Feeding
Keeping Mother and Baby Together
To support feeding and respond to your baby’s needs, mothers and babies should stay together on the ward. Sometimes this isn’t possible for medical reasons. Keep your baby close so you can recognise their signals for hunger or comfort. Responding to these signals makes your baby feel safe. Cuddling your baby next to your skin allows them to smell you and hear your heartbeat, which will comfort and calm them. This will also help you feel calm and relaxed and will support breastfeeding.
Breast/Chest Feeding
Breastfed babies cannot be overfed, so you can use breastfeeding to soothe your baby and as a way of spending time together or resting whenever you both want.
Bottle Feeding
If you are bottle feeding, hold your baby close during feeds and look into their eyes. Learn to notice their cues for when they want to be fed and when they have had enough. If you and your partner give most of the feeds yourselves, it will help build a close and loving bond with your baby. Continuing skin-to-skin contact can calm and comfort you both at any time.
Source: A Guide for Parents’ UNICEF BFI resource
To read the unicef happy baby leaflet click this link.
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