Parenting - Prenatal to preschool/Parenting_PrenatalToPreschool.bin/dp/0020/00205.txt

Text File | 1993-06-14 | 33KB | 542 lines

$Unique_ID{PAR00205}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Birth to 6 Months:  Nutrition and Feeding}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Mendelson, Robert A
Mendelson, Lottie M
Meyerhoff, Michael K
Ames, Louise Bates}
$Subject{Birth to 6 Months Nutrition Feeding breast-feed bottle-feed formula
feeding feed feeds Breast milk immunities allergies allergic immunity nurse
diet foods seborrhea Caffeine alcohol narcotic narcotics drug drugs medication
medications breasts nipple cracked nipples Emotional bond bonds bonding
nutrition Microwave Microwaves iron vitamin supplement supplements plump
overfed overfeeding nighttime crib schedule burp burps burping spit up
spitting up diarrhea stool stools vitamins fluoride water calories weight fat
solid foods allergenic Chocolate nuts Honey botulism poisoning pacifier thumb
sucking playing NURSING POSITIONS position STERILIZING BOTTLES sterilize
bottle}
$Log{
Nursing Positions:  Introduction*0020501.tif
Nursing Positions:  Side-Lying Position*0020502.tif
Nursing Positions:  Sitting Position (Cradle)*0020503.tif
Nursing Positions:  Sitting Position (Football Carry)*0020504.tif
Offering the Breast:  Introduction*0020505.tif
Offering the Breast:  Step 1*0020506.tif
Offering the Breast:  Step 2*0020507.tif
Offering the Breast:  Step 3*0020508.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Introduction*0020509.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Step 1*0020510.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Step 2*0020511.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Step 3*0020512.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Step 4*0020513.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Steps 5 and 6*0020514.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Terminal Heating Method):  Steps 7 and 8*0020515.tif
Sterilizing Bottles and Formula (Single Bottle Method)*0020516.tif
Giving the Bottle:  Step 1*0020517.tif
Giving the Bottle:  Step 2*0020518.tif
Giving the Bottle:  Step 3*0020519.tif
Burping Positions:  Head on Shoulder*0020520.tif
Burping Positions:  On Stomach*0020521.tif
Burping Positions:  Sitting*0020522.tif
Breast-feeding has always been the preferred method of feeding newborns*0058201.tif
Breast-feeding can be a wonderful experience that bonds the family*0059701.tif
Nursing mothers need a nutritious well-balanced diet, but not a special one*0059801.tif}

The New Parents' Question & Answer Book


Birth to 6 Months:  Nutrition and Feeding


     Is it better to breast-feed my baby than to feed him formula?

     The decision to breast-feed or bottle-feed is a highly personal one.
Since you will be taking care of the baby, you need to feel comfortable with
whichever method you choose.  There are, however, some factors you should
consider when making the decision.  Breast-feeding has always been and remains
the preferred method of feeding newborns for several reasons.  First,
breast-feeding gives your baby the best possible nutrition.  Breast milk is
the perfect food for babies, with a perfect balance of all the nutrients your
baby needs (except, perhaps, for fluoride).  And while manufacturers have
brought formulas closer in composition to breast milk, they have not been able
to duplicate it exactly.  Second, breast-feeding can transfer some of your
immunities against disease to your newborn.  Many studies have shown that
breast-fed newborns tend to have fewer and milder illnesses than those who are
not breast-fed.  These immunities are something that formulas just cannot
provide.  Third, when the baby nurses, it causes your uterus to contract,
which can help it return more quickly to its prepregnancy size.  Fourth,
breast milk is free, readily available, and at the perfect temperature for
your baby.  In addition, breast-feeding can be a wonderful and satisfying
experience for both you and your baby.  Having taken all of these factors into
account, you may still feel that you'll be more comfortable bottle-feeding.
In that case, you are better off using formula.  Remember that, on the whole,
babies do well whichever way you decide to feed them.  And if bottle-feeding
makes you more comfortable, you'll be better prepared to give him the loving
attention that he really needs.


