Mom feeding baby

How is feeding going?

What do you like about feeding?

What don’t you like? Is there anything you would like to be different?

What and how are you feeding your baby?

Pay attention to your baby and guide feeding by paying attention to what she wants. She will eat best and feel best about eating and about you.

What does it look like when she is hungry? What about when she is full? How does she act when she needs to sleep? How can you tell when she is ready to get up? Is she ready to eat right away when she gets up, or does she need to wait a while? Help her stay calm and awake during feeding time.

You can control feeding with a bottle, but don’t. It will hurt your baby’s feelings and make her eat less well, not better. Don’t worry about spoiling her – you can’t spoil a tiny baby.

Here is what to do—and not do—when you feed your baby:

  • Feed her when she wants to eat, when she’s wide-awake and calm. Don’t feed her on a set schedule or when you think of it. Don’t feed when she is drowsy or upset.
  • Ask her to open her mouth by touching her cheek or lips or showing her the nipple. Don’t pry open her mouth. Don’t plop in the nipple when she yawns, laughs, or cries.
  • Keep her head, back, and shoulders in a straight line. Keep the bottle nipple filled. Don’t let her body twist or droop. Don’t let her suck an empty nipple. Don’t prop the bottle.
  • Sit still during feeding. Keep the feeding smooth and steady. Don’t jiggle her or jiggle the nipple. Don’t stop feeding to wipe, burp, or play.
  • Let her eat her way — much or little, fast or slowly, steady or start-and-stop. Don’t make her eat a certain amount. Don’t make her hurry up or slow down.
  • Talk to her or touch her in a way that she likes and that helps her to stay awake. Don’t talk loudly or in an unpleasant voice. Don’t jiggle or tickle.
  • Talk or play a while after the feeding. Put her to bed when she’s calm and drowsy. Don’t feed her to sleep. Don’t wait until she is upset and fussy to put her down.