Tips For Establishing A Baby Feeding Routine
Establishing a routine for feeding your baby is essential for it to grow healthy and strong. To carry it out correctly, it is necessary to follow the pediatrician’s instructions and, if doubts arise, discuss them with him, before taking measures on your own.
When introducing new foods, parents must be attentive to how the little ones react. This is especially useful to detect any type of food intolerance early.
When to start establishing routines in babies?
Since the baby is born, parents can begin to establish routines in their activities; not only in the diet, but also in the hours of naps, bathing and hygiene. This not only helps the little one get organized, it also benefits parents and allows them to get organized.
From the time the baby is three months old, he begins to notice the various activities that he performs throughout the day. Even if you don’t do an activity that you have a habit, you will notice it.
The first routine they will learn will be eating. For this reason, parents should pay special attention to their diet and how it will change over time.
Advantages of establishing a baby feeding routine
The first thing parents should do before integrating new foods into the baby’s diet is to consult directly with the pediatrician. The little ones cannot eat some foods because they could harm them.
Also, it is important to set times so that you get used to your meal times. These are other important advantages of this practice:
- It will help the baby to know his own routines and schedules. For example, he will know that after his nap, he will touch a bottle.
- It will be much easier when parents leave their baby in the care of a babysitter or with a family member. By having an established eating routine, it will be easier to keep time and maintain a habit.
- Establishing a routine for feeding the baby is also important to organize biological processes in everything related to the gastrointestinal system and its nutrition.
- When the baby begins to eat new foods, this routine lets parents know which foods can cause allergies or intolerances.
Most common schedules
There are three types of schedules that parents can begin to implement. The first is marked by themselves, the second set by the baby and the third would be combined. We explain in more detail how each of them is applied:
The schedules set by the parents
These types of schedules are usually the strictest. It is specified when the baby will eat, even on many occasions, it also details how much he will have to sleep, play and go for a walk.
In order for parents to start applying this routine, they should consult directly with an expert or rely on the natural patterns of the child. It must be accurate and applied every day.
The schedules set by the baby
This routine is usually more flexible and less exact. Parents are usually guided by the clues of their baby’s behavior, depending on what he needs. Be careful, this does not mean that the child will never organize.
At birth, he establishes regular hours of sleep, feeding, and fun. The important thing is to observe it and respect the routines that are set naturally.
Combined schedules
This technique applies the combination of the previously mentioned strategies. Parents will need to follow an established routine of sleeping, eating, and playing, but some hours may change. For example, your sleep time could be delayed due to a grocery shopping trip or some other activity.
How much should a baby eat?
There is no set amount for the baby’s feeding routine; It is usually recommended that you give 1 or 2 tablespoons of the ingredient that is going to be offered and each day gradually increase the amount, of course, if you accept it. Although it is also stressed that the baby should be fed according to their needs and demands.
It is essential that parents establish a proper feeding routine and babies have an eating habit according to their age. Remember that if you doubt about any food that you want to integrate into the child’s diet, it is best to consult with the pediatrician. A proper diet will allow the child to develop properly.
