Reflux

At Moms on Call, we believe in meeting parents where they are. So, whether you are nursing, exclusively bottle feeding (pumped milk or formula), or a combination of the two, we support you! Because we know a fed baby is a happy baby! Today we are discussing feeding guidelines for the first 6 months. We will share what feeding amounts may look like, the number of feedings a day by age, and the typical amount of time a feeding may take. Babies up to 12 months of age need at least 24 ounces of breast milk or formula per day. The feeding guidelines discussed below are recommendations as a general guide for families who feel they need some direction. In addition, we recommend following along with the Moms on Call routines mapped out by age in the “Typical Days” section of the popular Moms on Call 0-6 Month Book and in the Moms on Call Scheduler App available on Apple and Android devices. Feeding Guidelines for the First 6 Months The First Two Weeks About 7-8 feedings per day Feedings should take no longer than 45 minutes 2-3 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 4-ounce feeding) 2-4 Weeks of Age We still have 7-8 feedings per day Feedings have shortened and should take no longer than 30 minutes 3-4 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 5-ounce feeding) 4-8 Weeks of Age Now we have 6-7 feedings per day Feedings are closer to 20-30 minutes each 4-5 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 6-ounce feeding) 2-4 Months of Age 5-7 feedings a day Feedings last about 15-20 minutes each 5-6 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 7-8 ounce feeding) 4-6 Months of Age 4-5 feedings per day Feedings are likely to last 12-15 minutes each (up to 20 minutes for breastfed babies) 6-8 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 9-ounce feeding) Introduction of baby foods 1-3 times per day For those first few weeks, the baby is fed every 2-3 hours. Once the baby is around 2 weeks of age, past their birth weight, and gaining weight of about an ounce a day for those first 6-8 weeks (see the book for more), then we can move up to on-demand feedings at night.  How Many Night Feeds Can We Expect the First 12 Weeks? 2-4 weeks: 2 feeds most nights 4-8 weeks: 2 feeds most nights with an occasional night of one feed 8-10 weeks: 1 feed most nights with an occasional night of no feeds 10-12 weeks: Beginning to get more nights of no feeds Middle-of-night feedings are what we call “strictly business.” See Moms on Call’s tips for getting baby (and parents) back to sleep after a middle-of-the-night feed. Download the Moms on Call’s free Feeding Guideline below for a quick printable resource of the above info to have on hand for you and your caregivers. This is a great resource to print alongside the Mom’s on Call Typical Day Schedules and to add to your babysitter binder.

The three key componants to producing that elusive yet satisfying burp involve: TimingPositioningExpectations Timing The natural timing of the perfect burp is ¾ of the way through a feeding and at the end. If you’re breastfeeding, burp in between each side and at the end.Burping sessions last 2-3 minutes tops (this is a sprint – not a marathon). Positioning Over the shoulder with some light pats that go from the middle of the back upwards.Our fave – “the waffle iron” – see here (not a real appliance – just a description of how to position a baby so their legs actually put a little pressure on that sweet spot right under the rib cage that helps the bigger air bubble get to the top)Repositioning – Just like a Coke bottle that has an air bubble at the bottom, in order to get it to the top – you reposition. Recline the baby and then place them in a seated position a bit more over their thighs and then pat the back from middle to upper area x 1 min then repeat – recline/sit up/ pat-pat-pat. Do that three times and the third time may produce a burp upon sitting up! Expectations If that burp does not appear within about 3 minutes… then we manage expectations. Not all babies are designed to burp well. What doesn’t come out of the attic will come out the basement. So, it is not essential to burp with every feeding. It is OK to move on. Watch this quick video of Laura Hunter, MOC Co-Founder, demonstrating some of our favorite burping techniques discussed above. MOC Basics: Burping Techniques from Moms On Call on Vimeo. Moms on Call provides simple, sensible parenting resources to sleep, feed, laugh and love birth through toddlerhood. You can find tips like this and more in our books and Online Video Courses for 0-6 months where we cover everything from feeding and sleeping to schedule transitions and typical days at each stage.