2 months old baby feeding frequency

Breastfeeding FAQs: How Much and How Often (for Parents)

Breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, but it still comes with its fair share of questions. Here's what you need to know about how often and how long to breastfeed your baby.

How Often Should I Breastfeed?

Newborn babies should breastfeed 8–12 times per day for about the first month. Breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. Frequent feedings helps stimulate your milk production during the first few weeks.

By the time your baby is 1–2 months old, he or she probably will nurse 7–9 times a day.

In the first few weeks of life, breastfeeding should be "on demand" (when your baby is hungry), which is about every 1-1/2 to 3 hours. As newborns get older, they'll nurse less often, and may have a more predictable schedule. Some might feed every 90 minutes, whereas others might go 2–3 hours between feedings.

Newborns should not go more than about 4 hours without feeding, even overnight.

How Do I Count the Time Between Feedings?

Count the length of time between feedings from the time your baby begins to nurse (rather than at the end) to when your little one starts nursing again. In other words, when your doctor asks how often your baby is feeding, you can say "about every 2 hours" if your first feeding started at 6 a.m., the next feeding was around 8 a.m., then 10 a.m., and so on.

Especially at first, you might feel like you're nursing around the clock, which is normal. Soon enough, your baby will go longer between feedings.

How Long Does Nursing Take?

Newborns may nurse for up to 20 minutes or longer on one or both breasts. As babies get older and more skilled at breastfeeding, they may take about 5–10 minutes on each side.

How long it takes to breastfeed depends on you, your baby, and other things, such as whether:

your milk supply has come in (this usually happens 2–5 days after birth)
your let-down reflex (which causes milk to flow from the nipple) happens right away or after a few minutes into a feeding
your milk flow is slow or fast
the baby has a good latch, taking in as much as possible of your areola (the dark circle of skin around your nipple)
your baby begins gulping right away or takes it slow
your baby is sleepy or distracted

Call your doctor if you're worried that your baby's feedings seem too short or too long.

When Should I Alternate Breasts?

Alternate breasts and try to give each one the same amount of nursing time throughout the day. This helps to keep up your milk supply in both breasts and prevents painful engorgement (when your breasts overfill with milk).

You may switch breasts in the middle of each feeding and then alternate which breast you offer first for each feeding. Can't remember where your baby last nursed? It can help to attach a reminder — like a safety pin or small ribbon — to your bra strap so you'll know which breast your baby last nursed on. Then, start with that breast at the next feeding. Or, keep a notebook handy or use a breastfeeding app to keep track of how your baby feeds.

Your baby may like switching breasts at each feeding or prefer to nurse just on one side. If so, then offer the other breast at the next feeding. Do whatever works best and is the most comfortable for you and your baby.

How Often Should I Burp My Baby During Feedings?

After your baby finishes on one side, try burping before switching breasts. Sometimes, the movement alone can be enough to cause a baby to burp.

Some infants need more burping, others less, and it can vary from feeding to feeding.

If your baby spits up a lot, try burping more often. While it's normal for infants to "spit up" a small amount after eating or during burping, a baby should not vomit after feeding. If your baby throws up all or most of a feeding, there could be a problem that needs medical care. If you're worried that your baby is spitting up too much, call your doctor.

Why Is My Baby Hungrier Than Usual?

When babies go through a period of rapid growth (called a growth spurt), they want to eat more than usual. These can happen at any time. But in the early months, growth spurts often happen when a baby is:

7–14 days old
2 months old
4 months old
6 months old

During these times and whenever your baby seems extra hungry, follow your little one's hunger cues. You may need to breastfeed more often for a while.

How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby?

That's a personal choice. Experts recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively (without formula, water, juice, non–breast milk, or food) for the first 6 months. Then, breastfeeding can continue until 12 months (and beyond) if it's working for you and your baby.

Breastfeeding has many benefits for mom and baby both. Studies show that breastfeeding can lessen a baby's chances of diarrhea, ear infections, and bacterial meningitis, or make symptoms less severe. Breastfeeding also may protect children from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, obesity, and asthma.

