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About Breastfeeding on Demand
Frequently asked
questions about breastfeeding when baby says.
What is "breastfeeding
on demand"?
Simply put, it means feeding your baby whenever she's hungry. If she
cries, don't look at the clock to try to gauge whether she "should"
be hungry. If she is, then it's fine to feed her. Babies don't eat
out of boredom or habit; they eat when they need to.
So, babies are
no longer "scheduled"?
Right. In previous
generations, babies were fed according to the clock, often every three
or four hours. If they cried in between they were soothed, but not
with food. The theory was that babies and mothers do better with a
predictable routine. While that's certainly still true, modern child
development theory is that babies should be given food whenever they're
hungry, so they grow up secure in the knowledge that their most basic
needs will be attended to. Bath time, bedtime, and other daily rituals
work well if you set a routine, but a baby who wants food should be
given it.
Do babies send
out recognizable hunger signals?
Before crying
for food, a baby usually grows squirmy, roots for a breast, smacks
her lips, or even makes sucking motions. These are all indications
that she'd like to be fed. Once she starts crying, she's almost certainly
hungry, though of course if you offer her the breast and she's not
interested, it could be that something else is bothering her, from
gas to a wet diaper.
But won't I continually
hear, "You're feeding her again?"
To outsiders,
the notion that you may need to feed your baby every hour and a half
can seem ludicrous. You may have to educate them about the fact that
breast milk is digested quickly, and some babies need to drink often,
especially newborns with their tiny stomachs. You might respond by
saying something like, "She needs to eat often now, but it won't
be like this forever," or "The doctor suggests I feed her
whenever she's hungry, which is pretty often. Once she grows a little
bigger she'll be able to go longer between feedings."
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
