🍼 Overview of Feeding Newborns and Infants

Overview of Feeding of Newborns and Infants

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🍼 Overview of Feeding Newborns and Infants

Feeding in the early stages of life plays a vital role in growth, development, and bonding. Understanding the natural reflexes, feeding techniques, and common concerns can help parents feel confident in caring for their newborns and infants.

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👶 Natural Reflexes That Guide Early Feeding

Newborns are born with reflexes that help them feed instinctively:

🌟 Rooting Reflex

When the side of a newborn’s mouth or lips is gently stroked, they will turn toward the stimulus and open their mouth—helping them find the nipple for feeding.

🍼 Sucking Reflex

When a nipple or pacifier is placed in the baby's mouth, they begin sucking automatically. These two reflexes work together to make breastfeeding or bottle-feeding possible from birth.

✅ Best Practice: Doctors recommend placing the baby on the mother’s breast immediately after birth. If delayed, feedings should begin within the first 4 hours.

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🧃 Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding Options

Breastfeeding is highly recommended due to its health benefits, but formula feeding is a suitable alternative when breastfeeding is not possible. Both options can provide proper nutrition when done correctly.

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💨 Helping Babies Burp After Feeding

Newborns often swallow air during feeding, which can cause discomfort unless it's released. Because they can't burp on their own, caregivers should help:

👣 Burping Technique

• Hold the baby upright against your chest

• Let their head rest on your shoulder

• Gently pat or rub their back

📌 Tip: A burp may be followed by a small spit-up of milk—this is normal.

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🍽️ When to Introduce Solid Foods

The timing of introducing solids depends on a baby’s development and nutritional needs.

📅 Expert Recommendations:

• WHO & AAP: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months

• Other Guidelines: Solids can be introduced between 4–6 months while continuing breastfeeding or bottle-feeding

🚫 Solid foods are not recommended before 4 months, as babies aren’t developmentally ready and don’t need it nutritionally.

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🚨 Recognizing Feeding Problems

📉 Weight Loss in Newborns

• It’s normal for newborns to lose a small amount of weight after birth.

• Warning Sign: Weight loss greater than 5–7% in the first week may indicate undernutrition.

📈 Healthy Weight Gain Milestones

• Breastfed babies: Return to birth weight by 2 weeks

• Formula-fed babies: Return to birth weight by 10 days

• Weight gain: Around 20–30 grams/day during the first few months

• By 5 months: Infants should weigh twice their birth weight

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⚖️ Monitoring Growth and Nutrition

Day-to-day variations in appetite are common, but parents should stay alert for signs of illness or a drop in growth percentiles, especially related to weight. Regular checkups and growth tracking help ensure a baby is on the right path.

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1. CORONA VIRUS
2. MONKEY POX
3. VAGINAL DRYNESS
4. FIBROID
5. INFERTILITY
6. OVULATION CYCLE
7. OVARIAN CANCER
8. VAGINAL BACTERIA
9. MALE INFERTILITY
10. BEST DAYS OF CONCIEVING
11. MUCUS AFTER OVULATION
12. FOODS FOR ERECTILE FUNCTIONS
13. PREGNANCY ANEMIA
14. DO AND DONT DURING PREGNANCY
15. ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
16. U.T.I IN PREGNANCY
17. STROKE RISK
18. EAT THIS NOT THAT
19. HOOKWORMS INFECTION
20. OMEGA 3 BENEFITS
21. FASTING
22. WEIGHT LOSS TIPS
23. vitiligo
24. ABORTION
25. DENGUE VIRUS
26. EBORA VIRUS
27. FEVER
28. URINARY TRACT INFECTION
29. HOSPITAL INFECTIONS
30. WEST NILE VIRUS
31. YELLOW FEVER
32. EYE DISEASE
33. ZIKA VIRUS
34. STRESS
35. IRON DEFFICIENCE
36. INSOMNIA (SLEEPING PROBLEMS)
37. HEART PROBLEMS
38. COMPONENTS OF BLOOD
39. BLOOD DISORDER
40. LABORATORY TEST OF BLOOD DISORDER
41. BONE MARROW EXAMINATION
42. BLOOD ANEMIA
43. ANIMAL BITES
44. EYE BURN
45. CHOCKING
46. HEAT STROKE
47. SMOKE EFFECTS
48. SNAKE BITE
49. MALARIA VACCINE
50. BEST WAY TO SLEEP A CHILD
51. CHILD FEVER REDUCING
52. ELEPHANTIASIS
53. WOMEN BEARDS
54. DATES
55. PAPAYA FRUITS