Newborn baby feeds constantly

How to Handle a Newborn Constantly Feeding

A newborn constantly feeding can exhaust any parent. Here’s how to handle the cluster feeding, especially when you’re breastfeeding.

I just about had it.

The sore nipples from a bad latch, the cluster-feeding sessions, the leaking—I was over it. I felt glued to my baby and shot dagger eyes at anyone who suggested feeding him the second he’d fuss. I was ready to give up.

And that was just five days in with breastfeeding.

But beyond the physical pain, breastfeeding for many moms is especially hard when your newborn is constantly feeding. Your baby wants to nurse all the time, hungry and unsatisfied despite the frequent nursing.

For instance, within a two-hour time frame, she’s already nursed a whopping four times.

As a first-time mom, you’re curious whether this is normal. If other babies also want to eat within minutes of having been just fed. You wonder whether it’s even possible to overfeed a newborn or if yours is eating too much—especially since she’s constantly wanting to be fed.

How to handle your newborn constantly feeding

Rest assured friend, you’re not alone. And more importantly, your newborn constantly feeding is normal and common.

Known as newborn cluster feeding, frequent feeding is her way of getting your body to produce enough milk, especially during a growth spurt. Think of it as nature’s way of increasing your breast milk supply. After all, the more demand for milk, the more your body will produce.

Plus, she likes to be near you not just for food but for comfort. You smell good, you’re the perfect temperature for her body, sucking is soothing—it’s no wonder she simply wants to be snuggled and fed.

That said, I don’t blame you if you feel exhaustion and even—let’s be honest here—resentment of being the only one able to feed her. I totally understand that feeling of being tied down, and the lack of freedom that a newborn constantly feeding can bring.

So, here are a few practical ways of coping with cluster feedings, both to see if she can gradually wean from them, as well as how to cope in the meantime.

1. Make sure your newborn is emptying the breast

Did you know that breast milk comes in stages? During the first few minutes, your newborn is drinking the fore milk (or the lighter part of the milk). Afterward, she drinks the hind milk (the fattier, more filling part).

If she’s only nursing a few minutes on each side, she might not be getting the hind milk, and ends up hungrier sooner than later.

Instead, make sure she’s emptying the entire breast so she gets both kinds of breast milk from each side. This will help fill her up so she’s able to go longer between feeds.

A simple way to make sure she empties the breast? Don’t let her sleep on the job. Feed her after she wakes up, not before she’s about to sleep, so that she doesn’t doze off during feeding.

Besides making sure she’s emptying the breast completely, offer her both of them as well. That way, not only is she getting both kinds of breast milk, but she’s also getting double the serving.

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2. Burp between switching sides

Do you find that your baby fusses during feedings, cutting them short? She could be uncomfortable from taking in gas while she eats.

One simple way to eliminate gas is to burp her between switching sides. Simply hold her upright and allow any gas to escape, as well as the food to digest down. Not only are you helping her release gas, you’re also holding her upright, which can prevent spitting up food.

Get more tips on how to burp a baby that is hard to burp.

3. Watch for excessive spit-up

Your newborn could also be extra hungry if she’s not actually taking in the food she had just eaten. In other words, she’s spitting the food right back up.

Like we talked about, holding her upright (especially after a feeding) can help avoid excess spit-up. Make sure you’re also holding her at an angle when you breastfeed to prevent her from feeding flat on her back.

If all else fails, talk with her pediatrician to further discuss health issues or even medicines that can help her stop spitting up so much.

4. Pay attention to weight gain and wet diapers

Your doctor or lactation consultant will know your baby is just fine by making sure she’s gaining the weight she’s supposed to. If you feel like she’s still not feeling satisfied despite frequent feedings, have your doctor check whether her weight gain.

You’ll also want to pay attention to how many wet diapers she goes through. While weight gain is a better gauge of how well your baby is feeding, seeing enough wet diapers can also reassure you that she is, in fact, taking in the milk.

5. Feed on demand

The newborn stage, particularly the early days and weeks, is not the time for a strict feeding schedule. This is when your baby can take a five-hour nap, only to take a 20-minute one next. And the same is true for when and how long she sleeps as well.

While she might cry because of a soiled diaper or uncomfortable pajamas, more often than not, your baby’s hunger is the likely cause. Breast milk digests easily, which means she can be hungrier earlier than formula-fed infants.

