What position should a child be in when feeding? During the first few months, except at night, it had better be held in the arms; later it can lie on its side in the crib, but the bottle must then be held by the nurse until it is emptied, or the baby will nurse and sleep, and nurse and sleep, etc.
How much time shall I give the baby for one feeding? Not longer than twenty minutes. Take the bottle away then and do not give it until the next feeding. Keep a sleepy baby awake, when well, until the food is taken, or remove the bottle.
Can I play with the baby after feeding? Never. It may cause vomiting and indigestion. Baby should lie quietly and sleep if possible, or at least not be disturbed.
FEEDING INTERVALS.
How often shall I nurse or feed baby during the first month? Ten times in twenty-four hours at intervals of two hours during the day and two times at night.
Why can I not feed baby oftener? Because it takes nearly two hours to digest a meal at two months, about two and one-half hours at five or six months, and if another meal is given before the former meal is digested, vomiting and indigestion will result. The following schedule is given by one authority on children for healthy infants for the first year:
Night No. Quantity Quantity
Interval feedings of for for
between 10 P. M. feedings one 24
meals to in 24 feeding, hours,
by day. 7 A. M. hours. ounces. ounces.
2d to 7th day 2 hrs. 2 10 1 to 1-1/2 10 to 15
2d to 3rd week 2 hrs. 2 10 1-1/2 to 3 15 to 30
4th to 5th week 2 hrs. 1 10 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 25 to 35
6th to 8th week 2-1/2 hrs. 1 8 3 to 5 24 to 40
3d to 5th Month 3 hrs. 1 7 4 to 6 28 to 42
5th to 9th month 3 hrs. 0 6 5 to 7-1/2 30 to 45
9th to 12th month 4 hrs. 0 5 7 to 9 35 to 45
This schedule is for healthy children. The smaller amounts are required by smaller children with weak digestion; the larger amounts are required by large children with strong digestion. The interval is from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next feeding.
[ALL ABOUT BABY 593]
How soon can I make the intervals at two and one-half hours? Generally at five or six weeks.