     Do I need to start my baby out on formula if I intend to go back to work
within a couple months of the birth or can I breast-feed him?

     You do not have to forego breast-feeding just because you need to return
to work soon after the birth.  You can breast-feed your baby whenever you are
at home.  When you are at work, you can use a breast pump to express milk into
bottles (as long as you have a way to refrigerate the bottles of breast milk
at work).  Then the bottled breast milk can be given to your baby the
following workday by whomever takes care of him.  If expressing milk while at
work is uncomfortable or impossible for you, you can leave formula for the
baby during your work hours and then nurse him when you are at home.  If you
don't express milk during the day, however, your milk supply will gradually
decrease.


     My husband and I both have allergies, so is it wise for me to breast-feed
my baby?

     Although there are special formulas available on the market for babies
from allergic families, it can make a significant difference to your baby if
you can nurse him for even a few months after birth.  This way, you'll be
passing on some of your immunities to your newborn through your breast milk.
In addition, while very few babies are allergic to breast milk, a significant
number of babies from allergic families develop allergic reactions to formula.


     I'm breast-feeding, and I'd like to know if I should be on a special kind
of diet.  What about taking medications if I get sick?

     Nursing moms do not need a special diet, just a nutritious, well-balanced
one.  You should be eating a variety of foods from the four major food groups
(meat, dairy, grains, and fruits and vegetables) each day.  Some obstetricians
like to keep new moms on a multiple vitamin plus iron as added insurance.  Now
is not the time to seriously limit calories or reduce weight.  While you can
be careful, especially regarding desserts and fats, remember that you are
using more than 500 calories each day for milk production alone.  You also
need to drink two to three quarts of liquid each day.  Any woman who has
nursed a baby can tell you how thirst becomes overwhelming the minute you
start to breast-feed.  So, whenever you nurse, keep a glass of water, milk, or
juice within reach.  Be sure to get plenty of fluids throughout the day as
well.  If you are not taking a calcium supplement, you'll need to be sure
you're getting enough from your diet.  Since milk products are a major dietary
source of calcium, contact your doctor if you can't or don't drink milk.
While some nursing mothers can eat almost anything without getting indigestion
or upsetting their baby's tummy, other nursing mothers can't.  It's
recommended that you avoid highly spiced foods while nursing, since they can
give your baby gas.  Some doctors suggest avoiding chocolate, because it may
bother your baby's digestion and may contribute to the development of
seborrhea (an abnormal increase in skin-oil production).  Foods that are high
in fat may also be a factor in seborrhea and cradle cap.  Fortunately, as
breast-feeding babies get older, they tend to become more tolerant of their
mother's diet.  Whenever you are ill, you should check with your doctor or
your baby's pediatrician before taking any medication.  Remember, anything you
eat or drink is likely to be found in some increment in your breast milk.
Caffeine and alcohol both filter into breast milk, although very small amounts
probably have little effect on the baby.  On occasion, however, caffeine (from
coffee, tea, and colas) in mom's diet can cause the baby to be especially
jittery.  Also, any kind of narcotic substance, in addition to being harmful
to you, is damaging to your baby.  If you are using any drug or addicted to
any drug or narcotic, give your baby a better deal and get some help.
Meanwhile, don't breast-feed; give your baby formula instead.  In addition to
getting adequate nutrition and fluids and avoiding drugs, there are other
factors that affect the health and well-being of a nursing mother.
Appropriate exercise is important for your overall well-being.  You also need
adequate rest to maintain your milk supply.  How to get it?  Rest when your
baby is resting, and enlist help with baby care and daily chores so you can
have some time each week to take care of your own emotional and physical
needs.


     Since I'm breast-feeding, how will I know if my baby is getting enough
milk?