And don’t worry that you’re setting her up with “bad habits” by feeding her when she’s hungry. Feeding on demand doesn’t mean she’ll always expect to eat frequently. Instead, she’ll eventually develop her own routine and flow, especially the larger her stomach gets (and the more food she can take).

For now, feed her when she’s hungry, knowing that this is a temporary and important stage in her growth. She knows what her body needs, and this is her way of letting you know she needs to eat.

Learn how to handle a baby feeding every hour and not sleeping.

6. Find a comfortable feeding position

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Perhaps the simplest way to handle your newborn constantly feeding is to make it as comfortable as possible. Sometimes we feel “stuck” in our positions, unable to move around like the rest of the family, making us even more frustrated.

But you can make the most of it by having a comfortable feeding station. Start by using a good nursing pillow and back support. Keep often-used items within arm’s reach, from tissue paper to snacks. Use it as an opportunity to watch a movie, listen to a podcast, or read a book.

And consider creating several feeding stations throughout the house. That way, you won’t feel alone and isolated in, say, your bedroom, while everyone else is enjoying dinner on the other side of the house.

Conclusion

That first month with my newborn was rough. I must have looked online to read the benefits of breastfeeding every single day just to keep going.

But despite the first few days or weeks, breastfeeding does get easier and will happen in longer stretches. Your baby will feel less fragile and can nurse without a pillow. Your nipples will adjust and you won’t need ointment for long. And most importantly, she won’t cluster feed as frequently as she does now.

Still, in the meantime, you can make this stage as easy and smooth as possible. Make sure she’s emptying each breast so she’s getting both kinds of breast milk (as well as emptying both breasts). Burp between switching sides so she doesn’t fuss because of gas and digestive issues.

Watch for excessive spit-up so you know she’s keeping her food in. Pay attention to how many wet diapers she goes through, and confirm with the pediatrician that she’s gaining enough weight. Feed when your baby’s hungry, not from a set schedule.

And finally, find a comfortable feeding station (or a few) so that you’re at least as happy and content as possible.

Don’t worry, mama—she won’t always feed this frequently. Especially if, like me, you’re just five days in and ready to throw in the towel.

Get more tips:

5 Tips to Stop the Pain After Breastfeeding
Burping a Newborn After Breastfeeding: Necessary or Not?
6 Ways Dads Can Support Breastfeeding Moms
12 Breastfeeding Secrets Every Mom Should Know
How to Burp a Sleeping Baby

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My Baby Wants to Breastfeed All the Time! Is This Normal?

Frequent Feeds Are Very Common!

In the first few days after birth, it is very common for newborns to feed constantly, probably around 12 or more times per 24 hours. Newborn babies drink very small amounts frequently in the first 1-2 days.

Most newborn babies only drink about a teaspoon (5-7ml) of colostrum at each feed on day one. This is just perfect as their tummy is about the size of a cherry and holds about 7mls at each feed on day one! Perfectly designed!

By day two you start to make a little bit more colostrum at each feed and this gradual increase in milk each day stretches bub’s tummy allowing them to drink more.

Colostrum is a sugary delicious drink but it is not jam-packed with fat at this stage, which means baby needs to keep feeding very often to stay full up.

Remember, every time your baby feeds it helps your breasts build your milk supply in the first month. As your milk increases in volume, from around day 3 onwards, you will notice your baby starts to have longer sleep periods of around 1.5 – 3 hours mostly.

During the first month, newborn babies need to feed on average 8 – 12 times every 24 hours to ensure they are getting enough milk and that you stimulate the breasts enough to keep building your milk supply. One you have established a good milk supply in the first month you may find that your baby changes their feeding pattern again. Many mums report this happens around 6-8 weeks after birth.

After this first month, research has shown us that babies will breastfeed anywhere from 4-13 times every 24 hours, but most babies still feed on average 10-11 feeds every day.

Each mum and baby’s breastfeeding pattern is different and this is perfectly normal. It is just down to the levels of fat in your milk (and fat levels change throughout the day) and the amount of milk your breast can hold at each feed, as well as how your baby is feeling.

