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WIC - Infant FAQ's |
Questions about Infants
From Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition
Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, your baby’s health and successful development depend on good nutrition during their first years of life.
Feeding Your Baby with Love
Bright Futures for Babies by Susan Miller, M.P.H.
Index:
Should I breastfeed or use infant formula?
- Breast milk is the ideal food for babies.
- Even if you breastfeed for only a few weeks or months, there are many benefits for you and your baby. Breastfeeding helps your baby resist colds, ear infections, allergies, and other illnesses.
- If for any reason you feel you cannot breastfeed (for example, you have to work or go to school, or you are worried about not producing enough breast milk), talk to a health professional, breastfeeding specialist, or breastfeeding support group. They can answer questions and help you come up with solutions. Your family and friends are also sources of support.
- If your baby has special health care needs, you may still be able to breastfeed. You may need help with positioning, special equipment, and additional support from family and friends.
- If you decide to use infant formula, your health professional can help you choose the right type of formula and answer your questions about feeding.
How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk?
- Your baby may show she is hungry by sucking, putting her hands to her mouth, opening and closing her mouth, or looking for the nipple. She shows she is full by falling asleep after breast-feeding.
- As a general rule, your baby will have five to eight wet diapers and three or four stools a day by the time she's 5 to 7 days old.
- Your baby will be gaining weight. (A full-term baby should be back to her birth weight by 10 days to 2 weeks of age. After that she should gain 5 to 7 oz a week and should double her birth weight by 4 to 6 months of age.)
What is colic? How can I prevent or manage it?
When your baby cries without apparent reason for several hours on a regular basis, he may have colic. Colic occurs in almost 10 percent of babies. No one knows what causes colic - it is not caused by poor parenting. Colic usually develops between 2 and 6 weeks of age and disappears by 3 or 4 months.
There is no cure for colic. Here are some tips to help manage colic as you wait for your baby to outgrow it:
- If you are breastfeeding, try avoiding some foods such as cow's milk, wheat, peanuts, eggs and seafood.
- Cuddle and rock your baby during crying bouts.
- Swaddle your baby or apply firm but gentle pressure to the stomach.
- Darken the room or play soft music.
- Get help so you can take time off from caring for your baby.
When and how should I introduce solid foods?
- Introduce solid foods when your baby is ready, at about 4 to 6 months of age. Each baby is different, so you need to learn your baby's cues. Can he sit up by himself for a while? Does he have good control of his head and neck? Can he pick up food with his hand?
- Offer rice cereal as the first solid food, because it is least likely to cause an allergic reaction.
- Do not add cereal to bottles, and do not use baby food nurser kits.
- Solid foods are usually introduced in this order: iron-fortified infant cereal, then fruits, vegetables, and meats. After you introduce cereal, you can introduce the rest in any order you wish.
- Offer foods your baby is able to eat.
- Introduce one food at a time, waiting 7 days or more to see how your baby tolerates the food.
- Introduce foods that are more likely to cause an allergic reaction (for example, citrus fruits, berries, and wheat) last.
- Puree foods prepared for the family meal and serve them to your baby.
- Do not add sugar or salt to your baby's food.
- Most store-bought foods provide adequate nutrition, but check the labels to make sure they have no additives, sugar, or salt.
- By 1 year of age, your baby should be eating a wide range of foods.
When should I introduce juice and how much?
- When your baby seems ready, at 4 to 6 months or later, introduce juice by using a cup.
- Give your baby juice in a cup, not a bottle, because juice in a bottle can bathe her teeth in sugar for long periods of time. Juice in a bottle also makes it harder to wean your baby from a bottle.
- Although juices provide carbohydrates and vitamin C, do not use them instead of breastmilk or infant formula.
- Offer juice in small amounts. A reasonable amount of juice is 4 oz per day. Too much juice (more than 8 to 10 oz per day) may decrease your baby's appetite for other foods and increase the risk of loose stools and diarrhea.
How can I protect my baby's teeth from tooth decay?
- To prevent early childhood caries (baby bottle tooth decay), do not allow your baby to suck on a bottle of juice, sweetened drinks, or milk for long periods of time. Signs of caries include white spots on the teeth near the gums.
- Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle or allow him to have a bottle whenever he wants.
- Clean the infant's gums and teeth twice a day. A clean, moist washcloth can be used to wipe the gums. A small, soft toothbrush (without toothpaste) and water can be used to clean the teeth.
