

Breastfeeding mothers need 450 to 500 extra calories a day, so eat plenty of nutrient-dense food. One of the best ways to care for your baby is by taking care of yourself.In the earliest days of breastfeeding, it's often best to focus less on scheduling and more on feeding your baby often for 10 to 20 minutes on each side. The more you nurse your baby, the more your body gets the message that it needs to make milk. Milk production is a business of supply and demand.Once they open wide, gently push your entire nipple toward the back of your baby's open mouth. Encourage a healthy latch by holding your breast in one hand and the back of your baby's head in another. Many babies need help learning to breastfeed.

Whether you're breastfeeding or formula feeding, here are a few basics and tips for getting off to a great start. Some general things to keep in mind as you're getting used to your baby's feeding patterns:ģ a.m.: Baby wakes, nurses and falls back asleep. Below, you'll find sample schedules for 1- and 2-month-olds based on those of real parents and reviewed by a pediatrician on our Medical Advisory Board. Feed your baby on demand, watching their hunger cues, so they stay hydrated and put on weight.Įven though your daily routine with your baby is all over the place at this point – and that's completely normal – it can be a big help to get a general idea of what these first couple of months will be like. Right now, your goal is to get to know your baby and help them get a healthy start. Instead, they'll sleep in short bursts throughout the day and night.įollowing a strict feeding schedule isn't recommended – or possible – for young babies. But your baby won't sleep for long stretches yet because they need to eat so often. Roughly half of these hours will happen during the day, the rest at night. Babies this age also sleep a lot, dozing off for an average of 16 hours each day.
