My First Baby Feeding Guide

Since it is your first-time to care for your baby, you definitely need to get hold of all the useful feeding tips you can muster. For starters, take a crack at learning some of the basics of feeding your newborn.

Bottle Feeding

If you choose to feed your newborn with bottled milk, make sure that you prepare everything you need in advance. Just not so far ahead, though, because feeding your little one with spoiled milk is definitely a big “no-no” in parenting.

Remember to have the bottled formula or breast milk at the temperature your baby can tolerate. This can range from lukewarm to room temperature. It is also important to avoid using the microwave for heating the milk up. Doing so will produce hotspots that can injure your baby even if you’ve already checked the liquid’s temperature.

When feeding time comes, hold your baby on your lap while supporting his or her head in the bend of your arm. Try to switch sides from time to time, as you would when breastfeeding, so as to supply ample stimulation on both hemispheres of the brain.

Place the bottle nipple into the baby’s mouth as soon as he or she turns to root. See to it that the nipple is filled with milk as the baby has a tendency to gulp down too much air from a half-filled nipple. To terminate a feeding session, simply remove the bottle from your baby’s mouth.

Breastfeeding

One good thing about breastfeeding is the fact that you”re not required to prepare the milk or warm the feeding bottle in advance. Plus, you can pick out any position you want to nurse in. The appropriate feeding positions, however, may vary according to the baby’s age, the time of day, and your level of comfort.

Many mothers make use of the cradle hold when breastfeeding. This well-liked feeding position requires you to sit upright and hold your little one like a cradle. In addition, it also allows you to cuddle your baby with one hand, and move or support your breast with the other. Regardless of what nursing position you choose, don’t forget to acquire some support. A nursing pillow or any regular cushion will certainly make it easier for you to hold the baby up and to prevent neck or back strain. When it comes to baby placement, an excellent latch is one of the most vital parts of a comfortable feeding session. Your little bundle of joy should be chin-to-breast and belly-to-belly with you.

To ensure that the feeding is going well, check if the baby’s lips are flared around your breast. You may also pull his or her lower lip down a little to see if the tongue is coiled around the areola. You can also hear the baby swallow or notice his or her ears wiggling during active feeding. In case you need to change sides or if the feeding session has to end, simply slide a finger in one corner of the baby’s mouth to tenderly interrupt the suction.

Needless to say, first-time parents are not really expected to impeccably perform the feeding process the first time around. So try to be patient and give yourself a break every now and then. Keeping a positive outlook on parenting and taking advantage of all the available ‘my first baby” resources will also help you a lot.

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Baby Sign Language – Which Hand?

Once you have decided that you would like to use American Sign Language with your child or students, many questions come to mind about how you should begin in order to be successful. One of the most common questions asked is, “Which hand should I sign with?”

The answer will be one that you like as it is simply a matter of preference. If you are right handed, sign with your right hand and if you are left handed, sign with your left hand. Since you will probably be most comfortable signing with your dominant hand, anyway, this works out for the best. The only time this would not apply, is if there is a two-handed sign that is being performed, then of course you will use both hands to make the sign.

I have only seen one instance where using your left hand may interfere with the understanding of a sign. This would be when signing the letters of the alphabet. Since many letters do take the form of their written counter-part, children will absorb this information as they see it signed. For example, the letter C is performed by curving your fingers into a half circle. When you perform this with your right hand, your child will see the letter as it is written correctly. However, when this letter is signed with your left hand, your child or students will see the letter as if it were backwards. Therefore, it is your choice whether or not this would be a significant problem that you should sign with your right hand. The letter “L” also falls into this category.

If you haven’t begun signing because you are feeling unsure about which hand to sign with, you now know that you can use your most comfortable hand – which is your dominant hand. Go ahead and begin signing with whichever hand you feel comfortable with and just go ahead and get started. Good Luck!

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Educational Trainer, Author – Benefits of using sign language with hearing students and young childrenArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-sign-language-which-hand-1565741.html