Kids Song – JUICE BOX – funny children’s music rap cartoon by Preschool Popstars
(Creative work of Darya Kalashnikova)
0-6 months
My baby still seems hungry after feeds; how do I know that I am producing enough milk?
A If your baby is growing and putting on weight normally, has at least six wet diapers a day, as well as regular bowel movements, is alert when she is awake, but also sleeps well, she is getting plenty of milk. Sometimes babies have growth spurts that make them hungrier for short periods of time; these often occur around three weeks, six weeks, and three months, and six months. You will need to feed her more frequently during these periods to build up your milk supply to meet the new demands. It normally takes only 24 to 48 hours for this to happen, so don’t panic. Sometimes babies vomit after feeding, leaving them very hungry. If your baby spits up more than a tablespoon or so of milk after feeds, pay a visit to your doctor to establish the cause. Around the four or five month mark, your baby may seem to need more and more milk and may appear less satisfied after feeds. This may be a sign that she is almost ready to start some solid foods.
In most cases, however, you simply need to feed your growing baby more often until things settle down.
My baby wakes continually throughout the night for feeds, and I’m becoming exhausted; what can I do?
First of all, make sure that he is getting plenty of milk during the day, at regular intervals. Babies who develop the habit of snacking tend to wake more frequently than those who have good feeds every three hours or so, since their bodies have not become adjusted to increasing gaps between feeds. If your baby does wake up at night, get him up, change his diaper, and settle him down for a good, long feed. While it does mean that you will have to wake up properly, it’s worth considering-he’ll go for longer the next time and he’ll soon get used to one good feed. If he wakes again, try to settle him without a feed, and he’ll soon realize that waking and calling for you isn’t going to get him another one.
My baby constantly falls asleep while feeding; should I wake her up?
Babies often fall asleep at the breast, because they are comfortable and deeply relaxed. It’s perfectly acceptable to encourage this, but only if they are getting a good feed before they drift off. If your baby is getting only a little milk before she falls asleep, she is likely to wake soon, demanding more-a process that can go on all day and night! It’s best to gently nudge her, and switch positions, to encourage her to keep suckling. Sit her up and talk to her, and when she’s awake again, put her back on the breast. My mother tells me that she used to tickle my feet to keep me awake. Also try to avoid “big feeds” when she is very tired.
I have a real problem with leaking; could I be making too much milk?
Leaking seems to be a problem that occurs mainly in the first weeks of breastfeeding. Before your supply has been “matched” to your baby’s needs, you may produce more milk than your baby needs, causing your breasts to leak, and even spurt milk. Try feeding your baby before your breasts become too full. Even if he takes only a little, it can help to ease the flow. Over time, your breasts will respond to your baby’s needs, and become less full. If your baby is ill, or if he has slept longer than usual, you may experience very full, painful, leaking breasts. Try expressing a little milk, and put it in the freezer for a later date. Sometimes breasts leak when your let-down reflex suddenly and unexpectedly kicks in. You may hear your baby-or even another baby-cry, which gets things started. Try crossing your arms across your breasts and hold them firmly for a few minutes, to stop the flow, and keep a supply of breast pads on hand.
I don’t enjoy breastfeeding at all and want to give it up, but I feel incredibly guilty. Does it matter that much?
Breastfeeding should be a pleasurable experience for both mom and baby, and if you don’t enjoy it, it can become negative for you both. Breastfeeding for even a short time gives your baby the best start in life, and you should feel proud that you have managed to give her that. Sometimes it simply doesn’t work out, and there are a wide range of good formulas on the market that will ensure your baby gets exactly what she needs. Try not to feel guilty-you can make bottle-feeding sessions warm, nurturing, and positive.
I would like to stop breastfeeding, but my baby refuses a bottle. What do you recommend?
First of all, experiment with some different bottle teats. Some of the flatter ones are more similar to the nipple, and he may find this less offensive. Start by offering him expressed milk in a bottle, which he’ll find familiar and less distressing. Try dropping one feed at a time, and offering the bottle when you know he’ll be hungry-perhaps first thing in the morning. It can sometimes help to have someone else offer the bottle, because if he’s near to you, and can smell your milk, he may hold out for the real thing. Make sure the bottle-feeding experience is cozy and nurturing. It can be difficult, but persevere, and he’ll get there. If he’s hungry, he’ll eventually give in, and one or two successful bottle feeds will make things much easier in future.
* Breastfeeding to sleep
Many babies seek the breast when they are sleepy because it’s comforting and familiar. There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding a baby to sleep. You don’t want her to become dependent on you feeding her to fall asleep, though. Begin the transition to settling her without milk when you’re both ready.
