Feeding Your Newborn: Tips for New Parents

Feeding your baby is a whole new experience, and it can feel overwhelming at first. But the more you know what to expect, the better you will be able to feed your baby. There’s plenty of advice for new parents who are worried about feeding their newborn, but some of it is contradictory and confusing. So, what’s a soon-to-be parent to do? The first thing to remember is that your newborn will feed differently than you do. Your baby’s needs will completely dictate the feeding schedule, and as a first-time parent, that’s overwhelming. But with a little patience and understanding, you can figure out your baby’s feeding schedule and set yourself up for a happy, healthy baby and a successful breastfeeding relationship.

How do parents cope with feeding newborns?          

When you are a new parent, all you hear is “eat, eat, eat.” You are always thinking of food, feeding, and stealing your child’s food. Feeding a new baby can be challenging, and with a new baby, they will probably demand a lot of your attention, stealing your attention away from other household tasks. Your baby’s cry will let you know if he or she is hungry.

Babies often need to eat four to five times as often as adults, and with that comes a very messy process. Feeding a newborn can be exhausting, and many parents say it helps to have an extra set of hands to help with the process. The breast pump is an obvious solution, but pumps can be expensive and get in the way while you are trying to bond and nurse your newborn. A new, more practical solution is the breast pump to cover those clips onto a bottle nipple. With this product, the new mom can still breastfeed her baby while pumping at the same time.

Here are some tips on how to feed a newborn:

Feeding a newborn is no easy task, and while most new mothers rely on breastfeeding, they may also be interested in supplementing with formula. Fortunately, there are many options available in both breast and formula feeding to help make feeding a newborn easier.

Usually, both parents are instructed on what to do when the baby arrives. But did you know you need to be instructed on feeding a newborn? Your newborn needs 100 to 130 ml of breast milk or infant formula each day. After 3 weeks, your baby needs 150 ml at every feed. Between 6 and 8 months, your baby needs 150 ml every two or three feeds. And if you feed your baby breast milk, your breasts should be full every time. Baby food, however, is recommended for your baby from 6 months, though there is room for variation: you can start with solids at 6 months or do it earlier if your baby shows signs of readiness.

New babies are a bundle of joy, but new parents also face some challenges. Feeding a newborn can be one of the most challenging activities for new parents. Babies’ stomachs and digestive systems take time to adjust. That’s why it’s important to introduce new foods slowly, one at a time, to keep babies from getting any tummy aches.

What happens when you don’t feed your newborn properly?

Newborns require different nutrients than adults. Unfortunately, many new parents don’t realize this. They may think feeding their baby is simple. However, newborn babies need very different nutrition than adults. Because newborns aren’t producing their own hormones, their body requires more than adults do. They require healthy fats, quality proteins, and essential vitamins and minerals.

One of the many concerns new parents have is feeding their newborns. As he becomes more aware of his surroundings and verbal, your baby will communicate his hunger or thirst, and you may be tempted to satisfy those needs immediately. However, it’s especially important to follow your baby’s cues and to feed him how and when he needs to eat. If your baby cries, is different than usual, or is constipated or gassy, you may need to give him some formula or formula mixed with breast milk. Giving your baby a bottle at bedtime won’t encourage him to want the bottle in the morning, so it’s best to avoid feeding him at night.

One of the first things every new parent learns is that baby formula isn’t the only thing that’s important for the baby. One of the first things that happen when you give birth is your newborn’s stomach contracts several times. Then, a hormone called colostrum, which protects and nourishes your newborn, is broken down and absorbed into your baby’s bloodstream. Additionally, your baby’s intestines are coated with mucous that breaks down the colostrum, allowing the nutrients to be absorbed. But in order for your baby to absorb the nutrients, your newborn needs to be fed.