Infant Feeding Choices and Healthy Growth
We support families in making informed decisions about how they feed their babies. Whether you choose breastfeeding, formula feeding, or a combination of both, our goal is to help ensure your baby receives the nutrition needed for healthy growth and development.
For most infants, breast milk and/or infant formula should be the sole source of nutrition for about the first six months of life and remain the primary source of nutrition throughout the first year. Some breastfeeding parents may need or choose to supplement with infant formula to meet their baby’s nutritional needs.
During your baby’s first year, your care team will monitor feeding patterns, growth, and development during scheduled Well Child Visits to help make sure your baby is getting enough nutrition.
Infant Feeding Resources
The following resources may help support breastfeeding, pumping, and understanding your baby’s feeding needs during the first days and weeks of life:
- Correct Flange Fit Guide – Learn how to identify the proper breast pump flange size for comfort and effective milk expression. Click Here to Dowload
- Nipple Measurement Tool – Use this tool to help determine the appropriate flange size before pumping. Click Here to Download
- Size of a Newborn’s Stomach & Feeding Volumes – Learn how a newborn’s stomach grows during the first days and weeks of life and how feeding volumes typically increase.Click Here to Dowload
Tips to Reduce Spit-Up and Feeding Discomfort
- Make each feeding calm, quiet, and leisurely.
- Avoid interruptions, sudden noises, bright lights, and other distractions during feedings.
- Burp your bottle-fed baby during feedings. If your infant is less than 3 months, burp him/her after he/she consumes a ½ oz -1 oz. If your infant is 3-6 months of age, burp him/her every 1-2 oz. For babies ages 6-12 months, burp him/her every 2oz – 3oz.
- Avoid feeding while your infant is lying down.
- Hold the baby in an upright position for 20 to 30 minutes after each feeding.
- Do not jostle or play vigorously with the baby immediately after feeding.
- Try to feed him or her before she gets frantically hungry.
- If bottle-feeding, make sure the hole in the nipple is neither too big (which lets the formula flow too fast) nor too small (which frustrates your baby and causes her to gulp air). If the hole is the proper size, a few drops should come out when you invert the bottle, and then stop.
- Elevate the head of the entire crib with blocks (don’t use a pillow) and put him/her to sleep on her back. This keeps his/her head higher than his/her stomach and prevents him/her from choking in case he/she spits up while sleeping.
You can call the office at (207) 784-5782 during regular business hours to schedule an appointment or ask questions about any complications you may encounter with formula or feeding.
*Please note that cow’s milk should be introduced only after 1 year of age. If cow’s milk is introduced too early it can cause anemia and developmental delay due to microscopic blood loss in the stool because of an irritant effect of proteins in whole cow’s milk. However, these proteins are not present in breast milk or infant formulas.
If you need help with the expense of formula, the WIC Nutrition program may be a resource for you and your family. Please click on the following link to learn more about the State of Maine’s WIC Nutrition Program (clickable link) https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/healthy-living/wic
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For detailed feeding recommendations and age-appropriate nutrition guidance, please view our Pediatric Feeding Guide.
Pediatric Feeding Guide https://pedihc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PediatricFeedingGuide.pdf
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Pediatric Associates supports the 5-2-1-0 healthy lifestyle recommendations to help children and adolescents build lifelong healthy habits:
5 – Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day
2 – Limit recreational screen time to 2 hours or less per day
1 – Be physically active for at least 1 hour every day
0 – Choose water and low-fat milk instead of sugary drinks
At each Well Child Visit, your provider will monitor your child’s growth and development and discuss nutrition, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle habits appropriate for their age.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s nutrition, growth, or physical activity, please call our office at (207)784-5782 during regular business hours.