     Babies who are not getting enough to eat are usually easy to spot.  They
let you know by demanding feedings too frequently and by not sleeping for any
reasonable length of time; they're unhappy babies.  On the other hand, babies
who are getting enough breast milk act satisfied; they look full and content
(at least for a while).  As a nursing mother, there are clues you can look for
to determine if your milk supply is sufficient.  Your breasts should feel
heavy and full before nursing, and softer after nursing.  You should be able
to hear the slurpy, sucking noises of the baby and see and hear him swallow.
You'll also probably observe milk dribble from his mouth when you stop to burp
him.  Most nursing moms also leak milk from time to time; this is a clue to
supply, too.  As a test, you might try expressing breast milk into a bottle
after a feeding if you can.  This can be offered to the baby after a feeding;
if he seems to need it, you may need to continue expressing milk after
feedings in order to stimulate greater milk production.  Another test you can
use is to offer formula after breast-feeding him; if he drinks a few ounces or
more, he probably isn't being satisfied at his usual feedings.  Offering
formula regularly as a supplement, however, is likely to decrease your milk
production; better to try expressing milk between feedings to help stimulate
production.  Anytime you are truly concerned about not having an adequate
supply of milk, however, you should contact your pediatrician or
breast-feeding consultant.  Your pediatrician will be keeping track of your
baby's growth and development through regular checkups and can advise you as
to whether the baby is gaining weight as expected.  If he isn't, you will be
advised regarding ways to increase your milk supply.


     I'm breast-feeding my baby.  Can you give me some tips on breast care
during this time?

     The single most important factor for maintaining healthy nipples is to
make certain that your baby is taking all of the nipple and as much of the
areola into his mouth whenever he nurses.  If he latches onto only a small
amount of nipple and is allowed to suck for some length of time, you're likely
to wind up with sore, cracked nipples that can easily become infected.  This
is also true if you allow him to tug at the nipple when you remove him from
the breast.  So, be sure to follow the instructions for proper nursing
technique (see "Offering the Breast," below).  Start a feeding on one breast,
and finish on the other.  At the next feeding, start with the breast that you
finished with the last time.  Soon, you'll be able to tell which you started
with at the last feeding by the amount of fullness in each breast.  (The less
full being the one you started with last time).  To keep track in the
beginning, put a safety pin or ribbon on the bra strap on the side that you
started with, and move it at each feeding.  Gradually increase the nursing
time on each breast from five minutes, to seven, to ten.  Once your milk is
in, 15 to 20 minutes should be the maximum on each breast.  You'll need to use
your judgment about when the baby has finished feeding and wants to suck only.
When his sucking slows and he shows signs of being content, gently remove him
from the breast.  After your milk supply is totally established, there will be
times when your baby is satisfied with one breast only.  When this occur's,
try to stop sooner the next time, and use the other breast to finish the
feeding.  This way, you'll be continually stimulating the milk production of
both breasts at each feeding.  If your breasts become uncomfortably engorged,
you may need to express milk in between frequent feedings.  Some moms require
ice packs for a while to reduce discomfort.  Avoid allowing the nipples to
remain moist, which can promote cracking and bacterial growth.  Try not to use
nursing pads, since these tend to trap moisture against the breast.  Instead,
take frequent showers to allow leakage from overfull breasts to be washed away
(avoid using soap on the nipples, however, since this may increase
irritation).  Change nursing bras as often as necessary to ensure dryness.
Some professionals also advise nursing mothers to keep the nipples clean by
wetting a cotton swab, cotton ball, or soft washcloth with clean water and
swabbing around the nipples before each feeding.  If your nipples start to
feel sore or you see the beginning of a crack, applying a small amount of
lubricating ointment or cream may clear it up.  Anything more severe should be
checked by your doctor.  Do not ignore breast soreness or cracking.  If an
infection has developed, your doctor can treat it while you continue to nurse.


     I'm bottle-feeding instead of breast-feeding.  Will this affect my
emotional bond with my baby?

