Infant and Young Child Feeding State Resources Centere J&K

World breastfeeding week celebrations at GB Pant children hospital sonwar

World breastfeeding week!

Infant Feeding Cues
To feed effectively, Watch your baby and begin breastfeeding when you see him or her demonstrating any of these feeding cues:

1.Licking
2.Making sucking movements
3.Rooting
4.Bobbing the head against the mattress or your neck/shoulder
5.Bringing hands to face or mouth
6.Squawking
Crying is a late feeding cue and many babies have difficulty in latching ,once they become frustrated and begin to cry. Try to feed your baby before he or she cries. If your baby does cry and cannot latch on, let him calm down before offering to nurse again.

WEANING FOODS:-You can start weaning with single vegetables and fruits – try blended, mashed, or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear. You could also try baby rice mixed with your baby's usual milk. Make sure any cooked food has cooled right down before offering it to your baby.

Complementary feeding guidelines
For the average healthy breastfed infant, meals of complementary foods should be provided 2-3 times per day at 6-8 months of age and 3-4 times per day at 9-11 and 12-24 months of age, with additional nutritious snacks (such as a piece of fruit or bread or chapatti with nut paste) offered 1-2 times per day, as desired.
Start with a single iron-rich pureed food like baby rice cereal or pureed meat. Offer 1 to 2 teaspoons of first foods after a breast or infant formula feed. Slowly increase this to 2 to 3 tablespoons. Start offering complementary foods once a day and slowly build up to 3 times a day.
WHO recommends that infants start receiving complementary foods at 6 months of age in addition to breast milk. Initially, they should receive complementary foods 2–3 times a day between 6–8 months and increase to 3–4 times daily between 9–11 months and 12–24 months.

Breastmilk is Best
Breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby. It contains just the right amount of nutrients. It is also gentle on your baby's developing stomach, intestines, and other body systems. It is recommended that you breastfeed until your baby is 6 months old, then breastfeed with solid foods until at least 1 to 2 years old.

Breastfeeding Techniques:-
Nature provides a wonderful system for feeding babies, but there is a bit of a learning curve involved. Here are four different positions you can try when breastfeeding.
The Cradle Hold
This is the classic position where the baby lies on her side with her belly against yours and her head resting in the crook of your arm. If you’re nursing on your right breast, your right arm is doing the cradling, while your left hand supports your breast.
The Crossover Hold
Similar to the cradle hold, the crossover hold switches the roles of your arms. If you’re nursing on your right breast, your left arm holds the baby. This position might be good for small babies or those who have trouble latching on.
The Football Hold
In this position, you hold the baby tucked under your arm like a football, on the same side you’re nursing from. Support her back with your forearm and hold her to your breast face-up, with her nose level with your ni**le. Moms who’ve had C-sections or twins, or have large breasts or flat ni**les often find this position helpful.
The Reclining Position
If you want to nurse while lying on your side in bed, this is the position for you. Support yourself well with pillows, and keep your back and hips in a straight line. Hold the baby close to you on her side, her head even with your breast. Use either your top or bottom arm to cradle her — whatever’s more comfortable.