For moms, breastfeeding burns calories and helps shrink the uterus. In fact, breastfeeding moms might return to their pre–pregnancy shape and weight quicker. Breastfeeding also helps lower a woman's risk of diseases like:

breast cancer
high blood pressure
diabetes
heart disease

It also might help protect moms from uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.

2-Month-Old Baby: Milestones, Sleep & Feeding Schedule

Have you noticed that your tiny newborn isn't so tiny anymore? There are many exciting growth and developmental milestones to look forward to once your baby turns 2 months old, and we’re providing a preview of some of the ones you’ll definitely want to watch for. We also cover how to deal with common health concerns like diaper rash and coughs. If you’re returning to work soon, we also have a section on things to keep in mind so that this transition goes smoothly for both you and your baby.

Baby Development Milestones

This month will be full of discovery for your baby, as he becomes more and more aware of the world around him. Here are some of the baby development milestones your 2-month-old baby may be approaching.

Growth and Physical Development: The Mani-Pedi Routine

During these early months, babies tend to grow about 1 to 1 ½ inches in length and gain about 1 ½ to 2 pounds in weight each month. Your healthcare provider will monitor your baby's growth rate at each checkup, noting your 2-month-old baby's weight, length, and head circumference to make sure he's on track and doing well. Read more about how baby growth charts are used in your baby's first 24 months.

Speaking of growth, you may have noticed that your baby's nails seem to grow at the speed of light. You'll likely have to clip or file your baby's fingernails about once a week, and his toenails about twice a month. You may not have to worry about reminding yourself — you'll know it's time when you or your baby get scratched! Here are some tips on how to care for your baby's nails:

Use baby nail scissors or clippers, or a soft nail file.
Clip your baby's nails while he's asleep or after a relaxing bath, as his hands will be less of a moving target.
Push down on the skin of the fingertip so you can safely clip just the nail, not the skin.
File any rough edges after clipping the nails.
If you're still unsure about how to safely cut your baby's nails, ask the healthcare provider to show you how.

For even more “growing news,” the soft spots on your baby's head, called the fontanelles, will begin to harden as the bones of your baby's head fuse together.

Senses: Seeing the World in Color

Your baby will start to recognize objects and will love to look at familiar human faces best of all, especially mom's and dad's. In earlier weeks, your baby may have been drawn to simple patterns with straight lines, but soon he'll start to notice circular shapes and patterns such as bull's-eyes and spirals. Your little one is starting to see colors better, too.

As you take your baby out for walks he'll enjoy looking out from the stroller or the baby carrier. Help him learn by saying the names of different objects aloud, in particular naming anything that catches his eye.

Movement: Baby Squats

Although many of your baby's movements are still reflexive, he'll gradually learn to control more of what he does. For a while he may seem less active as some of his early reflexes fade, but new movements will start appearing that are more purposeful. The kicks he may have started practicing last month will start to gather force, as you might well learn from experience if he accidentally kicks you. In the coming weeks, he'll start controlling bending and straightening his knees. If you hold him upright with his feet on the ground, he might crouch down and then “stand” — and he'll soon realize he can bounce.

Your baby's hand and finger skills are also developing. He may be spending more and more time with his hand unclenched, and he'll likely be fascinated by his hands as they pass by in front of him. He'll slowly develop the ability to bring his hand to his mouth — initially it might happen by accident, but eventually he will place his hands in his mouth on purpose as sucking his knuckles will be soothing. If you put a rattle in his hand he might hold onto it and even shake it, but — watch out! — he'll drop it when he gets bored.

All that tummy time he's been putting in (with you closely supervising) will slowly start to pay off. Around this month or next, your baby will be able to push up off his arms, and briefly hold his chest and head up. This is big news because it's a step toward greater independence for your little one. Gaining this skill will mean being able to look around at whatever interests him, even when he's lying on his tummy.