Babies Find Breastfeeding Relaxing

Most babies find breastfeeding very comforting and, just like if we feel upset a hug can do wonders. Likewise, a short extra breastfeed does the same for calming our babies!

Do not compare yourself with another mum and baby’s feeding pattern. It will most likely be completely different from yours. Trying to “force” your baby into strict routines often brings with it tears and stress for mum and bub!

There are, of course, some mums who say that a routine was the best thing for their baby. But these babies are probably the very small percentage of babies who naturally feed every 4-5 hours and would’ve gotten themselves into a strict schedule anyway!

For most babies, a strict routine does not work! Try and go with the flow, listen to your baby’s cues for when they would like a feed and feed them. Just like us, they will not stick to the same “routine” every day.

I bet you didn’t have the same things to eat, in the same quantity, at the same time, with the same glasses of water, cups of tea or snacks as you have today! So why do we think this is normal for our babies?!

Cluster Feeds Continue After the First Few Days

Most mums report that their baby feeds frequently and is unsettled more so during the evening hours, most commonly between 6 – 10pm. Mums often say that their baby wants to be held constantly and feed “all the time” and that baby cries when put down in their cot.

This is a very normal and common behaviour for babies who are otherwise content during other parts of the day, feeding and gaining weight well and are generally healthy.

Babies do have these periods of cluster feeding, often most present between 2 and 9 weeks of age, but of course some babies will have these periods for several more weeks and still be totally healthy.

Researchers think it is a developmental stage that all babies naturally need to go through. There are a huge number of processes going on in a baby’s brain in the first year. Babies can easily get overwhelmed or dysregulated in the first few months in particular.

Babies who are overtired or overwhelmed, find it hard to calm down by themselves in the first few months of life and need someone to help them. And what better way to be calmed than having a breastfeed, which of course is not just food, but also a pain reliever and a happy hormone giver!

Also, being held and rocked allows baby to feel safe and warm, like being back in the womb. So, it makes sense that they need to be held and fed so much in the evenings after a big day in the big wide world!

Normal Can Still Be Tiring!

Even though this is normal, it doesn’t stop it being exhausting. So, it’s important to note how you are feeling and coping.

Some of us have another person around to help us out, whilst other new mums have to manage alone during the cluster feeds. Regardless of your situation, it is important to realise that cluster feeding is normal.

If you are responding to your baby by holding them and feeding them, yet they are still crying in-between feeds you are not causing harm to your baby, you are still showing them love and they will calm when they are able to.

The other thing to remind yourself is that this is temporary. It is important to not place any demands on yourself during these times. Try preparing dinner at times in the day when baby is sleeping well and just re heat and eat when you can during the cluster breastfeeds!

If you have support, share the holding and rocking of baby with another person to give you a break. If you do not have supports around at that time, listen to your instincts; if you are starting to feel like it is all too much and you feel worried that you are not coping, place your baby safely in their bassinet and walk away to calm down for a few minutes, before coming back to hold baby again.

You could also try knocking on the door of your neighbour, who you know and trust, and asking them to hold your baby for 15 mins or so to give you a break.

Most people will understand and, if they have children, they will have gone through the same themselves. Doing this will not harm your baby, but, will give you time to relax a little and recharge.

If you are finding that you are not coping during other parts of the day then it is important to talk with your GP or contact PANDA http://www.panda.org.au/ for some extra help and support.

If you are concerned that your baby’s crying seems abnormal and you are worried if your baby may be unwell. Please get first line advice from these helplines (below). They will be able to give you support and further guidance:

Health Direct helpline (covers all of Australia) 1800 882 436

Maternal and Child Health Nurse 24-hour helpline on 13 22 29 (if you are in the state of Victoria)

Other Things Which Can Help to Relax Babies During Cluster Feeding Times

Skin to skin contact

Having a bath with your baby – only do this if you have another person to help you and baby in and out of the bath and keep you both safe.

“Rocking your pelvis like Elvis” – Whilst holding your baby, try some rocking and swaying moves whilst holding baby either upright, over your arm like superman or in a cradle hold. Each baby will be different in the positions they prefer. You Maternal and Child Health nurse can show you positions for holding and calming babies.

Carrying your baby in a sling. This keeps baby nice and close and creates a womb like environment.

As you rock your baby make a loud “shuuusssshhhh” noise. This is actually calming for babies as it mimics the sounds of being inside the womb.

