5 Most Common Questions of New Parents

When I brought my first baby home from the hospital, I thought I was pretty prepared. I’d read books, talked to friends and family who had kids and had a plan for everything.

Or so I thought.

As I’m sure you can imagine, I quickly realized that there is no way to truly prepare for every situation that might arise with a new baby.   

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So I ended up doing what most new moms do these days. I looked online.

I searched for answers on nursing, allergies, bottle feeding and so many other topics. There were so many places online to look for parenting advice, that it was sometimes difficult to find the information I needed. 

And, as it turns out, there were many other new parents looking for exactly the same information I was. .

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 The Top 5 Most Common Parent Online Searches:

1. What can I do to ease my baby’s digestive problems?
2. How can I create and stick to a feeding routine that will work for my baby?
3. How do I supplement with or introduce my baby to formula?
4. When and how should I introduce my baby to a bottle and how do I pick the right bottle?
5. When and how should I introduce and transition my baby to solid foods?

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Did you have similar questions as a new parent?

Here’s some great information from Dr. Sue Hubbard, pediatrician and columnist for “The Kid’s Doctor“, to answer those common questions.

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Q: What can I do to ease my baby’s digestive problems?

A: Many babies are gassy and intermittently fussy during the first two months of life as their GI tract is immature, but over time their tummies mature. Although parents want to “solve the gassy problem” it may take a bit of time and patience to find an answer. Sometimes, a change in what a mother may be eating, if breastfeeding, or a change in formula for a few months can be helpful. For extremely fussy and gassy babies there are different formulas to try that are lower in lactose. For infants with frequent spit-up, formula with added rice starch, may help thicken the feeding and reduce instances of spit up.

Q: How can I create and stick to a feeding routine that will work for my baby?

A: Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, babies needs time to settle into their own rhythm of eating. Flexibility will be key to your feeding success for the first few months, but there are a few things you can do to coax your baby into a feeding schedule. Newborns need to eat every two hours or so, and feeding on-demand is most appropriate during the first month of life. Some newborns take longer to eat, while others feed for shorter periods of time more frequently. To help establish and stick to a schedule, do your best to time feedings consistently; providing a consistent atmosphere also helps your baby learn when it is feeding time.

Q: How do I supplement with or introduce my baby to formula?

A: When breastfeeding, some moms may need or want to supplement their baby with formula. This may be due to low milk production, returning to work or just to have the option. There is no right or wrong way to supplement, it’s really what works best for the mom and baby. The first decision you’ll have to make is which formula you want to use: ready-to-feed, concentrated liquid or powder. Also, you may have to help your baby adjust to the taste of formula. One tip is to mix some of your pumped breast milk with the already-prepared formula. Just make sure that you don’t use breast milk in place of water and always follow the package directions when preparing formula. Also, it is perfectly safe to offer breast milk at some feedings and formula at others.

Q: When and how should I introduce my baby to a bottle and how do I pick the right bottle?

A: If you choose to introduce your baby to a bottle, a slow transition will help prevent the uncomfortable engorgement that can result when a mom discontinues breastfeeding or introduces bottle feeding. If a mom is planning to return to work in two weeks, and will miss two feedings a day, she should introduce her baby to formula two weeks in advance. Before offering the first bottle of formula, she should start with breast milk in a bottle. This will help the baby adjust to the shape of an artificial nipple before adjusting to the taste of formula. Picking a bottle to use can be a daunting task since there are many options now. Most of my patients use plastic bottles – they should all be BPA free (you can look on the label). Start off with 4-ounce bottles as they are the right size for a newborn. As your baby grows and begins to consume a larger amount of breast milk or formula you may want to get 8-ounce bottles. Testing and learning can be the best way to find a bottle that works best for you and your baby. Find a bottle that is easy for you to use; the less assembly the better. Try one or two in varying shapes and sizes the beginning and go from there. You may have to try a few bottle or nipples before finding what works best for your baby.

Q: When and how should I introduce and transition my baby to solid foods?

A: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of your baby’s life; breastfeeding in combination with solid foods through at least 12 months; and continued breastfeeding thereafter for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby. The AAP also recommends that infants begin eating solid foods at around six months of age. This is the opportune time as you will notice your baby has become interested in the food you are eating (watch them open their mouths when you do) and at the same time a baby is just starting to sit up which makes it easy to start spoon feeding. I typically start with infant cereal, which is iron fortified. Spoon feeding is initially about teaching your baby to put the spoon into their mouth and to begin experiencing new textures. Once your baby is enjoying spoon feeding it is easy to start adding pureed vegies, fruits and meats. The most important point about spoon feeding is that babies will typically eat almost any pureed or “mushy” food that they are offered, so now is the time to start healthy eating habits with a diversity of foods. Don’t be afraid to try new foods (kale, avocado, apricots, prunes), even things that you may not typically eat. As you do this, be sure to wait 3-5 days between introducing new foods so that you can observe any potential reactions to foods. Your baby will continue to have breast milk or formula as well as pureed foods at breakfast, lunch and dinner time. When you first start your baby on foods you will not notice much of a change in the volume of their milk intake, but over several months, as they are eating a “meal” with meats, vegies and fruits you will see that they begin taking less formula or breast milk. If formula feeding while introducing solids, parents can look for a formula geared specifically for older babies. 

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What were the questions you had as a new parent?

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