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Personality: Muh-muh-muh-muh

Your baby's personality will reveal itself more and more each day. It will start to show in the way he communicates using facial expressions, vocalizations, and even gestures. For example, if you smile at him and he feels happy he might smile right back at you. Around this time, he might start to happily amuse himself by making all kinds of strange new sounds. You might hear muh-muh and bah-bah, and aahs and oohs. Have conversations with him repeating these sounds back to him. “Baby talk” is important at this stage, but add in real words, too. All along, he will be learning that conversation is a two-way street where each person takes turns, and each contribution is important. As the weeks progress, your baby will be more alert to your tone of voice and will be able to get an idea of your mood by how you talk to him. Your voice also helps signal what's to come, so tell him what you're doing when you're changing his diaper, taking him out for a walk, or bathing him.

Soon your baby won't just be smiling: he'll be squealing or laughing in delight. But don't be surprised if your baby isn't as responsive to strangers. Mom and Dad are his favorites, as are his siblings, and probably other regular visitors. Just like adults, your little one has his preferences, too!

How to Support Your Baby’s Development

Playing and interacting with you both have a huge role in your baby's brain development and early learning. Here are some activities you could do together:

Read to your baby. Even if he doesn't fully understand all the words, your baby is listening to the sounds you're making, and he's learning about tone and pacing, for example. Don't hesitate to read the same book over and over — babies love repetition. For more tips on reading to your baby, watch this short video on language development through “baby talk”.
Have a “chat.” Respond to your baby's coos and aahs, and initiate conversation by telling him what you're up to. When he “talks,” try not to interrupt or look away. Your attention tells him that his voice is important too and helps build trust.
Tummy time. Continue to give your baby short periods of tummy time each day to help strengthen his neck, arm, and shoulder muscles. Tummy time involves laying your baby on his tummy on a firm surface like the floor — just make sure you're watching.
Introduce a variety of sounds. Play your baby music or give him toys that make different sounds when touched. Let him listen to the sounds of everyday life, too. For example, have him safely nearby as you do household chores — the sound of you tidying will probably fascinate him.

Feeding Your 2-Month-Old Baby

Feed your baby whenever he’s hungry — which will be often, as 2-month-old babies usually eat about six to eight times a day. He’ll show you he's ready to eat by making sucking motions, moving his hand to his mouth, whimpering, or flexing his arms and hands. Avoid overfeeding your baby by keeping an eye out for the signs he’s had enough, such as slowing down or stopping sucking or turning away. You can probably tell your baby is generally eating well if he dozes off after a feed but seems alert, content, and active between feeds. At this stage, you might be able to leave out one middle-of-the-night feed; as your baby’s stomach capacity grows he may not be hungry again until early morning.

Tracking wet and dirty diapers: The number of diapers you change gives you clues about whether your baby is healthy and is getting enough to eat. Keep in mind, each baby is unique and may pee anywhere from once every couple of hours to only once every four to six hours. Fewer than six wet diapers may be a sign of mild dehydration. Pay attention to how many diapers your baby typically goes through. If there is a significant drop in the number of wet diapers or your baby’s mouth seems dry, he may be dehydrated. If you’re in any doubt, consult your baby’s healthcare provider. There is no “right” number when it comes to poopy diapers either. Two-month-old babies can poop anywhere from several times a day to only once a week. If your baby is pooping less than normal but the stools are soft and your baby is otherwise well, there may not be cause for concern. Still, if you’re worried, your baby’s healthcare provider will be able to check whether everything is OK.

As you’ve no doubt realized, your baby’s getting through plenty of diapers. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to download the Pampers Club app so you can get great rewards for all those diapers you’re buying.

How Much Sleep Does a 2-Month-Old Baby Need?

At 2 months old, your baby may be getting about 14 to 17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. She may spend more time alert and awake during the day, and although she may want fewer naps they might be a little longer in duration. At this stage, some (but not all) babies even manage to sleep through the night, meaning about six to eight hours in one stretch.

Good sleep routines — regular bedtimes and naptimes, and restful sleeping periods — give your little one a great start in life, contributing to her general health and wellbeing. Although it can take a while for evening routines to become established, you can help your baby head in the right direction by making nighttime feeds as quiet as possible. For example, keep the lighting low, don’t speak much or loudly, and after the feeding and a quick diaper change put her right back to sleep on her back. For more on this, watch these great tips for a good night’s sleep.