Try taking 5 deep breaths with your eyes closed before breastfeeding baby to ensure you are relaxed and not tense.

Make sure you get extra sleep in the day time, even if you don’t feel like it make sure you lay down in a darkened, quiet room to rest your body and brain. Over the next few days you’ll soon be drifting off to la la land easily.

Lastly, remember that you cannot spoil a baby by holding them too much. All the information about spoiling babies came out of textbooks written in the early 1900’s!

We have known for years and years that holding and listening to your baby’s needs is the best thing to do, yet we still hear this very bad advice! So listen to your gut instinct and cuddle, love and feed your baby as they need it. This phase will pass and get easier over the next few weeks.

For more information head over to our Medela Australia Facebook page.

Do you ever feel like your baby wants to feed all the time, especially at certain times during the day? Let’s have a chat and support each other!

A newborn sleeps a lot and eats little - A newborn sleeps a lot and eats a lot

Almost every woman at the stage of pregnancy imagines how her life will change, what her baby will be like and how their joint days will be organized.

And conceived, the expectant mother builds in her imagination a certain “ideal” picture, supported by media images and commercials - a constantly smiling or sweetly sleeping baby.

Undoubtedly, babies really sleep sweetly and smile with the most sincere smile. But this is not always the case.

THE FIRST MONTH OF LIFE - DONATION

The first month, and even the first three months of a child's life is called the period of "carrying out" - the stage of adaptation of the baby to the outside world, as well as the young mother getting used to new living conditions, to her new role, to the changed rules of life associated with the birth of a baby.

Many young mothers prepared for the birth of a baby already know a lot thanks to the availability of information about the psychophysiology of the newborn.

And, of course, when a mother has information about how much a small child should sleep, she somehow expects this from her baby too.

Let us remind you that a healthy full-term baby of the first year of life sleeps about 15-18 hours a day. Of these, 8-10 occur at night and 6-9 during the day. In fact, a newborn baby sleeps a lot of the time - most of the day.

The period of wakefulness in a baby from birth is quite short - 20 minutes, increasing by the end of the first month of life to 45 minutes (maximum - up to an hour).

Most of the waking time, especially in the first weeks of life, the child spends with the mother in the process of feeding - when he is awake, he eats.

Breastfed babies need to be fed every 1.5 hours during the day (max 3) and every 3 hours at night (max 5). Such time intervals are due to the small volume of the newborn's stomach and the rapid digestibility of breast milk, the child needs to eat often.

Lack of food for more than 3 hours during the day and more than 5 hours at night is dangerous and fraught with dehydration of the child, and besides, if a small child sleeps without waking up for so long, this is an occasion to more closely monitor his condition and tell the pediatrician about it.

All this information is in the public domain, and after reading it, young mothers experience a whole range of feelings - from surprise to fear and confusion at the slightest deviation from the "norm" if her baby does not fit into them, for example, he is awake a lot and eat a lot or, conversely, eat little.

WHAT IT MEANS "LESS SLEEPING"

Let's take a closer look, because often the concepts of "little" and "constantly" are quite subjective criteria.

It is important to know that the baby on the breast can sleep while sucking - in this case the baby can sleep, although the mother may identify this period as being awake.

Hour count. In this case, it is better not to focus on subjective feelings. It often seems to tired and sleep-deprived parents that “the child did not sleep at all,” although if you count the hours objectively, you can find out that this is not the case. To calculate sleep time, you can use programs for smartphones, for example, Baby Tracker or any other adapted for these tasks. Recording the baby's sleep hours will help the mother know for sure how many hours he sleeps.

VIDEO LESSON

Baby sleep from 0 to 3 months

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR BABY EATS MUCH?

A bit of theory about the physiology of breastfeeding. In the first three months of life, lactation is established in a breastfeeding mother. Milk comes on the 3rd-5th day of a baby's life. During this period, the colostrum that the baby ate immediately after birth changes its composition and becomes early (transitional) milk. During this period, the arrival of milk is still completely controlled by physiology - the endocrine system of the woman's body, it will remain even if the mother does not feed. And it is this period that is extremely important for establishing lactation - it is very important to put the baby to the breast as often as possible so that he eats, and that, thanks to sucking, receptors sensitive to prolactin are established in the mammary gland. On the second or third week (6-13 days after birth), milk becomes late transitional and only by 14-23 days - mature. Thus, lactation gradually shifts from endocrine control to autocrine control (controlled by the frequency of suckling). This means that the more the baby will breastfeed and eat, the more milk he will receive and vice versa - the less often he eats, the greater the likelihood of lactostasis and a decrease in milk in the breast.