     Only if you worry about it too much.  Emotional concerns about
breast-feeding should be considered in the same way as nutritional concerns.
Clearly, breast-feeding has certain advantages in providing your baby with key
nutrients and immunities, but proper formula preparation can compensate for
most of these if bottle-feeding is chosen or required.  Furthermore, there are
instances when breast-feeding may supply insufficient or inappropriate
nutrition, so bottle-feeding is preferred.  The same is true when it comes to
establishing emotional bonds.  Most women find the act of breast-feeding to be
tremendously helpful in this regard, but it certainly is not the only way in
which a solid, loving relationship can be formed between parent and child.  In
fact, most fathers manage to establish emotional bonds of enormous strength
despite their inability to breast-feed.  Moreover, if breast-feeding presents
a problem, trying to force it is very likely to be counterproductive.
Therefore, as long as you provide prompt, nurturing care to your baby in the
best way you can, you may rest assured that you and your baby will develop
emotional bonds that are as strong as they can possibly be.


     Is it okay to warm the baby's bottle in the microwave?

     Sorry, but nothing that you intend to feed your baby should be
warmed in a microwave.  Microwave ovens may warm foods
unevenly, leaving "hot spots" that can burn your baby's mouth
or lips.  It is really not possible to test for these local hot areas,
so it's best to use the tried-and-true, warm-water methods for
warming bottles and food (see "Giving the Bottle").


     Why did my pediatrician tell me to give my baby an iron-containing
formula?  Will the iron upset my baby's stomach or cause constipation?

     Because of their rapid growth rate, many babies outgrow their natural
iron supply in the first months of life and may become anemic from iron
deficiency.  Breast-fed babies generally receive enough usable iron in the
breast milk, but many formulas, especially those made from cow's milk, lack
this important mineral.  Therefore, most pediatricians recommend
iron-fortified formulas for bottle-fed babies.  Careful studies indicate that
the amount of iron in these formulas does not cause constipation or stomach
upset.


     My three month old is getting a commercial formula, and he loves his
bottle.  He's very plump, and I'm wondering if I'm feeding him too much.

     Although babies can be overfed, it's generally not necessary to worry
about a plump three month old.  Thirty to thirty five ounces a day is the
maximum amount of formula babies should receive.  Few three month olds need
more than this.  If your baby takes this amount or less, then he's probably
doing fine.  If you think your baby may be taking formula when he's no longer
hungry but still needs to suck, you might introduce a pacifier.  Pacifiers can
satisfy a baby's sucking needs.  However, if your baby, is truly hungry, a
pacifier won't satisfy him.  Keep in mind that sometimes we can be too quick
to offer feedings or pacifiers when our babies really are asking for other
kinds of fulfillment or stimulation.  Although at three months of age babies
spend most of their time eating and sleeping, when they are awake, they need
lots of one-to-one eye contact, cuddling, and interaction with you.  If you
are providing prompt feedings and plenty of attention, and your baby still
consistently cries for more formula, discuss it with your pediatrician.  On
occasion, your doctor may advise you to begin offering a small amount of rice
cereal.  Three month olds are usually not ready for cereals (or any other
solid foods), although cereals are occasionally used in especially large and
demanding babies.


     I like to give my baby his nighttime bottle in his crib.  Is that okay?

     Professionals agree that bottles should not be propped.  You should hold
your baby when you give him his bottle; then, put him to bed without it.  If
you put him to bed with the bottle and he is allowed to suck at will, milk may
pool in his mouth, promoting tooth decay.  Also, because of the proximity of
the eustachian tubes, babies who go to bed with their bottles have a greater
tendency to develop ear infections.


     Although I'm a nursing mother, I'm trying to introduce my six week old to
a bottle so I can leave feedings for him when I return to work.  He's refusing
to take a bottle and screams until I nurse him.  Any suggestions?