Don’t miss these must-watch sleep tips from the Smart Sleep Coach pediatric sleep consultant:

A Day in the Life of Your Baby

Your 2-month-old baby’s daily schedule may include simple routines for sleeping, feeding, bathing, and playing. Here’s one example of what a typical day might look like:

Your Baby’s Health: Dealing With Diaper Rash

Skin conditions:
Diaper rash. A wet or soiled diaper that touches baby skin for too long can cause a red rash on the diaper area. To combat diaper rash, change wet or poopy diapers as soon as possible, clean the area with wipes at each change, and expose your baby’s bottom to air whenever possible. These steps will help the rash clear up and help prevent it from reoccurring. Watch our short video on diaper rash treatment and prevention for even more tips.
Heat rash. These tiny, red bumps typically occur in hot and humid weather, usually on the neck, arms, legs, or diaper area. Don’t apply skin ointments; instead, cool the area with water, then completely dry the skin, dress your baby in cool, dry clothing, and try to keep her out of the heat. With this kind of care, heat rash typically goes away after a few days.
Eczema. If your baby has red, itchy, scaly patches of skin in the crooks of her elbows and knees, it could be eczema. Your baby’s healthcare provider can make a diagnosis and will recommend treatment options. It may help to use mild, unscented baby soaps on your baby and her clothes and sheets, to dress her in soft clothes that don’t prickle, and to bathe her three times a week at the most.
Coughing. If you notice your 2-month-old baby coughing, it’s a sign that her airways are irritated. Coughs can be triggered by many kinds of respiratory illnesses, from the common cold to pneumonia. It’s a good idea to reach out to your baby’s healthcare provider if your little one is coughing; but if coughing is accompanied by fever or a difficulty in breathing take your baby to the doctor right away for treatment or advice.
Allergies. Potential signs of a food allergy or sensitivity include if your baby seems fussy or cries excessively, vomits up most of her food, has very watery or bloody poops, or develops a rash. Your baby’s healthcare provider will need to explore potential causes and make a diagnosis.

Your Life as a Parent: Returning to Work

Depending on your situation, different factors may come into play as you decide if and when to go back to work, including your finances, maternity leave options, and general family considerations. If you can, allow yourself some flexibility as you may change your mind about your return to work when the time comes. Whenever you do return to work, it’s natural to feel sad, anxious, or concerned about how your baby will adjust. If your partner is not staying home with your baby, the key is to find child care that you feel comfortable with and that your baby thrives under. You might also consider getting additional help at home so you can spend that precious home time with your baby without additional distractions.

Establish a routine A couple of weeks before you return to work, start mapping out what your typical workday will look like. Consider things like what time you will need to wake up in order to be ready to leave the house in time, how long will your commute take when you take into account dropping your baby off at day care, or perhaps you are getting a nanny, what time will they need to arrive? How about evenings, if you are nursing when do you plan on pumping etc? Be sure to include your baby’s naps and feeding times, and of course don’t forget to make sure you have time for those all-important baby snuggles! To help you establish a consistent routine, check out the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™. Co-developed with pediatric sleep experts and packed with articles that explain your baby’s development, the Smart Sleep Coach also has a powerful sleep tracking tool that suggests the best times for your baby to nap and sleep. Plus, the Smart Sleep Coach’s exclusive algorithm customizes sleep coaching approaches based on your input and your baby’s unique sleep patterns – all to help you help your baby grow well while giving you more free time and sleep time, too. Once you have this draft schedule you have a rough idea of what you may need to try to adjust to make the return to work as smooth as possible for all of you. It’s a good idea to start to adjust your daily routine at least a week before going back to work so that you and your baby are already used to the new timeline. Obviously at just 2-months old your baby still needs to be fed frequently and it may seem challenging to ‘get them on a schedule’. A lot of working parents try to adjust things they can control to help here. Things like waking up 30mins before your baby so you can shower and get ready first. Babies thrive in a routine, and once routine is established it is scientifically proven that they will fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. You’ve got this!