Thus, the baby, by frequent sucking, stimulates the mammary gland to produce milk - this is the most important process that is absolutely normal and correct from the point of view of the physiology of the postpartum period of both the mother and the newborn.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE BABY IS ABOVE THE RATE?

What to do if, using observations and time-counting programs, it turns out that the baby is awake more than normal and does not stop breastfeeding.

First of all, it is important to consult with the attending pediatrician and possibly a neurologist to make sure that the baby does not have neurological and physiological health problems.

Many children sleep restlessly and stay awake more than the norm if they had some difficulties during childbirth (entanglement, hypoxia), separation from their mother in the postpartum period, and so on. In this case, they especially need constant contact with their mother in order to sleep peacefully.

It is also important to make sure that the sleeping conditions are organized correctly - the sleeping room is sufficiently ventilated, not hot (no more than 22 degrees), humid enough (50-60%), the baby does not overheat during sleep (comfortable pajamas for the season, no cap ).

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD?

Recreating the conditions of the uterus - tightness (sleep in a cradle, in a sleeping bag or in a sling), darkness, motion sickness.
Feeding on demand. At this age, the baby can be fed as often as desired, without adhering to the feeding regimen. He can eat quite often.
Maximum contact of the baby with the mother (sling helps the mother to have some freedom of action)
Sleeping next to mum in side crib with side down promotes closeness between mum and baby and is safe.

Tips for worried moms:

Many new mothers often worry about the “norm” and get scared when things don't go the way they should.

The first recommendation to all new mothers is to ignore the norms, especially those norms that are inherent in the children of girlfriends. Every baby, like every mother-baby couple, every family is unique and what is normal for her is not necessarily normal for you. You will have your own rules. Sleep standards are a guideline. The main criterion is the well-being of your baby. It is important to help him fall asleep not when "it's time", but when you notice his signs of fatigue. Time limits are just a guideline.

The same goes for feeding. There is not and cannot be "too much breastfeeding" in the first month of life. The baby can eat as much as he needs. Establishing lactation is now one of the main tasks. Let nature and the baby make it happen.

Rest and rejuvenate whenever possible. Fall asleep with the baby, involve relatives, spouse to help.

Record in memory and on paper your thoughts, emotions, discoveries, impressions The first month of a baby's life will fly by very quickly, even if sometimes it seems that time is slow. Take pictures of the baby, watch his changes, because they happen every day!

If you slightly change the angle of perception of the situation, the newborn period will pass easily and naturally, and the calmer and more relaxed the mother is, the calmer the baby’s sleep will be =)

Food and Sleep Breastfeeding NormsSleep Sleep of a Newborn

Wakefulness and Sleep

the whole truth about the “regime” of a child in the first six months of life

Soviet textbooks and our mothers and grandmothers brought up on them say: a child should have a daily routine. Only in this way will he grow up healthy, and his mother will have time to do household chores. But how real is the regime and does the baby need it at all? What you need to know when trying to build the perfect day for a baby, we figure it out together with a pediatric gastroenterologist and a breastfeeding consultant.

VS Rhythm mode

The regime in the "Soviet" sense, when a child's day was scheduled literally by the minute, is a thing of the past. Not a single doctor today will suggest that you constantly look at the clock, calculating the minutes until the baby sleeps. But eating and sleeping on time is really good for the health of the nervous system of both the baby and his parents. Understanding this paradox means understanding what it means to “do everything on time”?

Here everything is simple and purely individual.

On time - this is so that both the child and you feel good. And this, of course, is no longer a regime, but rather a rhythm convenient for everyone.

It depends on the temperament and biorhythm of the child, his state of health.

In modern pediatrics, certain norms of sleep, wakefulness and nutrition of babies in the first year of life are determined. It is important to remember that these data are really averages. If a child sleeps more, eats less and vice versa, then this can be considered an abnormality only in case of strong deviations, and it is the doctor who must make the decision that “something is wrong”.