     Although a six-week-old baby may be more easily introduced to a bottle
than an older baby, you're likely to have greater success if you have someone
else give him the bottle.  He would naturally prefer his mother's soft, warm
breast to the foreign baby-bottle nipple.  So enlist someone else to give your
baby the bottle.  Try to do this when the baby is truly hungry but before he's
in a rage because of it.  Another option is to try giving him a bottle a
little earlier than you would usually breast-feed him; this not-so-hungry time
will allow him to experiment with the nipple and get used to it.  Another
option is to express milk into a bottle from which he can be fed while you are
at work.  While the nipple may still seem odd, the liquid inside will be the
breast milk that he is accustomed to drinking.  This option also allows you to
maintain your milk supply by stimulating milk production the way sucking does.


     Should I keep my baby on a rigid feeding schedule?

     All families develop parenting skills and philosophies tailored to their
individual personalities, preferences, and lifestyles.  What will work well
for one family doesn't necessarily work well for another.  When it comes to
nurturing your baby, you may want to lean towards flexibility.  Especially for
young babies, feeding on demand, within reason, is preferred.  By promptly
answering his cries for food, warmth, and other physical needs during these
first few months, you will be teaching your baby one of the most fundamental
lessons of his life--that there are people who love him and will take care of
him.  If a baby appears to want hourly feedings, then something is wrong.  On
the other hand, a baby can be on a rigid four-hour feeding schedule and do
well, but there will be days when he'll be hungry every three hours or every
five hours.  Your goal is to satisfy your baby's needs, so you'd want to feed
him when he is hungry.  The answer, therefore, is that healthy scheduling for
babies should be neither entirely flexible nor inflexible.


     When should I burp my baby?

     If you're breast-feeding, stop to burp your baby when his sucking slows
down.  If you're bottle-feeding, about midway through the feeding is a good
time to stop and burp him.  No matter which method you use, if your baby
starts to fuss during the feeding, he probably feels an air bubble and needs
to be burped.  Hungry babies who are fed after they've been crying will have
swallowed air already and may need to be burped sooner.  If the baby starts to
doze and you think he hasn't had enough, stop to burp, and he may begin again
and finish his feeding.  It's not necessary, however, for the baby to empty
his bottle at each feeding.  He may require different amounts at different
feeding times, depending on his appetite and on how long it's been since the
last feeding.  When the baby turns away, stops sucking, or otherwise lets you
know he's full, try for another burp.  If he's sleeping and doesn't burp, put
him down on his tummy or prop him up in an infant seat, and the bubble may
come up by itself.


     I can't always get the baby to burp.  Should he burp after each feeding?

     When nursing babies are sucking well and getting most of the areola plus
the nipple in their mouths, they may not be swallowing much air and may not
have to burp every time.  The same is true for bottle-fed babies who are
sucking well from nipples kept full of formula.  If he really does need to
burp, he'll let you know.  When babies feel air bubbles, they get cranky.
They make funny faces or grunt and cry to let you know they are uncomfortable.


     My baby seems to spit up whenever he's been fed.  How can I prevent this?

     If your baby is eating well and developing as expected, it's nothing to
be concerned about.  There are, however, some helpful hints to employ with
babies who are "spitters," or who burp up milk after feeding.  First, keep
plenty of cloth diapers handy; lay one on your shoulder or lap when you burp
your baby, and hand one to guests who want to hold him.  There are some other
strategies, too.  You might try burping him more frequently during feedings.
Check the nipple flow from the bottle to make certain he isn't getting the
formula too quickly.  After feeding, gently lift him, in an upright position,
to your shoulder, and burp him; then, lay him in a carrier or infant chair
that keeps his head higher than the rest of his body.  In addition, try not to
change his diaper or bathe him immediately after feeding.  If you are worried
about his spitting up, discuss it with your pediatrician.


     My newborn always has diarrhea.  Will this stop when he starts eating
solid foods?