Organizing Child Care

You may have multiple sources and forms of child care, which you could consider, including

your parents or other relatives
a babysitter
a day care center
in-home care, either solely for your baby or in a group with other children
a nanny
or a combination of the above.

As you search for child care, keep in mind that the most important thing is to make sure your baby is happy and developing well under the care you select. Ask other parents or your baby’s healthcare provider for referrals. Speak to potential caregivers at length, observe them with your baby for a day or two, check their references and do background checks, and trust your instincts. You should always keep a watchful eye that your baby is doing well, and reevaluate your choice if need be.

Expressing Breast Milk at Work

Returning to work can be stressful for some women and may reduce your breast milk supply (as may other sources of stress), particularly if you are not able to pump as much as you would like. By law, your employer must allow you time and a space — other than a bathroom — for you to express breast milk until your baby turns 1 year old. If you are concerned your milk supply may be running low, read up on how to increase breast milk supply and contact your healthcare provider or lactation consultant for help.

Finding Help at Home

As you return to work — or simply because you need an extra pair of helping hands — you may need help with cooking, household chores, or errands. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Make sure you have someone you trust who will relieve the load, not add to it.
Figure out when you’ll need help and make sure the helper can reliably commit to this schedule.
Be clear about what you need help with and consider having it in writing.
Ask for enough warning if the helper can’t make it or if they are sick.
Have a plan B like a babysitter or neighbor you can call to jump in at the last minute.
Consider getting a background check and checking for a valid driver’s license.
If the person’s role includes caring for your baby, ask the caregiver to complete a baby first aid course.

The daily routine of a child at 2 months: development, sleep, feeding

03/21/2019

At 2 months, your baby is no longer the same as it was only 4 weeks ago. The baby becomes more active, his sense organs develop, his sleep and wakefulness change. We tell you what you need to consider when shaping the daily regimen of two-month-old children on breastfeeding and artificial feeding.

Sleep at night

By 2 months you will notice that your baby's sleep patterns are changing. The biological rhythms of the baby continue to form, and the duration of night sleep gradually increases. The child will begin to go into the night earlier - at 22.00-23.00 hours. But for the time being, bedtime is not as important as whether the baby gets enough sleep. Many children sleep around 9-10 hours at night with awakenings for feeding. How long you should be between night feeds is best discussed with your pediatrician. The time of the morning rise is also not yet constant and not always at 7 in the morning.

Daytime sleep

The duration and time of daytime naps are still different, as well as the time of wakefulness between them. In general, a two-month-old baby sleeps approximately 4-5 hours during the day. And sleep segments are now usually from 30-40 minutes to an hour. During the day, the child sleeps from 4 to 6 times - depending on the time of getting up and leaving at night.

Baby can be active for up to 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes. But you should not allow overwork and focus also on the signs of fatigue and the duration of the previous sleep.

If a two-month-old baby calms down, loses interest in surrounding objects, starts rubbing his eyes, directs his eyes to one point, for no reason starts to get nervous and asks for food, then he wants to sleep and it's time to go to bed.

How many hours of sleep is needed in general? A newborn needs 14-16 hours of sleep a day.

By this age, you already understand your baby better, and it will be easier to follow a more or less understandable schedule. Although the exact daily routine has not yet been organized.

Why can a two-month-old baby not sleep?

If bedtimes are long and it is difficult for the child to fall asleep during the day, the causes of sleep disturbances should be found out and, if possible, eliminated:

At this age, the baby begins to be distracted by the surrounding objects, so be sure to darken the room. Darkness will help calm the baby and set him to sleep. This is especially important if you have trouble falling asleep in the evening. From 2.5 months, the sleep hormone melatonin begins to be produced. Therefore, remember that bright light destroys it, and darkness, on the contrary, contributes to the formation of melatonin in the child's body.
At 2 months, the sense organs are actively developing in babies. Now the child reacts to any rustle. And those sounds that he did not notice before can now wake him up during sleep. The use of a white noise generator will help here to protect the baby from extraneous noise. It is not recommended to buy special white noise toys that are placed in the crib, as this is unsafe.
Even an extra 5-10 minutes can affect the child's well-being this month and lead to more overwork. If this happens, use different ways to calm the baby and put him to bed.

