. Think of the solids you are feeding your baby as EXTRA calories that she may or may not want. To begin with just see if your baby is able to swallow the food you make for her. At one year old, your baby will only eat (on average) 3 tablespoons of solid food for three meals a day and 2 snacks. This is not a large amount of food. Keep your portion sizes small, and watch your baby for signs that she isn't interested in any more food. Never force your baby to eat more just to finish off the jar or cup. Allow your baby the chance to tell you when she is full.

What time of day is best for beginning solid feeding?

If your baby is drinking formula, the best time to feed him is 1 or 2 hours after a bottle. If you baby is breastfeeding, you want to start solids after breastfeeding. You want to avoid times when your baby is cranky or hungry. Find a time, when both you and your baby are relaxed and willing to play the "new solids" game. Remember solids are supplemental calories and nutrients and should not take the place of breast milk or formula.

My baby won't eat! What do I do?

Try again in a few days. The first foods are usually banana and rice cereal so try both of them. Your responsibility is to provide the food. Let your baby decide if she wants to eat it.

How do I avoid food allergies?

Please read our Concerns section of the website. The best way to avoid allergies is to introduce age appropriate foods. In addition, wait 2-3 days before introducing a new food to ensure that you know which food is causing a reaction if there is one.

Does my baby need to drink anything with her meal?

No, your baby should be getting all of her liquids from formula or breast milk. But, it is nice to start them getting used to drinking from a cup. We suggest using a straw cup instead of a sippy cup to practice drinking. Sippy cups may interfere with speech development. Or course, you can skip the straw and just use a regular cup, though that might be pretty messy.

When should I switch to chunkier foods?

As your baby grows and develops teeth, you should move to chunkier consistencies. There should be a gradual change in texture from pureed, to minced, to diced, and to family table foods. The lumps should be soft and small enough that your baby will not choke if swallowed whole. Chewing is a learned skill and you should not wait to long to introduce foods with textures. Your baby may refuse chunkier foods if you wait too long to introduce them.

My baby is a picky eater, what should I do?

It may take 10 to 15 times before a baby will be interested in a food that you want to serve. Keep trying and respect your baby's need to control what goes in her mouth. Do not force your baby to eat anything she is not interested in. Just try to feed it to her at another time.

Is there an optimum schedule for feeding my baby?

Yes, you want her to eat when you are eating. The less amount of time spent cooking and cleaning the better! By the time she is one year old, she should be eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 snacks per day. As she gets bigger, time her eating with yours and feed her what you are eating. This means that you will have to eat fruits and vegetables too!

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" Least Helpful Advice: Sleep When the Baby Sleeps":

What adult can be awake one minute, then pop down for a nap the next? Up and down several times a day? It doesn't make physical sense and it certainly isn't practical.

It’s just the worst piece of advice. Ever. Yet every time a woman gives birth, it’s one of the first things she’ll hear again and again. With a misguided sense of service, everyone from the nurses at the hospital to the checkout lady at Target counsels the same thing: “Sleep when the baby sleeps!” But let’s think this one through.

Babies, bless their semi-nocturnal hearts, don’t sleep all night. Just for a bit. Then they’re up again. Then back down. Up and down, up and down. Yes, some mythical babies sleep through the night very early on but we’re not talking about those situations here. Those moms don’t have to “sleep when the baby sleeps” because their babies are actually sleeping at night! The problem is, babies do this up and down thing during the day too. And it’s not always predictable. They fall asleep in cars, strollers, baby carriers, sometimes in the middle of tummy time. I assure you, it would be a mistake to nod off on a park bench the next time Baby shuts his eyes on walk. That goes double for the car, and trying to fold yourself onto the tummy mat just sounds uncomfortable.

What adult can be awake one minute, then pop down for a nap the next? Up and down several times a day? It doesn’t make physical sense and certainly isn’t practical.

Even though you’ve just had a baby—in the truest sense, one of life’s most awesome experiences—you still have a life to live. Floors to vacuum, laundry to fold, dinner to make (more than before!) and also…you might have other kids at home too.

Not napping at all isn’t the way to go either. You’ll burn out.

In order to feel productive but also somewhat rested, here’s my simple answer to naps: I lay in my bed and read a book for about 5 minutes, then sleep for 20. Yes, I actually turn on the alarm. And YES, it actually works great! I’m not a natural napper, in fact I hate napping. But I’ve had three babies in the last five years and will admit that I deeply need a bit of rest in the day if I’m going to make it all the way through the night. So I do a cat nap with a built-in period of winding down.

My kids (now 4, 2 and 1) take long naps (about two hours) so I still have time to do some things. And this is the best part: I also have a bit of quiet time when all the little heads are on pillows and my own head can feel something it deeply needs, calm.

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22 Ways to Calm a Crying Baby

A 10-pound mass of human creates a lot of noise, and new parents feel pretty inadequate when they can't stop the crying. There's help! Experts and experienced parents share ways to calm and soothe a fussy or crying baby.

