BABY AND FEEDING
Yes, baby and feeding comes hand in hand around
this baby's age. This is because, apart from the baby giving you an
occasional smile and about half an hour of play time, the rest of baby's waking
hours are spent on dealing with a sleepy baby and feeding it. However,
again, this is all very exciting times especially for new parents.
DRINKING FROM A CUP
During this three-month period, offer
the baby milk and water from a cup. A small cup which mouth fits easily is good,
and one with a lip is best of all. There'll be considerable spilling and leakage
at first. Put a long, moisture-proof bib on the baby and hold a towel under the
cup while he's learning.
In the beginning, Baby will take only a swallow, and
you must remember to take it slow and easy. He's used to the milk
from a bottle or breast, and it'll be quite a few months before he's completely
ready to give up his bottle or breast feeding. If cup feedings are introduced in
this way, however, he will be less likely to balk at milk from a cup when he's
ready to be entirely weaned.
About this time, many mothers find that their breast milk begins to diminish in
quantity, or they decide to discontinue breast feeding. If this happens, offer
the baby some milk from a cup when he takes his solid food. You'll have to
supplement this amount with a bottle. If the baby is 4 to 5 months old, you can
offer homogenized milk. But if the baby is younger, formula is required.
THE AMOUNT OF MILK BABY TAKES
Milk intake will decrease during this period. The
baby has doubled his birth weight by the time he's four to five months old. His
rate of weight gain during the next seven months will be cut in half. He no
longer needs as much of the high caloric food—milk.
When formula is discontinued, a supplement of 400 units of vitamin D will be
needed. If the baby still doesn't get orange juice, he needs 30 milligrams of
vitamin C a day. He needs the substances contained in solids more than ever,
which accounts for solids intake remaining the same or increasing while his
intake in milk drops to twenty or twenty-four ounces a day.
TIPS TO MAKE EATING GO WELL
Feed the baby before the family mealtime in his
chair at his own little table. After that he may, if you like, join the family
circle by playing in his pen while the family eats. Don't give him food from the
table!
In the evening you may wish to put the baby to bed immediately after his supper
and before the family sits down to its meal. This will be convenient for you, as
well as good for the baby.
Introduce any new food at the beginning of the meal when your baby is hungry.
Give only a little at first, gradually increasing the amount until he takes the
required quantity. If he shows a disinclination for a particular food, try to
get him to take a small amount, but do not make an issue of it. Urging will only
make him balky.
Also, if he's very hungry, he may violently rebel at new foods.
If he spits out the food several times or just won't try it at all, give up on
it for a few days or a week. He may feel differently about it later. If you
try to force it down him now, may develop a permanent dislike for that food. And
any un pleasantness at mealtime may lead to resistance to all foods.
Usually, it's advisable to give his milk last, after the solid food have been taken. With some babies, however, milk is he least-liked food.
If he takes less than 20 to 24 ounces of milk a day, offer milk first.
Sometimes it's difficult to strike a
balance between milk and solid foods. You don't want Baby to get into the habit
of filling on milk at the expense of other foods, because he will develop milk anemia.
Milk doesn't contain iron. If too much milk is taken, the baby
won't eat enough iron-containing foods and will become anemic. In spite of the
fact that he's plump and sassy, he may be anemic.
If a baby of this age absolutely
refuses solid foods, your doctor may prescribe iron drops. They'll prevent
anemia from developing, and usually the baby will begin taking solids within a
short period of time. Try offering the various solid foods at the beginning of
the meal as has been suggested. After he's taken a reasonable mount, offer the
milk. One time he may refuse milk altogether, then at the next meal drink two
cups.
As long as his daily intake of milk, including what is used In cooking for him,
is approximately 20 to 24 ounces, there's no need to be concerned. But if he
consistently refuses milk, begin offering it at the first of the meal before the
solid foods.
If your baby stubbornly refuses to take any milk over a period of several weeks,
talk it over with your doctor. If the baby refuses food he has been in the habit of accepting, take it away
from that meal without fuss or emotion. If he has good eating habits otherwise,
and refuses most of a meal, it may be a sign of indisposition, and the best
treatment is to let him go without until he's ready to eat again.
If the baby has been taking solids, then refuses them for a period of several
days to a week, he's probably ill so call your doctor. If there is nothing or
apparently very little the matter with him, he'll probably make up for his fast
at the next meal.
How much food should your up-and-coming eater be taking? Individual babies
utilize food differently so an exact amount can't be stated. As long as your
child is growing
normally and has a lot of pep and energy, he's getting enough to eat. When he's getting several familiar dishes at a meal, alternate in feeding them.
Give a spoonful of vegetable, then one
of dessert, and then go back to the vegetable.
Babies who eat their full helpings of one food first, then clean up the next
food, are inclined to continue the habit. No great harm is done, so don't worry
about it.
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