How can I tell if my baby is ready to feed herself?
If your baby can pick up food and chew or mash it, she is ready to feed herself soft pieces of table food.
When should I wean my baby from the bottle?
As your baby begins to eat more solid foods and drink from a cup, he can be weaned from the bottle. Wean your baby gradually, at about 9 to 10 months. By 12 to 14 months, most babies are drinking from a cup.
When should I give my baby cow's milk?
- You may give your baby cow's milk, goat's milk, or soy milk after her first birthday.
- Do not give your baby low-fat or nonfat milk. She needs the extra fat in whole milk for growth and development.
Should I give my baby sweets?
- Do not give your baby sweets (for example, candy, cake or cookies). He needs to eat healthy foods for growth and development.
- After the first year, your child can have sweets in moderation
Many members of my family are overweight. How can I prevent my baby from becoming overweight?
- Breastfeed if possible.
- Learn your baby's hunger cues and feed her when she's hungry. Feeding to calm her or to relieve boredom teaches her to use food as a source of comfort.
- Teach your baby to use other means for comfort (for example, cuddling, rocking, talking and walking).
- Feed your baby until she is full. Don't force her to finish a bottle or other food.
- Don't add cereal to the bottle - this may cause your baby to eat more than she needs. She may also choke on the cereal.
- Feed your baby slowly. Don't enlarge the hole in the bottle nipple to make the milk come out faster. It takes about 20 minutes for our baby to feel full.
- Do not give your baby sweets during the first 12 months.
Feeding time is a special time!
- Feeding time is important for babies! They are taking in more than just nutrition. They are taking in the world. Sights, sound, smells, touches and tastes - at feeding time and all the time are what make your baby's brain grow and develop.
- Hold and love your baby at feeding time. Your baby needs to look into your eyes, hear your voice, and feel your love. Make feeding time a pleasant time. You both deserve it!
- Breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed your baby. It gives your baby the best nutrition possible, as well as the sight, sound, taste, smell and touch of the most important person in baby's world: you!
- Bottle feeding? Your baby also needs your sound, smell, look and touch at feeding time! Hold your baby and look into your baby's eyes. Talk to your baby and stroke your baby's skin. Feeding time is a special time, no matter how you feed your baby.
You can't spoil a newborn baby.
- Find out what your baby is crying for. Studies show that babies are more content, cry much less and sleep more at night when someone responds quickly and warmly to their cries as newborns.
- Your baby becomes secure, as you meet your baby's needs. Over time, your baby learns to trust you. Then trust turns into a strong bond and a deep love between you.
- Babies give clues when they are hungry or full.
- Hungry babies will let you know it. First they may fuss, make faces like they are going to cry, chew on a hand, open and close their lips, or look like they are trying to nurse. Babies will cry when they get really hungry because it hurts. It's not easy to feed a crying baby, so look for the clues.
- Full babies will let you know it, too. They will close their lips tightly, pull away from the breast or bottle, go to sleep, or get interested in something else. Watch closely and you can tell when your baby is full.
- Did you know that a newborn's tummy is about the size of a golf ball? Babies eat small amounts. They also eat different amounts at different times. This is normal. A little spitting up after feeding is normal, too.
- Babies eat more during growth spurts. A growth spurt is a time of fast growth that usually lasts a few days. Baby will wake more often and eat more often. Expect the first growth spurt between 2 and 4 weeks of age.
Breast Feeding Your Baby
Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed! Breast milk is the best milk for your baby's first year. It has every thing your baby needs. It is easy to digest and helps baby fight infections. Breastfeeding also builds a special bond between you and your baby. You will find more information about breast feeding your baby when you visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of this web site.
How often should I feed my baby?
- Breastfeed your baby as soon as possible after birth. This helps your milk to come in.
- During the first 2 months your baby will need to nurse every 1 1/2to 3 hours. You may need to wake up a sleepy baby to nurse. It's OK if your baby sleeps one 5 hour period at night.
- By 3 to 4 months of age your baby may nurse less often.
- Let your baby finish nursing at the first breast before offering the second breast. It's OK if baby falls asleep at the second breast. Start the next feeding with the breast used last.
- Babies may nurse more during growth spurts. Babies have growth spurts around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.
Enjoy! You're doing the best thing for you and your baby!
How do I tell if my baby is getting enough?
Your baby is getting enough breast milk if baby:
- Is gaining weight well.
