{"id":6970,"date":"2025-08-18T20:44:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T20:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/feeding-your-baby-your-way\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T09:53:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T09:53:42","slug":"feeding-your-baby-your-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/feeding-your-baby-your-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeding Your Baby, Your Way\u2028"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zoe Watson, Midwife and IBCLC and expert speaker at The Baby Show which returns to Olympia London from 24th<\/sup> \u2013 26th<\/sup> October. To find out more, visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk\/olympia<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Feeding your baby is one of the biggest parts of early parenthood and often one of the most emotional. With so much advice and opinion out there, it\u2019s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what\u2019s right for you and your baby. The truth is, every baby, every family and every feeding journey is unique. What really matters is that you feel informed in your choices, supported along the way, and that your approach nurtures your baby\u2019s wellbeing and works for your family.<\/p>\n

Getting off to a good start<\/b><\/p>\n

So, what can help feeding get off to a positive start? The first hour after birth, often called the golden hour, is a fantastic opportunity for bonding and initiating feeding. Skin-to-skin contact straight after birth can help your baby adjust to life outside the womb by regulating their temperature, heart rate and breathing. It also triggers those early feeding instincts.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning to breastfeed, offering that very first feed during skin-to-skin can help stimulate milk production and build a strong bond. During this time, your baby receives colostrum, the first milk your breasts produce. It comes in small amounts and is packed full of antibodies and perfectly designed for your baby\u2019s tiny tummy.<\/p>\n

Feeding on cue, not the clock<\/b><\/p>\n

When it comes to breastfeeding, many people wonder whether to follow a strict routine. But the evidence shows that breastfeeding works best when it\u2019s responsive. That means feeding your baby whenever they show signs of hunger, rather than sticking to a schedule. Feeding cues can include bobbing their head around in search of the breast, sucking their hands and restlessness. Crying tends to come a little later when hunger has already ramped up.<\/p>\n

Newborns need to feed at least eight to twelve times in 24 hours, including during the night, but it\u2019s completely normal for a baby to feed more frequently than this, especially during cluster feeding phases or when your supply is building up. It can feel intense in the early days, but knowing it\u2019s a completely normal part of your baby\u2019s development can really help. It\u2019s worth planning ahead. Try to keep your schedule light in the early weeks and prepare some nourishing meals in advance to keep yourself well fed and fuelled.<\/p>\n

How do I know my baby\u2019s getting enough milk?<\/b><\/p>\n

This is one of the most common questions I\u2019m asked, and understandably so. The good news is there are clear signs to look out for that can help reassure you that feeding is going well.<\/p>\n

Start by paying attention to how your body feels and how your baby acts after a feed. Are your breasts feeling fuller before a feed and softer afterwards? This usually means milk is being transferred. Does your baby seem content after feeding, with their hunger cues settled? This is a good indication they have a full tummy.<\/p>\n

Feeding itself should also feel comfortable. While some sensitivity is normal at the start, especially in the early days, ongoing pain is a sign that something may need adjusting. A deep, effective latch should feel secure and pain-free once feeding is established. After a feed, your nipple should look the same shape as it did before the feed, not flattened, pinched or shaped like the tip of a lipstick. If you notice changes in nipple shape or ongoing discomfort, it’s a good idea to seek some skilled, face-to-face support to help improve the latch.<\/p>\n

Nappy output is another very useful indicator. In the first 48 hours, it\u2019s normal for your baby to have just two to three wet nappies as they adjust to life outside the womb. But from day five onwards, wet nappies should become more frequent. You\u2019re looking for at least six heavy, wet nappies in a 24-hour period.<\/p>\n

Poos also provide great information. In the first couple of days, babies pass meconium, the thick black sticky poo. As your milk comes in, this gradually changes to a greenish-brown colour, then becomes mustard-yellow. From around day four, your baby should be doing at least two soft, yellow poos the size of a \u00a32 coin every day for the first few weeks.<\/p>\n

You should also notice your baby becoming more alert during their wakeful periods and, over time, gaining weight steadily. All of these signs help build a clear picture that your baby is feeding well.<\/p>\n

Bottle Feeding with Connection and Care<\/b><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re using bottles, whether with expressed breast milk, formula or a combination of both, responsive bottle feeding is a great approach. This means watching your baby\u2019s cues, offering feeds when they\u2019re hungry, and stopping when they\u2019ve had enough.<\/p>\n

Using a technique known as paced bottle feeding, where you offer milk slowly with regular pauses, can help your baby control their intake, reduce wind and colic, and make the experience calmer and more connected. It also provides lovely opportunities for bonding, eye contact and learning your baby\u2019s cues.<\/p>\n

Combination feeding \u2013 finding your own rhythm<\/b><\/p>\n

Some families choose to combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding. This is known as combination feeding, and it can work very well. If you\u2019re breastfeeding and thinking about introducing a bottle, it\u2019s usually best to wait until breastfeeding has established first which can take several weeks. This can help protect your milk supply and reduce the chances of feeding difficulties.<\/p>\n

That said, life isn\u2019t always straightforward. There may be times when introducing a bottle earlier is necessary, and that\u2019s completely okay. It doesn\u2019t mean your breastfeeding journey is over. Getting support early on from your midwife, health visitor or a lactation consultant can really help while you find your feet and work out what feels right for you and your baby.<\/p>\n

When feeding feels tough<\/b><\/p>\n

Not every feeding journey goes to plan. If feeding doesn\u2019t unfold the way you imagined, it\u2019s absolutely normal to feel sad, disappointed or to grieve the experience you were hoping for. Feeding is deeply emotional and personal, and however you feel, your feelings are valid.<\/p>\n

What matters most is that your baby is loved, nourished and secure. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combination feeding or exclusively expressing, you deserve support, compassion and clear information. There are many organisations and professionals who can support you with both practical feeding help and emotional wellbeing, so please don\u2019t hesitate to reach out.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re not alone \u2013 support is always available<\/b><\/p>\n

If feeding feels confusing, overwhelming or difficult, please know you\u2019re not alone. Whether you\u2019re dealing with latch challenges, milk supply worries, bottle refusal or just need a little reassurance, there is help available. Midwives, health visitors and IBCLCs are here to support you. The earlier you reach out, the more we can do to help.<\/p>\n

Whatever your feeding journey looks like, whether carefully planned or full of unexpected twists and turns, what matters most is that you feel informed, supported and connected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Zoe Watson, Midwife and IBCLC and expert speaker at The Baby Show which returns to Olympia London from 24th \u2013 26th October. To find out more, visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk\/olympia\u00a0 Feeding your baby is one of the biggest parts of early parenthood and often one of the most emotional. With so much advice and opinion out there, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":6971,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[334,641],"tags":[],"directory-category":[],"event_categories":[],"class_list":["post-6970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-baby-show"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-25 14:11:44","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6970"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7221,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6970\/revisions\/7221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6970"},{"taxonomy":"directory-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/directory-category?post=6970"},{"taxonomy":"event_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/mid-surrey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event_categories?post=6970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}