Check Baby's Diaper

A wet or soiled diaper is one of the most common reasons for a baby’s tears. Even if you have recently changed your baby’s diaper, it’s still a good idea to check again. Check Baby’s diaper first before trying other calming methods, and change as needed.

Stay Calm

The best thing parents can do when their infant is crying is to stay calm. An increase in your stress level will increase your baby’s. Remain calm and your baby might follow suit.

Check Baby's Temperature

Feel the back of your baby’s neck to see if she is too hot or too cold. Add or remove layers accordingly. If you’re not sure whether the skin temperature feels normal, take your baby’s temperature with a thermometer.

Feed Baby

Most babies cry when they are hungry. Try offering the breast or bottle to soothe your little one.

Ease Gas Pain

If Baby starts crying after a feeding, he may have a gas bubble. Try patting his back, bending his knees toward his chest, or rubbing his back while he lies on your lap to release the gas.

Distract Baby

It’s surprising how often this method works. Parents who’ve tried this suggest making faces or blowing raspberries as surefire ways to make Baby laugh, and to take her mind off of the reason for her tears.

Snuggle

Sometimes, all a baby needs is love. Take a few moments to snuggle with your little one. Give him kisses and hugs, hold him close, and tell him how much you love him.

Change the Way You Hold Baby

Some little ones like to be held over the shoulder, some prefer the football hold, and still others like to be held facing out. Experiment to learn what your infant likes best.

Sing or Hum

Soft, gentle songs sung by a familiar voice will often calm Baby’s cries. Even if the singer is not particularly gifted, give this tip a try. Humming also offers a soothing vibratory sensation.

Dance

A slow, repetitive motion can lull Baby into a peaceful state. The warmth of a loved one’s body and the snuggling that goes along with the dance are added benefits.

Gently Rock or Bounce

Rocking in a chair or baby swing often helps to calm a baby, but pay attention to your child’s cues. For some little ones, the motion can actually be over-stimulating.

Undress Baby

Sometimes the reason for Baby’s discomfort lies beneath the surface. For this reason, experts suggest undressing your baby and looking to see if you can spot a physical problem. Snaps can pinch little legs and diaper tape can stick to skin.

Give Baby a Bath

Warmth and water offer many calming benefits. A few drops of lavender oil in the bath can also help Baby relax. The bath might help ease Mom’s tension, too, so feel free to hop in with your little one

Skin-to-Skin Contact

Studies have shown that holding Baby right against your body, with chests and abdomens touching, not only calms babies but also enhances the maternal-infant bond.

Massage Baby

Lay your bare baby on a warm, firm surface in a frog-like position, and then gently rub her back, aiming toward the lower back. Don’t rub too lightly, though, or you could tickle her and make her even fussier.

Pacify Baby

Although the use of
pacifiers is controversial in some circles, many babies find comfort in sucking. If your baby doesn’t need to be fed, but does need to suck, offer one and see how he reacts.

Reduce External Stimulation

Babies sometimes cry because there is too much going on for their little minds to process. Try dimming the lights, removing toys, and reducing noise levels.

Swaddle Baby

Wrapping your baby tightly in a warm, soft blanket can help her calm down. Because babies don’t realize that the flailing arms they see are their own, they may become frightened by them.

Go for a Drive

Few things can calm a baby as effectively as a ride in the car. The vibrations and soothing sound can hush even the most persistent wails.

Go for a Stroll

Fresh air and sunshine can help Mom and Baby feel better. Break out the stroller or thebaby sling and take a walk around the block.

Use White Noise

A tool used by many parents of inconsolable babies is “white noise.” Any continuous mechanical sound can help calm a baby and put him to sleep. Vacuums, hair dryers, and fans are examples.

Know When to Surrender

Even the most calm and patient parent can reach her breaking point when dealing with an extremely fussy baby. Knowing your limits will help protect you and your baby.

Soft, gentle songs sung by a familiar voice will often calm Baby’s cries. Even if the singer is not particularly gifted, give this tip a try. Humming also offers a soothing vibratory sensation.Change the Way You Hold Baby Some little ones like to be held over the shoulder, some prefer the football hold, and still others like to be held facing out. Experiment to learn what your infant likes best. 

• The best thing parents can do when their infant is crying is to stay calm. An increase in your stress level will increase your baby’s. Remain calm and your baby might follow suit.

  

  Stay Calm

  The best thing parents can do when their infant is crying is to stay calm. An increase in your stress level will increase your baby’s. Remain calm and your baby might follow suit.                                                                     A wet or soiled diaper is one of the most common reasons for a baby’s tears. Even if you have recently changed your baby’s diaper, it’s still a good idea to check again. Check Baby’s diaper first before trying other calming methods, and change as needed. Calm

  The best tCheck Baby's Diaper                                                                                  A wet or soiled diaper is one of the most common reasons for a baby’s tears. Even if you have recently changed your baby’s diaper, it’s still a good idea to check again. Check Baby’s diaper first before trying other calming methods, and change as needed.hing parents can do when their infant is crying is to stay calm. An increase in your stress level will increase your baby’s. Remain calm and your baby might follow suit.