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Feeding Your Baby
Your baby
needs food to grow. But feeding your baby in a loving way also helps him
develop positive feelings about himself and food. When your baby is hungry
and you feed him promptly and lovingly, he feels safe and happy. It is
normal for your baby to get hungry at night and wake you. As your baby gets
older, he will wake
less often and start sleeping through the night. Over time, as you help
your baby learn to feed himself, he will gain confidence and be proud of his
new skills.
Safe Feeding
Tips:
•
Don’t
microwave baby bottles - liquid can get too hot and burn your baby.
•
Don’t give
honey to babies less than a year old. It can cause botulism, a serious
illness.
•
Don’t give
your baby cow’s milk, egg whites or nuts until he is a year old to help
prevent food allergies.
•
To help
prevent choking, remove bones, seeds and pits from food and cut food into
small pieces. Don’t feed your baby food in round shapes like hot dog
slices, grapes or popcorn, or hard foods like carrot slices or nuts.
• Make sure
your baby is seated in a safe highchair before you feed him.
Birth to Four
Months
Newborns need to be fed and burped every 1 to 3 hours. All they need is
breastmilk or formula. Don’t use cow’s or goat’s milk. It can cause
allergies. Before your baby starts to cry, he will show that he is hungry
by sucking his hand or trying to nurse. Follow your baby’s signals and feed
him when he is hungry, not by the clock.
Four to Six Months
Talk
to your doctor or nurse about the right time to start solid foods.
Breastmilk or formula is still your baby’s main food. But he can begin
to eat spoonfuls of pureed or mashed food. He shows he’s ready by watching
you eat, opening his mouth and reaching for the food. Start with baby
cereal mixed with breastmilk or formula. Then try pureed vegetables and
fruit. Fruit juices can be introduced at 6 months. Give juice from a
cup, not a bottle. Try one new food at a time for a week. If your baby
does fine with it, try another new food.
Six
to Twelve Months
Your
baby can begin to eat cheese, yogurt, vegetables, fruit, cereal and finely
chopped meat. Don’t add salt, sugar or spices. Include your baby in family
meals. Let him touch food and make a mess-it’s how he learns about food.
Give him child-sized utensils and a sippy cup with water or juice. Praise
him for learning to feed himself. As your baby becomes more aware of the
world around him, he may begin to lose interest in the bottle or breast.
Your baby still needs breastmilk or formula. But don’t give him more than 3
bottles or cups a day-it can take away his appetite for solid food.
Tips for Breastfeeding:
•
Breastmilk is the best nutrition for babies.
• Breastmilk
protects babies from illnesses, like earaches.
• Breastfed babies
are less likely to get allergies.
• Breastfeeding
helps moms get back in shape and lowers your risk of breast cancer.
• Breastfeeding
takes some practice - the more you nurse, the more milk you will make.
• Breastfeed your
baby for the first year or longer.
• Before you
breastfeed, let your doctor know if you are taking any medication or drugs
or have HIV.
Tips for Bottlefeeding:
• Hold your
baby close, look at him and talk lovingly.
• Hold the bottle,
don’t prop it.
• Use only
breastmilk or a formula recommended by your health care provider.
• Always follow the
directions to prepare formula.
• Don’t put cereal
in the bottle. It can choke your baby.
• Don’t put
carbonated soft drinks in the bottle.
• Don’t let your
baby sleep with a bottle in his mouth. It can cause choking, dental
problems and ear infections.
Click here to view a sample of the Alabama Partnership for Children's Feeding Your Baby information card which contains the above information. To order copies for distribution at a minimal charge click here to download and print the order form.