Cow & Gate

As a guide, a baby needs about 2.5 fl oz milk per pound body weight in 24hours (150m per kg). For example a 9 lb baby (4kg) will need about 20 oz. Therefore, you could offer five 4oz feeds a day and increase accordingly as he gains weight. If you’re unsure, contact your local PHN or ring us…

We recommend making up one feed at a time, and feeding the baby immediately. While best practice is to always prepare fresh feed for your baby, we know that this may not always be possible. Therefore, if you’re making your bottles up in advance for the day, refrigerate any formula that is not immediately fed at refrigeration temperatures of <4˚C for no longer than 24 hours.

At around 6 weeks of age, many babies go through a growth spurt which can mean a hungrier baby for a few days. The feeding schedule you had may have just gone out the window. It is worth knowing that this may occur so you can just increase the frequency of the feed and then allow the pattern to settle back after a few days.

Each baby is different and feeding varies with individual babies. It is not unusual for a baby to want a night feed for the first three months at least. Try giving the last feed of the day as late as possible, just before you go to bed. Before you know it, you and your baby will be enjoying an uninterrupted night's sleep!

Many babies can bring back or ‘posset’ a small amount of milk after each feed. While it may look like a lot, it is usually not enough to interfere with your baby’s nutritional intake. A small amount of liquid looks like a lot when it spills (spill 2 or 3 teaspoons of milk onto the kitchen table and see how it looks). Try not to worry if your baby is growing well and thriving. Babies who do this tend to continue to do so until about 6 months of age so do invest in lots of bibs and cloths to protect both of you!

Microwaves cause uneven heating, which can lead to “hotspots” in the milk. Hotspots can be difficult to detect and may scald your baby’s mouth. It is much safer to warm milk by simply standing the bottle in a jug of warm water for a few minutes. Make sure the jug is placed well out of reach of your older children! Always check the temperature before you begin to feed.

One important way to ensure your baby is getting all the nourishment he needs is that he is gaining sufficient weight (Your local Public Health Nurse will check the baby’s weight for you at regular intervals). Other signs you can look out for to reassure yourself are:

• He has plenty of wet nappies throughout the day
• He seems happy and content after most feeds

If you’re still worried, contact you local PHN or call us…

Yes of course you can continue to breastfeed. As you plan to return to work, try to get your baby used to taking your expressed breast milk from a bottle or a beaker before you actually return to work. Once you’re back to work you can continue to breastfeed morning and evening.

Just eat sensibly, according to your appetite, bearing in mind that you may eat a little more than usual. Eat fruits, vegetables and dairy products regularly as part of a balanced diet. Do not try to diet at this stage! Fat stores laid down during pregnancy will gradually be lost and you will naturally lose weight while you are breastfeeding, providing you do not overeat. However, do drink plenty of fluids: your own thirst will encourage you to do this.

Your baby has no way of communicating with you other than crying at the moment. It can be very worrying but as time goes on you will begin to recognise what your baby is telling you with each cry. The following are the most likely causes so check them out:

• Wet or dirty nappy
• Hunger or thirst
• Wind
• Tiredness
• Feeling too hot or too cold
• Needing reassurance or company
• Crying for a short time for no reason

Excessive crying –If you have checked out all of the above and your baby is still crying, your baby may have a colicky pain.

Colic can be very distressing and not always easy to deal with. It can occur any time in the first few weeks and may last till about 12 weeks. Babies with colic usually have a bout of pain and crying every day and often at the same time each day. It may help to rest your baby across your knee on his tummy and gently rub his back.

It is comforting to know that colicky babies do not have any lasting problems once the colic stops, but it can be very hard to listen to the long periods of crying every day. Allow yourself a break and hand the baby over to your partner, a grandparent or friend for a short time – go for a walk, have a shower or go to the shop. Your baby will be ok without you and you need to recharge the batteries.

It is easy to become obsessed with “winding” a baby. Most babies swallow air as they feed. Some babies are quite happy to suck away and complete the feed in one go, while other babies may require winding in between feeds. Sit him upright on your lap, encircling him with your arm. Allow him to lean forward slightly, so that his tummy rests against your arm. This position will gently compress his abdomen which may help to bring up the wind. At the end of the feed cuddle your baby close and you may find you will get a sleepy burp!

Babies do sometimes have hiccups. These usually pass without causing baby any discomfort. Should the bout of hiccups appear to worry your baby, seek your Public Health Nurse’s advice.

Babies’ bowel motions (like adults!) are very individual. What is normal for one baby may not be normal for another. Some babies may not pass a motion for a couple of days. This is not a cause of concern if the consistency of the stool is not too hard and your baby passes the stool without undue straining. Remember, most babies grunt and go red in the face when filling their nappy!