Longmont United Hospital

Quantity Is Key to Nutrition

IN INFANTS' HEALTH

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.medem.com), for the first 12 months of your baby's life, breast milk or formula can be your child's basic source of nutrition. You won't have to worry much about diet because your milk or your baby's formula contains a balance of vitamins, especially C, E and the B vitamins, so if you and your baby are both healthy and you are well nourished, your child may not require supplements. The most important thing is making sure your baby gets the right amount of food for growth. Your baby's feeding needs are unique. No book can tell you how much or how often he or she needs to be fed. You'll discover this for yourself as you and your baby get to know each other. Here are some signs the American Academy of Pediatrics says may help you be alert to underfeeding or overfeeding. Too Much Feeding
  • If bottle-fed, your baby consumes more than 4 to 6 ounces per feeding (120 to 180 cc).
  • Your baby vomits most or all the food after a complete feeding.
  • Stools are loose and very watery, eight or more times a day.
Too Little Feeding
  • If your baby is breastfeeding, one warning signal is a lack of fullness in your breasts after one week. If they don't drip milk at the start of each feeding, your baby may not be providing enough stimulation when he or she sucks.
  • If breastfed, your baby stops feeding after ten minutes or less.
  • Your baby wets fewer than four diapers.
  • Your baby's skin remains wrinkled beyond the first week.
  • Your baby doesn't develop a rounded face by about three weeks.
  • Your baby appears hungry, searching for something to suck shortly after feedings.
  • Your baby becomes more yellow, instead of less, after the first week.
These also may be signs of medical problems that are unrelated to your baby's nutrition, so you should call your pediatrician if they persist. A Word about Supplements The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that if your healthy baby receives a normal, well-balanced diet, you don't need vitamin supplementation over and above the recommended daily allowances. Large amounts of vitamins A, C, or D can produce toxic symptoms, ranging from nausea to rashes to headaches and sometimes even more severe effects. If your baby is lacking nutrition, he or she will likely start to lose weight. Talk with your pediatrician before giving a vitamin supplement to your baby.

Breastfeeding and Your Diet
While breastfeeding, what you eat and drink can affect your baby. So while you're nursing, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you
  • avoid drinking alcohol
  • don't smoke
  • try to avoid caffeine or at least reduce your intake
  • notice your baby's reactions within 24 hours after you eat spicy or gas-producing foods
  • notice possible allergic reactions (such as diarrhea, rash, fussiness, or gas) to cow's milk in your diet anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after breastfeeding.
  • let your doctor and your baby's pediatrician approve all medications, including non-prescription drugs, you're taking (take the medication just after you nurse rather than just before)
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