Feeding Your Newborn Baby

Deciding how to feed your newborn is one of the most important decisions you will make during your baby's first few days of life.  Whether you decide that breast or bottle is best, you should make a decision that is informed and not pressured.

While there is no doubt that breast milk is the perfect food for babies, some mothers will choose to formula feed their infants either for personal or medical reasons.  Rest assured that your baby will be able to thrive and flourish regardless of the method you select for them.

Deciding on Breast or Bottle Feeding

There are many professional groups and mothers that support breastfeeding, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics.

Breast milk is indeed the perfect food for baby, thus the old adage 'breast is best' does hold weight within the medical community

The World Health Organization actually recommends that you breastfeed your baby exclusively (meaning no supplementation or formula) for the first four to six months of life.

Breast feeding offers many advantages for newborns including:

• Contains vitamins and minerals that your baby requires.


• Most breastfed babies have fewer allergies later in life.


• Mother's milk provides the baby with enzymes and antibodies that help boost immunity.


• Breast milk adapts as your babies grow, providing the ideal food source.


• Breast milk is typically easier on a baby's digestive system.

That said some women will not be able to breastfeed for one or more reasons, and some will choose not to.  The decision to breast feed your infant or bottle feed your baby should be yours to make exclusively.

Formula will also provide your baby with the nutrition he/she needs to grow into a healthy adult, and formula fed infants bond just as easily with their mothers as their breastfed counterparts.  Commercial formulas are prepared to provide babies with a solid combination of proteins, sugars, fats and vitamins.

Feeding Schedules

If you breastfeed your infant you will have to feed them every two to three hours during the first few weeks of life.  Typically a solid breastfeeding schedule is established by about 3-4 weeks, and during this time some mothers choose to pump and allow other members of the family to bottle feed the baby.

Formula typically digests a bit slower in young babies, thus babies who are bottle fed generally can go about 3 hours initially without feeding again, though this may vary from baby to baby.

In some cases breast feeding is not possible. If this is the case you might be able to pump for a short time to provide your baby with the valuable antibodies and nutrients in your breast milk. Premature infants are sometimes born without the ability to suck and swallow well enough to feed. If you have a premature infant one of the best things you can do to help them flourish is pump your milk to feed your baby using a bottle. Some premature infants will still however, need supplementation in order to thrive.

How Can I Tell That My Baby Is Getting Enough to Eat?

Most mothers start nursing 10 to 15 minutes on each breast during the first week.  Most babies will eat anywhere from 2-3 ounces of food at each feeding during the first month of life.  As the breastfeeding relationship continues most babies will nurse anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour during a feeding.

If your baby is producing six or more wet diapers a day and gaining weight consistently, rest assured he is getting enough to eat. Babies know when they are hungry and will give you signals when it is time to feed. You may notice your newborn starts sucking their hand vigorously for example when they are hungry.

Most babies will be able to eat more and more at each feeding as they put on weight, and thus will be able to last longer stretches in between meals. Every baby however goes through growth spurts when they will demand to nurse or feed more often. It is important that you allow them to suckle as much as they need to if you are breastfeeding during this time, as this will help stimulate your milk production to accommodate your growing baby's needs.

By about 3 months of age most breastfed babies will nurse up to eight times per day. Bottle fed babies will need between four to five ounces of formula at each feeding. By four months of age most babies will take up to 30 ounces of formula.

Ultimately whether you decide to breast feed or bottle feed your baby, rest assured that during the early weeks of life you will be able to form a unique bond with your child through the simple act of feeding alone. Don't forget if you have any questions or concerns about your baby's eating habits to contact your healthcare provider or pediatrician. They can help reassure you in the early weeks and help ensure that feeding your newborn becomes a joyful and rewarding process.