The life of a child of the first half of the year consists of three fundamental things: sleep, food and wakefulness. He "should" sleep from 20 hours a day in the first month of life to 14 hours closer to 6 months (2-4 hours at a time). He "should" eat 8 times a day at the very beginning of life and up to 4-5 times closer to six months, while for one feeding at the very beginning he "should" eat 70-100 ml of liquid, and by 6 months - up to 240 ml.

Let's emphasize once again that these norms are average, and let's talk about how much control each of these positions needs to be and what can come of it in reality.

Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important components of a baby's life in the first half of the year. A well-sleeping child will not be too capricious on time, will be ready to explore the world and eat well. It can be said that a child's sleep is a concept that determines the quality of life of the whole family and the quality of development of the infant himself.

If you can't manage your child's sleep, let's find out what can be done.

1. Do not blame yourself

First of all, do not consider yourself a bad mother if the child “does not sleep”, “screams all the time”, “confuses day with night”, etc. You are a good mother, and these are just temporary difficulties.

2. Analyze: is it really so bad?

If the baby sleeps a little, and then wakes up happy and ready for learning, then this is his rhythm. You just have to adjust and know that the period of infancy is very short, and the rhythms of the child will change. If your child frequently wakes up crying, check to see if he is hot, cold, stuffy, damp, or just plain hungry. Sometimes it is enough to let fresh cool air into the room, and the child begins to sleep for hours.

But if you know that all the external “comfort parameters” are met, the baby is sleeping or obviously wants to sleep, but something is bothering him - he pulls his knees up to his chest, arches and wakes up crying, not having time to sleep properly - tell about it to the pediatrician. Perhaps the baby has colic, then the doctor will give recommendations on what to do with gas formation.

3. Try to follow the baby's rhythm

For example, watch your baby for signs that he is tired and ready to sleep. If at this moment you start to put the child to bed, he will fall asleep pretty quickly. Pay attention to how much sleep the baby needs so that after that he wakes up relatively satisfied, and then you can calculate your free time during the day.

Signs that the child is ready to sleep are:

rubs eyes, ears, yawns;
becomes capricious, restless;
it is impossible to interest him in anything, he does not like everything;
becomes too active, excited.

In order for the child to sleep well and, on waking up, to fall asleep on his own, introduce simple rituals that the infant will associate with going to bed, and make sure that he avoids lack of sleep or, conversely, overexcitation.

Note the intervals of wakefulness, after which the child easily goes to sleep.

Knowing this, 15-30 minutes before bedtime, you can turn on certain calm music, dim the lights, talk to your baby in a calm, low voice. As a ritual before going to bed, there can be water procedures. Perhaps it makes no sense to do this from the first month of life, but from three months it is quite possible to start.

It is important to remember that a child who is constantly sleep deprived will become more restless every day, because he will produce and accumulate the stress hormone cortisol. The same thing happens with the baby when overexcited.

Watch your child, set a goal for yourself to "get the rhythm", and you can really plan your day a little and rest at night.

Food

Breastfeeding is considered the best type of food for a baby during the first 6 months of life. At the same time, it is recommended to feed the child “on demand”. The main thing here is to understand what exactly the child requires.

Do I need a "regime" when breastfeeding? What problems can arise and how to solve them? Tells lactation consultant Yulia Anatolyevna Chistova:

“The process of breastfeeding seems simple and natural until you experience it in practice. In reality, questions about breastfeeding begin already in the delivery room and continue to excite mothers for weeks, or even months.

The first stage of feeding a baby after childbirth is feeding with colostrum, a special concentrated liquid that is excreted in a very small volume. The baby at this time loses weight for a number of physiological reasons, and many mothers panic: there is almost nothing in the chest, and the child is losing weight. However, weight loss immediately after childbirth is a completely normal process.

Many babies are very sleepy after giving birth, and, as absurd as it may seem, they often need to be woken up for feeding, because they can oversleep from weakness. The general recommendation is to feed newborns at least once every three hours.

In the next stage, the breast begins to produce milk, and for some women, especially nulliparous, "milk coming" is an unexpected and not very pleasant process. The chest may swell, become hard and painful. Here, of course, the help of the child will be invaluable: the rhythm of feeding should correspond to the rhythm of breast filling, and after feeding it should become soft and painless.

