Welcoming the arrival of a new life is always exciting and nerve-wracking, especially for first-time parents. The gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application often leads to confusion. Feeding a newborn is their top priority task, and behind this seemingly straightforward act lies a wealth of knowledge.
It is initially recommended to start with a milk quantity of 30 milliliters for feeding newborns. As the baby grows, the amount can gradually increase by 10 milliliters per day, but the feeding amount per single time should not exceed 200 milliliters to avoid overfeeding. After one month, adjust the milk consistency appropriately to meet the increasing nutritional needs of the baby. For formula feeding, ensuring the cleanliness and sterilization of the feeding bottle and equipment is crucial. Also, pay attention to the milk temperature, ideally not too hot to touch with the back of your hand.
In actual practice, within the first 6 to 12 hours postpartum, both the mother and baby should be given some rest time without rushing to feed. To prevent hypoglycemia, small amounts of warm boiled water or diluted sugar water can be given every two hours. Especially for premature or low-weight infants, early sugar supplementation should be emphasized to protect their brains from damage.
As the baby grows older, the feeding plan needs to be adjusted accordingly: For babies aged 1 to 3 days, feed approximately every 4 hours for 10 to 15 minutes each time, ensuring both the baby and mother have enough rest. Between 4 to 15 days, maintain the feeding frequency but extend the feeding time to 15 to 20 minutes, increasing the feeding amount to 30 to 90 milliliters, with a total daily feeding amount of about 400 milliliters.
Of course, the above standards are not set in stone, as each baby’s constitution and needs are different. Flexibly adjusting the feeding strategy according to the individual baby is the key. May every baby grow up healthy in love and care!