- Has at least 6 wet diapers in 24 hours.
- Has at least 4 messy diapers in 24 hours (Babies older than two months may have fewer messy diapers.
Does my baby need other foods?
Breast milk is all your baby needs during the first few months. Other foods are not needed until your baby is 4 to 6 months old.
Your baby should NOT have:
- Honey or foods made with honey. Honey can be very harmful to your baby.
- Fresh cow's milk. It is hard to digest and can cause tummy aches. It also doesn't contain everything your baby needs.
Can I give my baby a bottle?
After you have been breastfeeding for about a month it is OK to occasionally give a bottle. You can pump your breasts and feed your breast milk in a bottle or give a bottle of formula. Ask the WIC staff if you need more information.
Bottle Feeding Your Baby
If you decide not to breastfeed, or you are unable to breastfeed, bottle feeding with a commercial iron fortified formula is a good substitute. Be well informed, use your own best judgment, consult with your WIC Nutritionist and your doctor, and don't let anyone - however well-meaning - make you feel guilty for bottle feeding. For more information about bottle feeding, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of this web site.
Here are some tips on bottle feeding.
- Mix baby's formula following the directions on the can. It is important to mix formula right to keep your baby healthy. Infant formula with iron is best. City water is generally safe to use. If you have concerns about your water, ask the WIC staff.
- Hold your baby close when feeding. Give your baby lots of love and attention during feeding. Don't prop the bottle or lay baby down with a bottle. It can cause choking and ear infections.
- Burp your baby after about half the bottle and again at the end of feeding. Some babies need to burp more often.
- Bottles are for formula and plain water only. Sugar, Tang, Karo syrup, juice, Kool-Aid, soda, or teas don't belong in your baby's bottle.
- Cereal should not be added to the bottle. It does not help babies sleep any longer and may cause allergies or choking.
How should I wash my baby's bottle?
- To wash bottle by hand: Wash bottles in hot soapy water. Use a bottle brush to clean the inside and nipples. Rinse in clear water. Boil in a large pan of water for 5 minutes. Place bottles and nipples on a clean towel to dry.
- To wash in a dishwasher: Rinse bottles well with hot water. Use a bottle brush if needed. Wash in the dishwasher.
- All your baby needs right now is formula!
- Your baby's tummy isn't ready for other foods or liquids.
Keeping Formula Safe
- Always wash your hands before making or feeding formula.
- Keep formula in refrigerator. A bottle of formula left at room temperature for more than 1 hour can make your baby sick.
- If you will be out, put bottle in a cooler with ice packs. If you use powdered formula, mix one bottle at a time as needed.
- To warm a bottle put it in a pan of warm water, not in the microwave. Heating a bottle in a microwave can cause hot spots that can burn baby's mouth. Before feeding, shake bottle and sprinkle a little formula on your wrist to be sure it's not too hot.
- Throw away any formula left in the bottle after feeding.
- Replace nipples when they are become sticky.
How much formula should I feed my baby?
Newborns babies have small tummies. They drink small amounts of formula at each feeding and eat often. As babies grow, they will drink more formula at each feeding and may want to feed less often.
Let your baby decide how much to eat. The following guide may help your get started.
- A month old may drink 1-2 ounces every 2-3 hours
- 1-2 month old may drink 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours
- 2-3 month old may drink 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours
- 3-4 month old may drink 5-6 ounces every 3-4 hours
Babies do not always get hungry on a schedule and do not always take the same amount at a feeding. You need to be flexible.
It is OK for your newborn baby to sleep one 5-hour period at night before the next feeding. As babies grow, they will sleep longer.
Remember: Hold your baby for all feedings. Don't put baby to bed with a bottle.
Food For Your Baby's First Year
Your baby grows quickly in one year! During his/her first year of life.
- Your baby's brain doubles in weight.
- Your baby's teeth start to come in.
- Your baby's length doubles and his/her weight triples.
- Your baby goes from just raising his/her head to standing without support
At about 4 or 6 months of age - when your baby has a good control of his or her head and neck and can sit up with support - your baby will be ready for solid foods.
Start with iron-fortified rice cereal. Offer 1 or 2 teaspoons. After introducing a new food, watch your baby for 4 or 5 days to make sure she does not have an allergic reaction before adding another new food.
After your baby has accepted cereal, then offer infant fruits and vegetables.
