Baby Gear & Stroller News

Breast feeding her baby is one of the healthiest andmost natural things that women can do for their baby and yet a lot ot moms, especially in the United States, feel too embarrassed to breast feed their child in public. A lot of this is because of the over sexualization of breasts in our society. Although most areas of the country have laws on the books that allow a woman to breast feed in public, a woman who does so will often find herself the objectsof disapproving glazes. Regrettably, until public attitudes change in this country, a bit of embarrassment is the price that women may have to pay. If a woman is prone to embarrassment, however, she can use a sheet or towel to discreetly cover her breasts when breastfeeding in public.

Every mom, of course, will be making regular visits to her pediatrician who will recommend explicit tips on baby feeding products. But here are some typical guidelines that many experts recommend.

Many new mom’s believe that there is some magic schedule that shows which times are best to feed the baby. But, the real key is that you simply feed here when she’s hungry. A new mom may feel that she’s always feeding her baby, that she has no time to relax, and may begin to feel overwhelmed. But, luckily, this won’t last forever. In the beginning, it won’t be uncommon to be breastfeeding her every couple of hours. However, gradually, in the following weeks, she will require less feedings.

Many child experts will recommend that, if possible, the child be breast fed for the first 6 months of her life. But every child is different, and you should talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you have. Baby’s will gain weight at different rates and depending on many factors. But, normally, you can expect to see a two-fold increase in weight by the fourth or sixth month.

Many new moms wonder what is the best way to hold the baby while feeding. Also, a lot of women have soreness of the nipples during or after breast feeding. A lot of times this is caused by the position at which she holds the baby. If the baby is held too far away or at an odd angle, the nipple will be pulled and stretched as the baby suckles. You want to hold the baby very close so she doesn’t have to strain to reach the feed.

When it comes to the health of your baby, a pediatrician is your best ally. And it can be tempting for moms to delay scheduling a doctor’s appointment because they just don’t want to go through the hassle. But one of the most important things that you can do as a mom is to make sure that your child sees the pediatrician on a regular basis to ensure that any problems in her development can be discovered and resolved as soon as possible.

A lot of moms don’t breast feed their babies simply because of the time requirement. However, many moms might be surprised and pleased to learn that breastfeeding burns calories. And those women who are concerned about getting back to their pre-pregnancy weight as soon as possible, should take note that breast feeding helps to shrink the uterus. Breast-feeding also provides other health benefits to women including a lowered risk of ovarian cancer, lowered blood pressure, less chance of diabetes.

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Feeding your baby solid foods, along with when to start potty training, can be a confusing time, particularly when you are new to parenting. How do you know when to start solids? What foods should you start with? Does it need to be homemade baby food? How much is enough? To help guide you, let’s take a look at some of the feeding basics for infants and toddlers and discuss when, what and how much to feed your child up to the age of 3.

In nearly all healthy children, the recommended age to start solid foods is 4 to 6 months. Age is just one criterion for readiness, though. Your baby’s motor skills and stage of development will also help determine when he or she is ready. Are there any sleep problems? Hunger may be the culprit. He should be capable of holding his head up and should no longer have the reflex, which causes them to push anything but liquid out of their mouths.

What is on the menu for baby’s first meal? Rice cereal is a customary and safe first food, but most babies can tolerate a variety of foods like rice cereal, vegetables, fruits and meat. While meat is often reserved for older infants, some experts feel there is no reason to wait.

How do you know how much is enough? The first few weeks of eating solid foods is more about becoming accustomed to spoon-feeding than meeting nutritional needs. Your baby is learning to negotiate food. Don’t expect your child to eat more than one or two teaspoons at a time during the first week or so.

Older infants may try to feed themselves. It means messy meals, but letting your child feed himself encourages the development of his fine motor skills. Around the 1-year mark, give your baby water, breast milk or formula from a cup they can sip from.

Children are born knowing how much food they need. It is their parent’s job to understand and respect their child’s instincts. Feeding your baby too much encourages your child to override their inborn ability to eat when hungry and stop when full. This may eventually create a pattern of overeating that leads to an unhealthy weight, sleep issues, potty learning issues and poor toddler behavior. How will you know he’s had enough? There are some telltale signs, such as swatting at the spoon, pursing his lips tight when the spoon comes his way and spitting out every spoonful you manage to get into his mouth.

Toddlers tend to be unpredictable eaters. Growth spurts, painful teething, and toddler toilet training all contribute to their unpredictable food intake. Many times, toddlers are more interested in fine tuning large motor skills or learning a new word than with eating. One thing is for sure; toddlers eat when they are hungry. Feeding your baby a healthy diet will no doubt promote healthy eating habits for life.

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