2.13.1 Weight gain in the baby

For the first few days, the newborn baby loses weight and thereafter she starts gaining weight. By 15 days, most babies will regain their birth weight. Thereafter babies will gain weight as follows.

Table 1.

The above table gives an approximate idea. However the best way to monitor your child’s growth is by growth charts. These allow you to monitor weight, height and head circumference. Your doctor may give you one or you can download this from <www.cdc.gov/growthcharts>.

2.13 How often to feed the baby

As with breast feeds with bottle feeds also, we advocate demand feeding. However you should try to keep a three hourly schedule. That does not mean that if your baby is demanding feed before her feeding time you should not give it or if baby is fast asleep you should wake her up to give the feed. Do not offer a bottle each time the baby cries, or sucks her fingers or thumb, because if you do that, the baby may drink a small amount and rest of the milk will be wasted. If the baby cries before the feed time, try in the beginning, to calm the baby by talking to her softly or rocking her or if necessary, give water. In giving water, do not add any sugar or glucose in the water. At times, you can use dummy (pacifier). If a dummy is kept clean, it is okay to use it (but do not use a dummy before the baby is 6 weeks old). Babies do like sucking so some may suck their thumbs or fingers while others will get used to the dummy (pacifier). Neither of these two habits do any harm unless it continues beyond three years of age.

It is very important that you should be sitting comfortably with the baby in your lap while feeding the baby. This will produce same amount of bonding between you and your baby as with breast feeding. Do look at your baby while you are feeding your baby and try to make an eye contact. Soon the baby will love to look at you while she is feeding and will have a very satisfying look. Never leave the baby on the cot with the bottle propped up with a pillow or cloth.

Looking after a baby, whether you breast feed or bottle-feed is time consuming. It is a 24 hours and 7 days job. However, it is one of the most satisfying phases of your life. For a career-driven mother, if there are no financial constraints and if it will not affect her career too much, she should try to take some time offfrom her work and spend at least 1 to 2 years looking after her baby. I did that and I still consider that as the best time of my life.

Nowadays many grandmothers and even grandfathers are willing to look after their grand-children so that their daughters or daughters-in-law can pursue their career. It is a very good gesture on their part. The only problem is that the mother misses out on the pleasure of looking after her baby.

2.12 Amount of feeds

Although the amount of milk that your baby will take is also written on the tins of milk powder, it is a very rough estimate. Some babies will take more and some less. So do not worry if your baby is taking less as long as your baby is satisfied and gaining weight.

2.11 Preparing the feeds

The bottles should be thoroughly cleaned and then sterilized by boiling. Milk should not be kept in the room temperature for more than 1 hour. After your baby has taken the feed, you must throw the remaining milk and rinse the bottle and nipple thoroughly. The water that is used for making the feed should be boiled or you can use bottled sterile water. Do not use very hot water for mixing the feeds, otherwise the vitamin-C will get destroyed.

Proportion of the water and the powder to be used should be strictly according to the instructions written on the tin of the powdered milk because if you add less amount of powder, baby will get less nutrients and thus will not gain weight and, if you add more than required, baby may get constipation and also can get dehydrated. Some brands of milk powder provide big size scoop, which has to be mixed in 60 ml of water while others provide small scoop, which has to be mixed in 30 ml of water.

2.10 Which milk to use?

Fresh cow’s milk, goat’s milk or sheep’s milk etc. are not suitable for babies who are less than 1 year of age as these do not contain the type of nutrients that baby needs. Powdered formula milk is better as these have been modified to suit the needs of the baby. They are usually made from skimmed cow’s milk and treated in such a way that babies can digest it. Vitamins, minerals, vegetable oils and fatty acids are added so that these meet the requirement of babies. Many different brands of powdered milk for infants are available in the market; you can use any of these. You should take your doctor’s advice to know if your preferred brand is appropriate for your baby.