Feeding patterns shift and change throughout the first 3 years of life.
Infants
Feeding time can be an opportunity to build a special relationship with your baby. While some babies take easily to feeding, many babies for various reasons can find it difficult. When this is the case, you may find it a worrying, frustrating or stressful experience. However you choose to feed your baby, we are here to support you. Ongoing help is available from your Midwife, Health Visitor or Family Nurse. They are there to answer any questions that you may have about looking after your baby.
Early in your pregnancy you might be starting to think about how you will feed your baby when they’re born. Your decision might be influenced by many things. You may have already decided how you will feed your baby, but this might change. Keep an open mind while you’re pregnant. Feeding is an important time to be in close contact with your baby and is a great way for you to get to know each other and to start to build a close loving relationship, regardless of how you decide to feed them.
Just after giving birth is an important time for you and your baby, and breastfeeding provides the best possible start, however long you choose to breastfeed. To get the maximum health benefits for babies and their mums, it is recommended that babies are exclusively breastfed (given only breast milk) for the first six months. However, any amount of breast milk is still good for your baby so even if you do not know how long you’ll do it for, it’s still worthwhile. You and your baby need to learn together, and it will take a bit of practice. It is up to you to decide, but if you’re not sure, you can start with breastfeeding and see how you feel.
Responsive feeding is about understanding when your baby is showing signs of being hungry. Look out for cues (e.g. moving their head and mouth around and sucking on their fingers) and follow their lead. Where possible try and limit the number of people feeding your baby as this is a special time for you to bond with your baby. Responding to your baby and their needs for feeding and comfort will help them feel more secure.
Helpful facts to hold in mind:
A newborn baby’s tummy is the size of a cherry so it only holds small amounts of milk.
Babies may often feed frequently when they are first born, for example up to 12 times in 24 hours.
For babies, feeding little and often is very normal!
If you have any concerns though, please discuss with your health visitor.
NHS Lothian is a UNICEF Baby Friendly accredited health board, and the Baby Friendly website has lots of very useful information on feeding your baby. https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/
Our NHS Lothian Feeding Your Baby website has information on how we can support you to respond to your baby’s feeding cues (responsive feeding) and develop a close and loving relationship. https://services.nhslothian.scot/feedingyourbaby/Pages/default.aspx
Parent Club have answered some common feeding questions that you may have. https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/common-questions-about-feeding-newborn-baby
Toddlers
Food refusal is a normal phase that most toddlers pass through. Limiting the varieties of food they eat is a normal problem that many toddlers work through. It’s thought that an infant’s fear of new foods in their second year of life maybe a survival mechanism used to protect them as they eat anything and everything while exploring the world with their increased mobility.
Your toddler may refuse a food if it is new to him or her. They need to taste it a few times to learn to like it, so always offer it the next time you are eating it.
Toddlers will also refuse food when they are full. Don’t worry if your toddler eats less than their friend. If they are growing and developing normally then they are eating the right amount for their own body. Toddlers may also eat more or less from day to day.
Toddlers can pick up on stress and anxiety from their parent about eating. Research has shown that pressuring toddlers to eat, actually has the reverse impact and makes them less likely to eat or try new foods. Try and focus on what you can control such as what you offer to eat and keeping a relaxed and positive atmosphere. Your toddler is then in control of what and how much they eat! Help on how to handle a picky eater can be found at:
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1072-how-to-handle-picky-eaters
and
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/fussy-eaters/