Of particular importance here is not only how often and for how long the baby suckles, but also how he does it. If questions arise, a specialist will help determine the quality of application, and the mother, first of all, should be guided by her feelings - feeding should be completely painless, and the breasts should empty well. As a rule, feeding at this stage takes 30-40 minutes, during which phases of active sucking with visible and audible throats alternate with phases of sleep and weak sucking.

How can you tell if a child is eating? It is best to focus on objective indicators: the increase from the moment of weight gain should be at least 20 g per day (and preferably from 150-200 g per week), weight recovery at birth should occur no later than two weeks of age, and the child should fill 6-8 diapers daily and have a stool at least 1 time per day.

Feeding rhythms for the first 28 days gradually change from chaotic to more orderly. Uniform answers to the questions “how much and how often does a baby need to be at the breast?” not to be found: you need to carefully evaluate what is happening and trust the objective assessments of the growth and development of the baby.

Sometimes the baby will want to breastfeed more often, on other days he will hint at a willingness to tolerate some intervals between feedings. At the same time, one must understand that not every child is able to eat in uniform portions and withstand without a breast for as long as it would be convenient for mothers. We, adults, also do not eat according to strict rules and norms, but listen to our appetite and well-being.”

Marina Yulianovna Stepanyan, a children's gastroenterologist , also talks about the possibility of a “chest regimen”:

“Over the past 15 years, the rules for feeding a newborn baby have changed significantly. For the first 6 months of life, it is imperative to feed the baby without a regimen, on demand, the child regulates his hunger on his own and eats different portions of milk at each meal, which immediately eliminates two main misconceptions: feed by the hour and weigh after each feeding. It is impossible to overfeed a child with mother's milk.

The main rule of feeding - the greater the demand of the child, the more milk will be.

Until the age of 6 months, there is no point in distracting the child, looking for calming mechanisms outside of breastfeeding.

If you are worried that your child rarely asks for food, then pay attention to weight gain. The main criterion for proper feeding is the monthly increase in accordance with the established norms. If your child is not gaining weight well or is having trouble suckling, if he is restless, or has foul-smelling loose or hard stools with impurities, this is a reason to contact a specialist - a pediatric gastroenterologist.

In the case of artificial feeding, things are a little stricter. It is important to follow a certain feeding regimen here, since the formula is digested longer than mother's milk, and the phrase "feeding on demand" is no longer 100% suitable. But how to eat right for your “artificial” child will be answered by a pediatrician who observes the baby and knows his state of health. It is he who will help calculate the right amount of the mixture at one time and indicate the approximate number of feedings.

In order for a bottle-fed baby to feel good, it is important to choose the right formula. After all, discomfort in the child's stomach makes not only him, but the whole family worry: there is no time for rhythms.

This material was created with the support of Bellakt. Bellakt is the only manufacturer of dry baby food in Belarus and one of the largest producers of dry baby food in the CIS. This is a modern, high-tech enterprise producing baby food, dairy products, food for pregnant and lactating women. Time-tested quality. Manufacturing experience since 1970g.

If your child is already starting to actively eat purees and cereals, look for an adapted formula that will meet his needs - Bellakt NEW 6–12 .

Bellakt is a new and improved formula based on the latest recommendations from leading baby nutrition experts. The products in this range do not contain palm or rapeseed oil.

For optimal growth and development, the composition of the mixtures is enriched with components: polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, lutein, nucleotides and prebiotics.

Bellakt mixes are produced using special technologies and without the use of powdered milk! This means that mixtures prepared on the basis of fresh normalized milk undergo a single high-temperature drying, which allows preserving the nutritional and biological value of the protein.

Wakefulness

The periods of wakefulness in a baby up to six months are not so long, but they require mother's attention. Note that this does not mean at all that you should constantly carry it on your hands. If the child woke up in a good mood, not hungry, then he may well “have fun” himself. Lay it on a developmental mat or in a lounge chair and go about your business, but always keep your baby in sight.

At first, these hands-free periods will be short, but over time, the child will become more and more interested in the world around him. Make sure your child is safe and comfortable during self-study. It is not worth leaving him alone in spite of crying: he will associate a play mat and a deck chair with negativity.