Friday, May 29, 2009

Breast Feeding a baby | Baby feeding guidelines

Breast Feeding a baby | Baby feeding guidelines

Baby feeding guidelines

Parenting is the most wonderful feeling on this earth and it also brings along with it lots of confusion related to many factors and especially feeding. There are whole lot of people who gives you loads of advice for how and what to feed your baby. But it is always better to go with the recommendations of the professionals and the doctors. Whatever we need to follow becomes the guideline. There are certain baby feeding guidelines which are generally followed by all and they have been drafted after much consideration.

Initial 6 Months:
For the initial months of the baby breastfeeding is the best option as the mothers milk is a perfect source of nutrition for a child. Breast milk contains correct amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, hormones and vitamins that is needed for the child’s growth and development. Mother’s milk also contains antibodies that help to keep away your child from infection.

Initially a child needs to be breastfed after every 2-3 hours and about 8 to 12 times in a day. The breastfeeding should be done as per the demand of the child which can be well recognised through various cues given by the child like yawning, stretching, sucking his fist and many others. While breastfeeding, a child should be kept in comfortable position so that he enjoys his feed.

Feed after 6 Months:
After 6 months some solid food can also be included in a child’s diet along with mother’s milk. Before starting the solid food baby should be able to sit in a chair supporting his head and he should also be able to swallow the food put in his mouth. The initial baby food includes iron fortified rice cereal which is mixed with lots of mother’s milk or formula milk. Very small quantise like a teaspoon should be given initially which can be increased at later stages when baby gets used to the solid food. Before starting any new type of food wait for a week so that you can identify food allergies if any. You can slowly and gradually increase the variety of food like oatmeal, barley, fruits and vegetables in your child’s diet.

Thus follow certain baby feeding guidelines for proper growth and development of your child.

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