Feeding

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Breastfeeding

  • Benefits: I fully believe the "fed is best" policy when it comes to breastfeeding versus formula. That being said, there are many benefits to breastfeeding, not only for mom and baby's health, but also convenience. Here are a few things I've discovered about breastfeeding along the way:
    • Health benefits for baby
      • Maternal antibodies to help fight infection
      • Decreased risk of many diseases:
        • Ear, respiratory, sinus, and gastrointestinal infections
        • Allergic diseases (asthma, eczema)
        • Celiac and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
        • Diabetes
        • Childhood leukemia
        • SIDS
        • Childhood obesity
        • Behavioral disorders
    • Health benefits for mom
      • Faster initial weight loss
      • Decreased risk of:
        • Postpartum depression
        • Breast cancer
        • Ovarian cancer
      • May keep your period from coming back a little (or a lot!) longer
      • May keep you from getting pregnant (but certainly not a reliable method!)
    • Convenience benefits
      • No waiting for bottles to be warmed
      • Don't need to bring bottles with you when out of the house (or figure out how to warm them)
      • Cuddle time that just isn't the same as when you're giving a bottle
      • Always having a "pacifier" on hand
      • Can be significantly cheaper (depending on how much you end up spending on pumps, pump bags, supplements, etc)
      • Less time spent sterilizing bottles
  • Cons
    • Can be challenging (painful, even) to learn how to do in the beginning
    • Can be hard to maintain adequate milk supply
    • Mom less likely to have anyone give baby a bottle during the night for fear of engorgement or effect on supply, therefore making mom more tired
    • Mom may feel tethered to the baby to avoid pumping when missing a feed (e.g. mainly important for doctor's appointments, social visits, and "me time")
    • Clogged ducts and mastitis, if breasts aren't emptied enough
    • Breastfed babies need to be supplemented with Vitamin D
    • Can be very hard for mom to lose the last 5-10 lbs while breastfeeding
    • Not being able to quantify how much milk baby is drinking
    • Mom may have to modify her diet
      • Caffeine - there's no hard rule for this but I drink my usual non-pregnant amount while nursing and don't notice any effects
      • Alcohol - I believe in the "if you can drive, you can feed your baby" policy when it comes to nursing. I've never pumped and dumped after drinking alcohol.
      • Dairy products - both of my babies had milk protein intolerances till 10 months of age, causing inconsolable crying and/or sleep disruption anytime I had dairy products.... it was rough, but I loved nursing them so much I just learned to live without
      • Gas-producing foods
  • Essential Products
    • Nursing
      • Haaka
      • Nursing covers
      • Udder cover - best for when baby is little and needs both of mom's hands
      • CoverMe - best for full coverage and other purposes (car seat cover, light blanket for baby)
      • Nursing cardigans - check out Old Navy's nursing cardigans; they are lightweight yet can provide pretty good coverage, plus can be used long after your nursing days are over
    • Pumping
      • Types of Pumps
        • Willow
        • Spectra
        • Medela
    • Pumping Aids
    • Pumping Tips
    • Milk Production Aids
      • Brewer's yeast
      • Almonds
      • Oats
      • Tea
      • Fenugreek - I RECOMMEND AVOIDING THIS
      • Essential oils - basil, fennel diluted in coconut oil (apply topically to breast, avoiding nipple, once daily for 10 days, then take 5 days off at least from the fennel, then repeat)
    • Clogged Ducts
    • Chapped Nipples
      • Lanolin

Formula Feeding

The only formula I've ever purchased was Gerber Soothe as I loved their probiotics, although I never actually used it. Past this, I don't have enough experience to recommend any type of formula.

Transitioning to Solids

Your pediatrician will recommend beginning solid food somewhere between 4-6 months of age. Many will suggest rice or oatmeal cereal at 4 months and then regular foods at 6 months. Some parents decide to forego cereals altogether and go right to regular foods at 6 months. A few things to keep in mind:

  • NOT MEANT TO REPLACE MILK! "Food before one is just for fun". Baby should still be getting all of his necessary nutrition and calories from MILK, NOT from solids.
  • MAY NOT HELP NIGHTTIME (it never did for me, anyway)

There are two generally accepted methods of introducing a baby to solids, often called "weaning" (from milk, to solids, over the cours of 4-6 months until 1 year).

  • Baby Led Weaning
    • Concept: baby uses his hands to feed himself without ever being fed pureed foods.
    • Benefits:
      • Baby not reliant on a caregiver to be fed (no annoying spoon-feeding!)
      • Baby can be a part of family mealtime (caregiver can eat alongside baby, rather than before or after spoon-feeding baby)
      • Baby earns to act on his own satiety cues and simply stops eating when full (less likely for baby to be accidentally force fed more food than he wants by a caregiver feeding him)
      • Baby likely will enjoy eating more as they get to feel different textures (and even play with their food, depending on how lax the caregiver is!)
      • Baby learns the act of chewing and gagging early on (while gag reflex is actually closer to the front of their mouth!)
      • Meal preparation can be significantly easier - baby can usually just eat what the caregiver is eating, as long as the meals are appropriate (e.g. opt for meatloaf instead of steak until your baby has mastered chewing)
      • Possible health benefits - not well documented, but reportedly baby will be less likely to be overweight
    • Resources:
      • Annabel Karmel's BLW Recipe Book
      • Baby Led Feeding
      • Facebook groups
      • Instagram Follow
  • Traditional Weaning
    • Homemade vs store-bought
    • Products
      • Spoons
      • Bowls
      • Kiinde spoon thing
  • Baby Led Feeding
    • This is an approach that encourages parents to use regular (whole) food and/or purees based on their comfort level. Traditional "Baby Led Weaners" believe you MUST NOT mix solid foods and purrees so as not to confuse baby. However, I did a little bit of purees with my first as I got used to BLW and she didn't suffer for it.
    • Additionally, I don't like the word "weaning" because this suggests REPLACING milk with food. THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED - milk or formula should be baby's primary source of nutrition until the age of 1 year.