Feeding on demand

Many mothers after the birth of the baby think about what to choose feeding: on demand or by the hour. Each species has its own pluses and minuses. WHO recommends giving the breast when the baby requires it.

Breastfeeding on demand - what does this mean?

By such feeding it is meant that the regime is established not by the mother, but by the baby himself. Apply to the breast is necessary every time the child wants it. A crumb can be at the breast all the time that he wishes. In addition, the baby is needed not only at the first cry, but also when he groans, expresses anxiety, twists his head and searches for the mouth with his breast. In addition, feeding on demand eliminates the use of pacifiers and bottles.

Why is on-demand feeding good?

A small lump - a newborn - is born with a sucking reflex. Thanks to him, the kid not only becomes full, but also satisfies his need for physical contact with the mother, in warmth and care. It is on the hands of the mother, sucking the breast, the baby immediately calms down, if he has poor health or disturb intestinal colic.

In addition, feeding the baby on request supports lactation. Frequent sucking stimulates the increased production of oxytocin and prolactin, the hormone responsible for the "production" of breast milk, in the breastfeeding woman. In this case, feeding on demand excludes decantation. If the baby is not enough milk, frequent attachment will solve this problem.

How to feed on demand?

At the slightest concern of the baby, Mom should take a comfortable position and attach it to the chest. The first few weeks the kids suck for a long time - about 30-40 minutes, and sometimes for an hour. The child can fall asleep at the chest, and then wake up and reapply it. A situation is possible in which the child can ask for breast 3-4 times per hour. In general, in the first months of life, the number of applications reaches 10-12 times a day. As the baby grows, the time intervals between feedings will increase. You can not end feeding by taking away the baby's chest. Having satted, the little one will let go of the nipple himself or, sleeping, cease to suck.

Many mothers, whose children are on artificial feeding, are interested in whether it is necessary to feed the mixture on demand. Among pediatricians, it is considered optimal to partially meet the baby's needs. This means that the prescribed amount of food is given at the request of the child, but within certain limits. If the baby does not eat the whole batch, the parents should be fed more often, but in smaller portions.