Milk is the newborn baby’s first food. It contains all the nutrients necessary for the baby’s growth and development during the four months of life. The baby’s milk can be either mother’s milk ( breast milk ) or a specially-prepared milk formula. A mother can choose between breast-feeding and bottle-feeding.
What are the advantages and the disadvantages of breast-feeding and bottle-feeding
Breast-feeding
It is best for a mother to breast-feed her baby because of the following advantages for both baby and mother
To prepare herself for breast-feeding, the expectant mother should eat nutritious meals
How to breast-feed
Note: Start the baby on short feeds on both breast and gradually increase the length of the feeds
Some mother’s may choose not to breast-feed their babies for various reasons. For example, the mother may be advised by the doctor not to breast-feed due her poor health. Or she may find it inconvenient to breast-feed if she has to return to work soon after the baby is born
However, it is still advantageous to breast-feed the baby even if it is only for one month. Breast-feeding can be supplemented with bottle-feeding when the mother is away at work
Bottle-feeding
If, for some reason, the mother is unable to breast-feed her baby, there is a wide selection of infant formulas available in the market. There are specially prepared to suit the needs of babies. A doctor or nurse will be able to advice on the type of formula to use
Advantages
Formula milk can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator
The mother need not be present at feeding time. Anyone can feed the baby
The mother may return to work as soon as she wishes
Disadvantages
The milk can be contaminated during preparation. This may cause infection
Time is required to sterilise the milk bottle and teat and to prepare the feed
How to bottle-feed
Hold the baby close while bottle-feeding to give him/her a sense of security. Do not prop up the bottle and leave the baby unattended. He/She may vomit or swallow a lot of air
A baby usually swallows some air while sucking. You can help him/her get rid of the air when burping him/her
Solid foods
Sooner or later babies stop taking milk from the breast or bottle and learn to drink from a cup and eat solid food. This process, which is called weaning, is done gradually so that the baby can become accustomed to different types of food. It is best to being wearing by replacing only one breast-feed or bottle-feed with semi-solid food
The baby may be introduced gradually to semi-solid foods from four months onwards. By then, the baby’s store of iron that was built up in his/her body before he/she was born will have been used up. As there is insufficient iron are required in the diet. It is also at this time that the baby is ready to accept new tastes and textures of food. At this age, he/she can be encouraged to eat from a spoon
When introducing solid foods to the baby
Remember to include foods from the three groups baby-building foods, heart-and-energy-producing foods and body-regulation and protecting foods
Add only a little salt or sugar to the food
Start with very small amounts
Try out new foods one at a time
