Getting A Baby to Suckle

Getting A Baby to Suckle
A newborn that seems to be fussing and unable to enjoy eating may have troubles or issues around food later in life. The baby could become a picky eater or simply have bad associations with eating and end up being underweight.

It is essential that your baby “latch” on to the breast and learn how to suckle as part of a routine that teaches him or her to have a positive attitude towards food.

The basis of breastfeeding is getting the baby to latch on well. A baby who latches on well gets milk well. A baby who latches on poorly has more difficulty getting milk and therefore will be hungrier and gain less weight.

A baby that feels secure and comfortable in your arms has a better chance of getting optimum nutrition from breast feeding.

Try rocking the baby in your arms or sitting in a rocking chair. Support your back and arms with a pillow or necessary so that both of you feel stable and are not shifting around.

There are quite a few other ways you can convince your baby to suckle even if he or she is reluctant:
• Give your baby lots of attention and skin-to-skin contact
• Nurse without a bra
• Nurse the baby when he or she is sleepy. You will be more successful if you feed while he or she is drifting off or just starting to wake up
• Minimize distractions by nursing in a dark quiet room

Studies have also shown that having the two of you in the same room at night can also create a bond that makes feeding at the breast more relaxing and positive for the child.

If you are having trouble getting your baby to latch on you can also get a consultation with a lactation expert. Do not be afraid to get this advice. Most maternity and neo-natal care departments have a lactation expert on staff to specifically help women who have issues with breastfeeding.

And remember — If you are feeding your baby with a bottle be sure that all water you prepare formulas with is absolutely sterile. Giving your baby bad water can be fatal.

Do not try to force your baby to eat according to your schedule. It is simply not going to happen! For a healthy baby be sure to feed him or her when hungry. Feed your baby on demand!

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Special Nutritional Needs of Newborns

If you are feeding your newborn breast milk then there simply will be no need of any type of supplementation except maybe Vitamin D.

However if you are feeding your baby formula be sure to talk with the doctor about vitamin D supplements for your baby. Breast milk and formula may not provide enough vitamin D, which is essential to help your baby absorb calcium and phosphorus — necessary for strong bones. Too little vitamin D may also cause rickets, a softening and weakening of bones.

There are also two points of view in place about whether or not you need to supplement the breast feeding newborn's diet with Vitamin D.

The theory is that if the mother has not had enough sun exposure or vitamin D during her pregnancy then the newborn's diet of breast milk should be supplemented.
The baby may also not need Vitamin D if he or she spends a lot of time outside in the sun. Vitamin D can be synthesized quite simply by the baby when the sun shines on its skin.

If you live in a northern climate where there is not much sun or where you experience a long winter then the baby may definitely need supplementation. In southern climates limit the newborn's exposure and apply sunscreen.

The recommended time that a baby should spend in the sun every day is twenty minutes. It is best to avoid the hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest.

Breast fed infants tend to be better nourished. Breast milk contains lactose, protein and fat and is easily digested by a newborn's immature system.

None of the important antibodies found in breast milk are found in manufactured formula, which means that formula doesn’t provide the baby with the added protection against infection and illness that breast milk does.

Although breast feeding is recommended there may be some women who are unable to provide natural milk to their child for one reason or another. This means feeding your baby with a commercially prepared formula.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate formula companies to ensure that they provide all the known necessary nutrients (including vitamin D) in their formulas.
Commercial formulas are coming closer to duplicating what is in mother's milk but haven’t matched their exact combination and composition. The substances in breast milk are too complex to identify and imitate so that it is effective.

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