Feeding Fundamentals
Not only will a healthy diet allow your baby to grow properly, but mealtime will help the two of you bond. Here’s how.
By RITA PICKLER, PHD, RN, PNP
The number one rule to follow when it’s mealtime with your child? Feed your baby like a baby. Infants need a diet that is very different from that of an older child or adult. The food you give your little one now will help her grow and develop properly as well as set the stage for healthy eating habits. Starting with the wonders of breast milk right through to the time when she’s got pureed peas all over her face (and yours!), your baby will love to eat, so use it as a time to bond with her and give her everything she needs to grow.
Breast Is Best
In the first months of life, the best food for infants is breast milk, as is recommended by all healthcare providers, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. It provides your baby with all the nutrients she needs for these early weeks of rapid growth and development. In fact, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the best way to keep your baby healthy: Breast milk is more easily digested than formula, and studies have shown that it can decrease the occurrence or severity of diarrhea and similar conditions and may protect your baby from ear infections and other common infant illnesses.
The best way to get breastfeeding off to a good start is to begin in the hospital after delivery. Here, a nurse or lactation consultant can help you learn the basics, including latch-on and positioning. You may want to try several positions to see which is most comfortable for you, although many mothers find that holding their baby in the crook of their elbow with the baby on her side facing the breast works best. This position allows you to hold your breast for your baby so that she latches on correctly.
Not only will a healthy diet allow your baby to grow properly, but mealtime will help the two of you bond. Here’s how.
By RITA PICKLER, PHD, RN, PNP
The number one rule to follow when it’s mealtime with your child? Feed your baby like a baby. Infants need a diet that is very different from that of an older child or adult. The food you give your little one now will help her grow and develop properly as well as set the stage for healthy eating habits. Starting with the wonders of breast milk right through to the time when she’s got pureed peas all over her face (and yours!), your baby will love to eat, so use it as a time to bond with her and give her everything she needs to grow.
Breast Is Best
In the first months of life, the best food for infants is breast milk, as is recommended by all healthcare providers, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. It provides your baby with all the nutrients she needs for these early weeks of rapid growth and development. In fact, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the best way to keep your baby healthy: Breast milk is more easily digested than formula, and studies have shown that it can decrease the occurrence or severity of diarrhea and similar conditions and may protect your baby from ear infections and other common infant illnesses.
The best way to get breastfeeding off to a good start is to begin in the hospital after delivery. Here, a nurse or lactation consultant can help you learn the basics, including latch-on and positioning. You may want to try several positions to see which is most comfortable for you, although many mothers find that holding their baby in the crook of their elbow with the baby on her side facing the breast works best. This position allows you to hold your breast for your baby so that she latches on correctly.
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