Now is the time to introduce a ritual that will help set the baby to sleep. Daily repetition of activities facilitates the process of falling asleep and improves night sleep. Start by bathing, lightly massage your baby, swaddle, feed in dim light, walk with your baby upright to ease spitting up.

At the end, read a story or sing a lullaby. Separating feeding and falling asleep will help your baby learn to fall asleep on his own in the future, not relying only on the breast. Gradually, food will become part of the ritual, and not the only way for the child to fall asleep.

Lay the baby sleepy, but awake, in the crib, stroking the head and tummy if necessary.

If it’s hard to adjust the baby’s sleep and routine on your own, come to the Club REGIME FROM A TO Z.

How to avoid confusion between day and night

When you are awake, take your baby outside, turn on the lights and open the curtains. Let the child be surrounded by familiar everyday sounds while playing.

Avoid bright lights at night, feed and change diapers with minimal light if possible. If the baby wakes up at night, be quiet and do not play with him.

In the table you will find the norms of sleep and wakefulness of a child at 2 months

Feeding and daily routine of a child of 2 months

The daily routine of a 2-month-old baby on breastfeeding and on artificial feeding is almost the same. The only difference is the feeding schedule. Since the mixture is digested more slowly, meals will be less frequent. The feeding regimen should be discussed with the doctor observing the child. As in the case if the baby was born prematurely or does not gain weight.

At two months, the number of attachments with natural feeding during the day is about 6-9, at night - from 2 to 4 times. For a two-month-old baby, about 800-900 ml is enough. milk or 700-750 ml. mixture per day. The menu should not include other fluids while breastfeeding. Feeding on demand usually occurs at 2 months for 15-20 minutes.

A baby of the second month of life has a need for contact with the outside world. He begins to be distracted by environmental stimuli during breastfeeding and eats less milk or formula during the day than he needs. Have you noticed this with your child?

Therefore, offer breasts during sleep and after waking up. And during feeding, retire with the baby in a quiet place, darken the room so that nothing distracts the baby, and offer him the breast in a calm environment.

Baby development at 2 months

At this age, babies develop a reflex that makes them look at their outstretched arms when they wave them. The child gets used to his body and learns it. Surely, your baby loves to take his fingers in his mouth and touch his legs with his hands! And now you will notice the first smile - smile and you will respond in order to establish contact with the child.

A 2-month-old baby turns its head to sounds, follows objects with its eyes, holds its head and starts pushing with its arms while on its stomach.

2 months - a period of active development of the child's strength, balance and coordination, which is important for the formation of the baby's motor skills.

During waking hours it is useful to walk in the fresh air with the baby, communicate and play with the child.⠀

Continue to use the developmental mat, on which you can already hang toys, Place them on the sides so that the baby turns his head, follows them and reaches for them. Or read picture books so that the baby also actively follows the story with his eyes. Lay the baby on your stomach. Offer rattles to your child while walking.

Share in the comments what daily routine did you have in 2 months? Did you have any difficulties?

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what and how to feed a newborn at home

The daily amount of food for a child at 2 months

By two months, the child has to learn a lot - to hold his head, distinguish between the voices of mom and dad, grow up by 3 -4 centimeters and gain about 800 grams of weight, so the baby must receive adequate nutrition. The daily amount of food for a child directly depends on what kind of feeding he is on. For example, when breastfeeding, the volume of milk may change over time, but the baby will be full. You should also not worry about the number of feedings - just put the baby to the chest at his first request.

With artificial feeding, it is necessary to know when to stop. The daily volume of the mixture for a two-month-old is 800-850 ml of the mixture, which must be divided into 6-7 feedings with a three-hour interval.

What to feed a child at 2 months

At two months, the child still needs only mother's milk, and no complementary foods or water supplements. If for some reason the mother cannot breastfeed the baby, or there is not enough milk, the child is transferred to artificial or mixed feeding.