     The normal bowel movement of a newborn is loose and has a large fluid
content.  It is normal for a newborn to pass as many as one stool per feeding.
The definition of diarrhea, therefore, is more than one loose stool per
feeding.  If you notice this occurring or if your baby is acting ill, consult
your pediatrician. Since the first solid food that most babies receive is
cereal, which is a stool-firming food, the loose, soft stools will become
firmer.  After that, the new foods added to your baby's diet may make the
stools firmer or looser or have no effect at all, depending on the food.


     How long should I give my baby supplemental vitamins and fluoride?

     Most babies are given supplemental vitamins beginning in the first month
of life.  These may be contained in the formula or given as drops to the
breast-fed baby.  Many say that if a nursing mother is healthy, her baby will
get adequate vitamins in the breast milk.  Often, however, a pediatrician will
prescribe a supplement of vitamins A, D, and C for the first year or so of
life, just to he sure.  Your pediatrician will let you know when it is no
longer necessary to give these supplements, but it is generally agreed that no
child over 18 to 24 months of age who is eating a varied, nutritious diet
needs supplemental vitamins.  In areas where there is no fluoride in the
water, it is recommended that infants, children, and young adolescents receive
fluoride daily.  This is usually given as a vitamin/fluoride combination in
children under two, and later as a single daily chewable fluoride tablet.  The
fluoride promotes improved dental health by decreasing the rate of cavities.
In areas where there is fluoride in the drinking water, it is not necessary to
provide fluoride supplements.


     Is it necessary for babies to drink water?

     Both formula and breast milk have a high water content.  Many babies,
therefore, do just fine without water until they are old enough to use a cup.
If your baby takes the maximum amount of formula and wants more, you might try
offering water.  If you're nursing your baby, it's more difficult to know when
he's had enough, so you might try offering water from time to time.  All
babies should be offered extra water in hot weather.  If your baby is wetting
several diapers a day, he's most likely getting enough fluids.


     We work hard at keeping our weight down and want to be certain that our
baby is slim.  How do we go about this?

     You are to be congratulated on your weight-conscious lifestyle.  It will
be of great benefit to your child, but not for a year or two.  Babies are not
little adults; they should not be on restrictive diets.  Indeed, in recent
years, experts have seen an increasing number of children who are failing to
thrive because well-meaning parents have overly restricted their babies'
diets.  Babies require a much greater number of calories per pound of body
weight and a greater percentage of calories from fat compared to adults if
they are to grow and develop normally.  Many pediatricians prefer to keep a
baby on breast milk or formula until he is ready to take a cup (at about nine
to 16 months of age).  If your baby drinks from a cup before his first
birthday, you can offer him two-percent milk unless advised differently by
your pediatrician.  Skim milk is lacking in sufficient fat to maintain
adequate growth.


     Is there a difference of opinion regarding when to introduce solid foods?

     Most pediatricians believe that six months is an optimum time to
introduce solid foods.  If your baby is very large and is still hungry after
getting the maximum amount of formula, you might start as early as four
months.  Still, at this stage, the important calories and nutrition should be
supplied by breast milk or formula, and the solid food should be looked upon
as a supplement.  Parents who have allergies or allergic family histories
will probably want to start later and be more cautious when introducing
solids.  Even if there are no allergies in the family, early exposure to some
foods may produce a reaction that wouldn't occur if the food was introduced at
a later age.  In terms of which foods to introduce, it's probably best to
begin with cereals and less tasty foods like vegetables, and progress
gradually to tastier foods, like fruit and desserts.  Avoid sweetening cereal
or mixing it with fruit; babies naturally have a sweet tooth and have no need
to acquire a taste for sweets.  Never mix cereal in the bottle either.
Although the cereal will be fairly watery, it should be offered with a spoon.
It's messy at first, but one of the important goals of introducing solids is
to gradually teach the baby how to eat them.  Foods that are not naturally
soft and watery should be pureed with a small amount of water before being
served to the baby.  Introduce no more than one new food a week.  This allows
time for you to see if the baby has an unfavorable reaction to a particular
food.  Many times, the same food can be introduced again later, when the
child's digestive system is more mature.  Avoid foods that have pieces that
can break off and cause choking.  Honey should never be given to babies less
than a year old because of the risk of botulism (food poisoning).  Egg yolks
shouldn't be offered until the baby is at least six months old; egg whites
shouldn't be offered until the baby is a year old because of the likelihood of
allergic reaction.  Chocolate and nuts should be avoided because they are both
highly allergenic; nuts are also dangerous because of the risk of choking, and
therefore should not be given to children under four to five years of age.
For more information on introducing solids, see the next age group.


