Feeding the 1 to 2 month old
When should you feed your baby? Watch the clock, but watch your baby even more! Babies usually cry when they are hungry. If your feeding schedule is too rigid, you may have to listen to a lot of crying. Be flexible and adapt your feeding schedule to your baby's hunger.
Many babies, if fed when they're hungry, will start to get on a regular schedule all by themselves in about a month. If your baby doesn't do anything at the same time each day, you may want to try offering breast milk or formula every three to four hours. If you wait too long between feedings, baby may quickly become upset and have trouble settling down for a good feeding session.
Your baby will stop eating when he is full. Don't try to get baby to take more than he wants.
Hold your baby so she can see your face when you feed her. Feeding is an important learning time for a new baby. Baby learns that a person satisfies her strongest need, hunger, when she can see your face as you feed her.
Breast-fed babies need to eat frequently during the first few months; it is common to nurse a baby every hour or so. Frequent nursing tells your body to make more milk. Baby is probably getting enough if there are six or more very wet diapers a day.
Breast milk is the best food for babies. For the first six months it is the only food baby needs. It also helps to prevent some food allergies and even protects against some diseases.
Two major warnings at this age concern microwaves and honey. Heating bottles in a microwave oven can be dangerous. A bottle that feels cool on the outside may have hot spots inside that could burn baby's tender mouth. It's better to heat the bottle in a pan of hot water, or hold it under hot running water instead. Test formula on the back of your hand to check the temperature.
Babies less than one year old should not be fed honey. Honey sometimes contains spores that can cause a disease called "Infant Botulism". Older children have more highly developed intestinal tracts, so honey is safe for them.