Breastfeeding

All paediatricians and breastfeeding specialists agree that nature has not invented anything better than mother's milk for feeding a baby. It is in breast milk that contains not only vitamins, minerals and other trace elements necessary for the healthy growth and development of the child, but also immunoglobulins that help to form and strengthen the baby's immunity. Surprisingly, breast milk can change its composition throughout the day and is produced exactly in the amount that the baby needs. Experts note that a breastfed baby is less likely to get colds, he has no digestive problems, and allergies and dermatitis rarely appear. Breastfeeding helps the child establish a special contact with the mother, forms a strong relationship between them. It has been proven that breastfed babies sleep better and more soundly at night and do not act up during the day.

— The main principle of breastfeeding at two months is to put your baby to the breast as often as possible at his first request, so you will keep lactation for many months. Try to alternate breasts during feedings to avoid congestion and lactostasis. Also, do not forget about hygiene - wash your breasts with warm boiled water before and after feeding, and use a special healing ointment for cracked nipples, advises pediatrician, breastfeeding specialist Dina Nauruzova .

Photo: pexels.com, Sarah Chai

How do you know if your baby is getting enough breast milk? If a child behaves calmly during feeding, does not act up, and between feedings does not burst into hungry crying, then mother's milk is enough for him. Remember that by the age of two months, the baby's feeding regimen has not yet developed, so he may ask for a breast often, sometimes just to calm down.

In addition, every month at the appointment, the pediatrician conducts a control weighing of the child, which will also show whether the child is getting enough milk.

Learn more

Artificial feeding

If, for some reason, the mother cannot breastfeed her baby (for example, she is sick and takes medication, or her milk is gone), then the baby is transferred to artificial feeding. Of course, not a single mixture, even the most expensive one, can replace mother's milk, but thanks to modern technologies, mixtures are now as close as possible in composition to breast milk.

When choosing formula, it is best to consult your pediatrician first. In general, mixtures are of three types: conventional (for healthy children), therapeutic (with frequent colic and regurgitation, for premature babies) and hypoallergenic. The last two types are prescribed by the pediatrician after examining the child.

Because even expensive formula takes longer to digest than breast milk, a two-month-old baby's feeding regimen should be on schedule, respecting 3-4 hour intervals. Approximately 6-7 feedings are required per day, and the volume of a single portion of the mixture is 120-150 ml.

- Do not worry if the child has not finished his formula, then he is not hungry. And even more so, you don’t need to force him to finish eating, otherwise his tummy will hurt or he will start spitting up, the pediatrician explains. – And remember, when a baby cries, it doesn't mean that he is necessarily hungry. He may have something to hurt, he is cold or hot, or the baby is simply looking for maternal warmth.

Experts also remind that when bottle-fed, the baby needs to be supplemented with clean water, which is offered to him between feedings. The child will drink as much as he needs, it is not worth forcing him to drink.

Do not forget about the important rules of artificial feeding: the mixture must be prepared immediately before feeding, it cannot be stored for a long time even in the refrigerator. Bottles and nipples should be carefully sterilized and matched to the age of the child. The mixture must be diluted, strictly following the instructions on the package. Before feeding the baby, be sure to drip the mixture on your wrist so as not to burn the baby. Make sure that the mixture does not pour in a jet, otherwise the child may choke.

Mixed feeding

Mixed feeding is used when the baby is not full of breast milk, because there are problems with lactation, or the mother has to be away often, and then the baby is supplemented with formula or expressed milk.

- Sometimes mommy thinks that their baby is not full, and they decide on their own to supplement his formula. This is wrong, you need to show the child to the pediatrician, who, at the control weighing, will conclude whether he is underweight, and hence the need for supplementary feeding, the pediatrician advises.

There are several options for supplementary feeding: supplementary feeding with expressed breast milk (well suited when the mother needs to go somewhere), donor breast milk (this is more difficult, since breast milk donation in Russia is still poorly developed, and an independent search for a wet nurse is undesirable - you you don’t know for sure if she has any health problems), or infant formula.

In mixed feeding, a two-month-old baby continues to be breastfed at the first request so that milk production does not stop at all, and one or two feedings are replaced by formula. Experts advise supplementing the baby with a syringe or spoon so that he does not prefer the bottle of the mother's breast. Whenever possible, you should try to return to natural breastfeeding, abandoning the mixture.