Well-cooked, strained or pureed meats with iron can be offered next, after your baby has accepted fruits and vegetables.
Do not feed your baby honey or corn syrup until he or she is a year old. Honey and corn syrup can be a source of food poisoning in infants.
Keep giving your baby breast milk or iron-fortified formula for the first year. This milk is a major source of your baby's nutrition.
Let your baby learn to feed his or herself. Around 7 months, give your baby small pieces of food to pick up and eat with their fingers. Foods like crackers and well-cooked vegetables work well. Be patient, all babies make a mess when they eat.
Keep it simple. Your baby needs to learn how each food tastes. Choose plain foods, not combinations like casseroles or fruit desserts. Offer a variety of plain vegetables and fruits.
Give your baby a cup filled with water at mealtimes. By 12 months of age your child should be drinking water, milk and juices from a cup.
By 12 months, most of your baby's food should come from the table. Eating with the family should become an important daily ritual.
Do not give your baby foods that he or she can choke on. Peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs, sausages, raw vegetables, whole grapes and raisins, and hard candy are foods your baby can get stuck in his or her throat.
Do not give your baby soda pop, sweet drinks like Tang, and other sweets. They are not healthy foods and will cause tooth decay. Do not put juice and other sweet drinks in your baby's bottle. If your baby needs a bottle at bedtime, put water in it.
Check with your WIC staff or health care provider about your baby's diet.
Parents Ask About Crying, Colic, Constipation, Spitting Up
Crying
"My baby cries a lot. What can I do?"
Parents are often surprised at how much babies cry. Crying can be perfectly normal for your baby, but stressful for you.
These suggestions may help during these trying times:
- Check to see if your baby is cold, needs a diaper change, or is hungry.
- Wrap your baby snugly in a blanket, hold your baby close to you, and rock gently.
- Turn on soft music. Loud music, yelling, or the television can make the crying worse.
- If the crying makes you feel like you may lose control, get away for a while. Call a friend to take care of your baby while you go for a walk or get out of the house for a few minutes.
- If you can't call your friend, put baby in a crib for safety. Close the door to the room, and go to another room for a few minutes until you have calmed down.
Colic
"What is colic?"
Colic is when a health baby cries for several hours a day and you can't figure out why. Colic usually begins about three weeks of age and goes away by three or four months of age. Your doctor can help you decide if your baby has colic. No one "treatment" works for all infants.
Constipation
"I think my baby is constipated. Should I give a laxative?"
NO! A laxative or suppository may be too strong. Many babies do not have a stool everyday. Most babies' faces turn red and they make funny noises when they pass a stool. Constipation is hard stools that are difficult to pass. If your baby is really constipated, the stools will be small and hard like marbles. If you baby is truly constipated, try offering 1 to 2 ounces of plain water each day for 1 to 2 days. If this doesn't help by the third day, call your doctor or clinic.
Spitting up
"My baby spits up all the time. Should I change formula?"
Most babies spit up some, especially as newborns. Before you change the formula, let's try a few things.
- Read the label and make sure you are mixing the formula right.
- Burp your baby after every 1 to 2 ounces of formula.
- Try feeding your baby in an upright position for about half an hour before lying down flat. An infant seat or car seat works well for this.
If these ideas don't help, talk to your doctor or clinic. They can help you find out why your baby is spitting up.
Is my Baby Gaining at a Healthy Rate?
Each baby is one of a kind. The first year of life is when your baby grows the fastest. Some babies, however, can gain just a little too much, too quickly.
What does this mean?
- Your baby is not fat and does not have a weight problem. However, your baby is gaining fast and could have a weight problem if it keeps up.
- Weight loss and diets are not good for any baby. Your baby needs to continue to gain weight for proper growth, just at a slower pace.
Questions to ask yourself
Am I feeding my baby every time he or she cries?
Sometimes your baby may need a diaper change or may need to be held and talked to.
Is my baby getting too many sweets?
Plain fruits such as bananas, pears, and peaches are healthy for your baby. Infant jars desserts, cookies, cakes, and other sweets don't have much nutrition.
Are other people feeding my baby too much?
Let others know the best food for your baby and how much your baby usually eats.
Am I offering baby food from the bottle?
Good eating habits start early when cereal and other foods are offered from the spoon. Giving foods in the bottle or infant feeder is not a good choice.
Is your baby as active as possible?
To be active, your baby needs to move and look around. Instead of always putting baby in a playpen or baby seat, let them play and crawl on the floor sometimes.
