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Home › Articles › Feeding Baby › Feeding Issues With Infants

Feeding Issues With Infants

Is Baby Getting Proper Nutrition?

By Melinda Copp

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Eating is a big part of your baby's life. In fact, when babies are really young, eating is pretty much all they do besides sleep. Plus, because nutrition directly impacts your baby's growth and development, it's natural to have concerns about whether or not he's eating a balanced diet.

If you're concerned about your baby's feeding issues, consider the following advice from experts.

1. My baby won't nurse, or doesn't get enough when nursing.
If you're breastfeeding your baby, you may experience difficulties getting your baby latched on properly and you may have concerns about your baby getting enough to eat. These concerns are natural and common, especially among new moms.

"Breastfeeding goes smoothly for most, but it doesn't go smoothly for everyone," says Ann Meyers, a clinical nutritionist at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "If a mom feels that breastfeeding isn't going well, then she needs help from a professional."

You can find breastfeeding support groups and lactation consultants through your hospital, the La Leche League and your baby's pediatrician. Lactation consultants will be able to address your concerns and give you information about the challenges you're having.

And understand that if, for whatever reason, you decide not to breastfeed, feeding your baby formula is perfectly acceptable.

"Babies have to be fed by whatever means possible, whether that's formula or breastfeeding," says Charles Shubin, director of pediatrics for Mercy Medical Center Family Care in Baltimore, Md. Formula-fed babies will be just fine.

2. My baby refused a bottle.
When babies are hungry, they eat; and when they aren't hungry, they don't. And their appetites can increase and decrease according to growth spurts and other developmental factors. So if you're concerned about how much your baby is, or isn't eating, trust his appetite.


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