     My six month old won't take a pacifier, but lately he's been sucking his
thumb constantly--even between bites when I'm feeding him.  What can I do
about this?

     Your six month old will eventually become more skilled at eating.  One of
the things he'll learn is to keep his thumb out of his mouth between
spoonfuls.  For now, gently remove his thumb from his mouth when you offer a
bite.  Your baby may have more time to stick his thumb in his mouth if you're
feeding him too slowly.  On the other hand, you may he feeding him too
quickly, and he may be putting his thumb in his mouth to give himself a break.
Experiment with the pace and see what happens.  Most of the time, babies just
stick their thumb in their mouth because they want to, regardless of what else
is going on.  Don't make a big deal of it, or he'll enjoy your reaction and
have an added reason to do it.  Summon your patience and sense of humor.
You'll need more of both before he's eating nicely.


     When I feed my baby, he often seems more interested in playing with his
food than eating it.  Should I stop him from doing this?

     Unless it gets totally out of hand and starts to interfere with his
getting proper nutrition, you might consider giving your baby a little slack
here.  As far as he's concerned, his food is just like anything else in his
environment--brand new and very exciting.  As a result, his initial
inclination may be to explore it rather than eat it.  At first, the different
colors of the foods you serve him and the different sounds that are made by
the spoon will intrigue him.  Once he learns to move his hands under the
direction of his eyes and becomes adept at using his fingers, he will become
fascinated by the varying temperatures and textures of the food as well.
Although it may make feeding your baby a bit more inconvenient and
time-consuming, you may want to acknowledge his educational needs as well as
his nutritional needs.  Permit mealtime to be a learning session at least to a
certain extent as well as a way to give him the nutrition be needs.


     Lately, my baby appears to be trying to feed himself, but he's not very
good at it.  Should I stop him until he gets older?

     Toward the end of this period, your baby will be attempting to do more
things for himself, and of course, he will be having a tough time in the
beginning.  When it comes to something like feeding, you certainly will have
to step in at some point to make sure that he gets sufficient nutrition.
However, if you don't allow him to try it himself for a little while, he'll
never have a chance to get better.  While this can seem obvious, it often is
overshadowed by the need to get things done, particularly if parents are busy.
This can become a real problem, especially at later stages of development.
Therefore, now is a good time to start allotting more time for things like
feeding, dressing, bathing, etc. so you can begin to include your baby's
efforts without creating stress for yourself.


SUGGESTED INTRODUCTION OF SOLID FOODS

     You can start introducing solid foods when your baby is four to six
months old.  Begin with cereals unless directed otherwise by your
pediatrician.  Be sure to refer first to the question regarding when to
introduce solid foods.

1. Cereal:  Rice, then barley, then oatmeal
2. Yellow vegetables:  Carrots, then squash, then sweet potatoes
3. Green vegetables:  Peas, then beans, then spinach
4. Meats:  Lamb, beef, veal, poultry, pork, fish (order not important); then
   egg yolk
5. Noncitrus fruits
6. Noncitrus juices (only after nine months of age)
7. Citrus fruits (orange, tomato, grapefruit, etc.)
8. Citrus juices
9. NO EGG WHITE OR HONEY UNTIL AFTER 12 MONTHS OF AGE