Newborn 0-4 months
Help your baby self regulate
Your job at this age is to watch for your newborn's cues and respond to them. Easier said than done! Keep reading for more tips about feeding newborns.
7 Feeding Tips for Newborns
1. Let your baby decide how much to eat
Learning to feed your baby based on their hunger/fullness cues prevents obesity later in life.
How do babies show you they are hungry? Watch this video to learn more.
2. Know how to tell if baby is eating enough
This 6 minute video from global health media SHOWS you how to know if your breastfed newborn is getting enough to eat.
For more great breastfeeding how-to videos like this, visit globalhealthmedia.org
3. Don't wake a sleeping baby
Letting babies soothe themselves back to sleep can help them sleep through the night. Watch to learn more.
A longer version of this Ellyn Satter video is available in English and Spanish from your Family Advocate.
4. Crying is late sign of hunger.
Try to feed baby before he cries, and he will eat better. This 1 minute you tube video shows hunger cues.
disclaimer: Sometimes youtube changes videos, if this doesn't look right it's probably not. Let us know!
5. Don't confuse overstimulation with hunger
Many parents think a tired and overstimulated baby is hungry. If a baby is looking away from you, yawning, making jerky leg movements or clenching fists, she is probably tired. Put her to bed instead of feeding her. Let your baby fall asleep on her own.
6. Know how to prevent overfeeding a baby
This 1 minute video from the Infant Nutrition Council gives suggestions to prevent overfeeding a bottle fed infant.
7. Learn the benefits of breastfeeding
Breastmilk is best. If you can breastfeed, do! Breastmilk is specially designed for your baby and can help your baby stay healthy. Watch this video to learn more.
Want more info? Ask your family advocate about these resources:
The "birth to 6 month" video is available through your Family Advocate
In this 10 minute video you will learn:
breastfeeding hunger signs
how to keep your breastmilk safe
pumping basics
bottle feeding safety
how to know when a bottle fed baby is full
signs that a baby is ready to start solid foods
Ellyn satter videos
The following 3 minute videos are available through your Family Advocate
"Ashley" 3 week old infant: detailed breastfeeding video + help with sleeping
"Sebastian" 2 month old infant: detailed bottle feeding video
"Caroline" 3 month old infant: detailed breastfeeding information for older newborns
"Emerson" 4 month old infant: how to help a baby who doesn't eat much at one time
"Chase" 4 month old infant: video footage showing an infant who is NOT ready for solid foods