Tips for your baby's health
Trust your baby's appetite. Babies know how much is enough for each feeding.
Foods should not be used for comfort or rewards. Give your baby a kiss or hug instead.
Sometimes, babies are fussy because they need to be loved, not because they are hungry.
Don't give your baby sweetened fruit drinks, pop, Tang, or Kool-Aid during the day. These drinks provide extra calories but not much nutrition.
Let baby be active! Your baby needs to move around and explore. Activity helps baby learn to use different muscles. It also helps baby's brain develop.
Activity Ideas:
- Encourage baby to roll, scoot, or crawl
- Play patty-cake
- Loosen clothes so your baby can kick
- Take walks with your baby
- Dangle toys for baby to reach
- Give a rattle to shake
My Baby Was Born Too Early or Too Small
Having a baby who was born too early or small can be scary. Your baby may seem so small and fragile. Your baby may have to stay in the hospital longer than normal.
Everyone at the hospital, your doctor's office, and the WIC office is here to help you and your baby. Here are some tips that may help you adjust to caring for your special baby.
Feeding your baby
If you are breastfeeding, keep it up. You are doing the best thing you possibly can. Breast milk is the very best food for most small or premature babies. If you need a breast pump or help with breastfeeding, please talk to your WIC staff as soon as possible. We are here to help you.
If you are formula feeding, it is important to measure and mix the formula correctly. Be sure to follow the directions on the can.
Feeding schedules. Your baby has a very small tummy, about the size of a walnut. Your baby will eat small amounts of breast milk or formula at a feeding and will need to be fed often. Most preterm or small babies eat at least 10 times in 24 hours. You may need to wake up a sleepy baby for feedings.
Feeding style. Feedings can make your small baby tired. Your baby may nurse more slowly from your breast or a bottle. It can seem that feedings take a long time. Your baby may feed for a few minutes, take a short rest, and then continue feeding. It may take time for your baby to learn to suck and swallow. Be patient. Feedings will get much easier soon.
Some babies have trouble eating if there is too much noise or light in a room. Try feeding your baby in a quiet, dimly lit room.
Tips on How to Deal with Baby's Crying
You know that all babies cry and that crying is their way to communicate what they need. But what you can do if you have done everything you can think of and your baby still cries?
First, make sure all your baby's needs are met. Check the diaper, feed the baby if he or she is hungry, try burping the baby, wrap the baby in a blanket and rock the baby to sleep. Most times that will work. If your baby seems to be sick, check the temperature, then call the doctor.
Here are some ideas from parents who shared what worked for them. Which of these ideas can you use?
Dwanese, mother of 4, ages 5, 3, 1, and 2 months
I have to admit, it takes a lot of patience. I am not sure how, but my baby could sense my frustration. If I stayed calm and relaxed, it helped my baby to stop crying.
Cassandra, mother of Ashley, age 2
When my first child had colic, he cried and cried. When I couldn't take it anymore I let someone else try to sooth him for a while. I would take time to pull myself together in a quiet part of the house or outside. If no one is there to help, lay the baby in a safe place where he can't hurt himself. Leave the room for a few minutes to calm down. Sit down, relax, take deep breaths, and remember how much you love your baby. When you are calm again, it's easier to cope.
Marie, mother of 2, ages 2 and 9 months
I take deep breaths and pray. I've taken parenting classes where I have learned to comfort a crying baby and smile. It takes a lot of patience and love.
Clothilde, mother of one, age 2 months
Music! Music really calms them down. I would put some music on and dance slowly in circles, holding my baby. The sound of my heartbeat, the music and the rhythm of the music soothed us both, as well as made a strong bond.
Robin, mother of 2, ages 3 and 1
Rub the middle of baby's back gently. Hold baby securely in your arms and walk around talking softly or humming. Make the baby feel secure. Sometimes a warm bath helps. Get a good rocking chair and gently rock the baby. Driving in the car for about 15 minutes would always put mine to sleep.
Melinda, mother of 2, ages 11 and 12
Sleeping is very important when you have young kids. I can't tell you how many times I have napped when the babies did. I figure being calm and rested with a teething or sick baby is more important than whatever chores I need to do.
Felicia, mother of 3, ages 3, 19 months, and 2 weeks
My baby had colic. I would tell myself, "one day he will be out of this. Maybe this is the last day." One day it was.
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