WHO Feeding Guidelines

The World Health Organization considers breastfeeding to be the ideal feeding option for babies up to 6 months of age. According to experts, receiving a sufficient amount of mother's milk, up to six months the baby does not need any complementary foods or additional water. WHO also recommends that the baby be breastfed immediately after birth and that mother and baby be placed in the same room together. It is worth continuing breastfeeding for up to two years, because, contrary to speculation, mother's milk does not become “empty”, but adapts to the growing baby, providing him with the necessary vitamins, minerals and other useful substances.

According to WHO recommendations, the first complementary foods should be introduced no earlier than 6 months, provided that the child is healthy and develops according to age norms. If you are underweight, complementary foods may be introduced a little earlier.

Recommendations of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia on feeding

The Union of Pediatricians of Russia is in solidarity with colleagues from WHO and calls breastfeeding the most natural and physiological nutrition for a child in the first year of life. According to experts, it is breast milk that plays an important role in the prevention of acute and chronic childhood infections, reduces the risk of otitis media, gastrointestinal disorders, infectious diseases of the respiratory system, and even non-specific ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

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The Union of Pediatricians of Russia recommends not giving children from birth to six months (except for medical indications) any food or liquid other than breast milk. Also, doctors in the children's clinic should help the mother, if she has any questions about the organization of breastfeeding, explain the importance of this particular method of feeding, and only in case of emergency, choose the mixture.

Frequently asked questions and answers

How to start weaning?

— At two months, it is too early for a baby, whether breastfed or bottle-fed. In the old pediatric system, the introduction of juices at 2 months was practiced, but modern doctors assure that at this age, even for the juice of the gastrointestinal tract, the baby has not yet matured. If a child receives plenty of mother's milk, he does not need any complementary foods up to 6 months, and modern mixtures provide the child with all the necessary microelements, - explains pediatrician Dina Nauruzova.

How to prepare a diet for a child?

— At two months of age, the baby does not require any other food than breast milk or formula. Everything is simple: breastfeeding at the first request of the child, artificial feeding according to the schedule, the specialist clarifies.

What can mother eat during this period?

- If a mother is breastfeeding, then it is worth paying close attention to her diet, since many foods that get into breast milk can cause allergies or bloating. Also, the mother's diet should be varied and balanced. Lean meats are suitable: rabbit, turkey, chicken, beef, boiled or stewed green vegetables. At the same time, it is better to refuse cabbage, it can cause colic, and vegetables of bright colors can provoke an allergy. Allowed cereals, dairy products, mild cheese, cottage cheese. Apples - better baked, bananas, pears. Baking is better homemade, because the store may contain preservatives and dyes. Of course, no alcohol, nicotine, purchased "chemical" juices and carbonated drinks. In general, you should not limit yourself in everything and choke on boiled chicken breast and buckwheat. Everything is possible - the main thing is a little bit and be sure to monitor the reaction of the baby. It is better to keep a food diary and write down everything eaten there - it will be easier to track the product that caused colic or allergies in the baby, advises Dina Nauruzova.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough milk?

— Some mothers, hearing the cry of the baby, run to feed him as soon as possible, but the child cries not only when he is hungry. He may be hot or cold, in pain, or he does not want to lie alone, and he expresses all his needs through crying. If the child, even after feeding, continues to move his head, as if looking for a breast or a bottle, smacks his lips, tries to suck his own fists, most likely he is hungry. You can also understand that a child has enough milk if he has regular urination. And of course, control weighing at the pediatrician - if the child receives enough milk, he steadily gains weight, - the specialist explains.

Should the baby be given water during the heat?

- In general, it is not necessary to supplement the child with water if he is breastfed, but if he is on a mixture, then between feedings you can supplement him with a spoon or syringe. It is also necessary to solder if the temperature in the room is above +24 degrees, otherwise dehydration may occur. As for the common myth that when hiccups, the baby must be given water, then if the hiccups do not bother the child all the time, then you can generally wait until it passes on its own, the pediatrician clarifies.