Feeding
How much milk needs an infant in general?
Mother milk
When the infant is fed with mother milk, it is not possible to see how much milk the infant get. But there are different ways to see if an infant gets enough nutrition:
- When the infant acts lively.
- Grows according to the growth curves.
- When the infant has around six pee diapers per 24 hours.
When the mother is not sure if the infant gets enough milk, she can try to give some extra breastfeeding. When the infant is not hungry, he or she will not drink any more milk. This is called; Breastfeeding on demand. That means, as often as the child wants, day and night (Voedingscentrum, 2012).
Mother milk substitute
For infants who are fed with a mother milk substitute apply the same methods to see if the baby gets enough nutrition within. But through feeding with a bottle the parents can see how much the infant drinks and they see directly if the infants drinks a bit less or more than normal.
It is not necessary that the infants drinks the whole bottle, when the infant stops with drinking, it has had enough, even when he drinks a bit less than normally.
Mother milk or substitutes are the most important form of nutrition until the baby is around the eight months old (Voedingscentrum, 2012).
Complementary feeding
Around six months the feeding will be fully milk nutrition with some ‘exercise nibbles’, this can be a mashed piece of fruit, potato, rice or meat/ fish.
Around seven months it is possible to give a bread crust or less mashed pieces of fruit. This is important for the developing of the muscles in the cheek and mouth.
From eight to ten months: Less mother milk or substitute is necessary, the baby can start with eating more solid foods. An example of a meal can be; some vegetables, rice and meat or fish mashed with a fork.
Around the twelve months, the baby can eat the regular nutrition, together with the parents (Voedingscentrum, 2012).
Breast milk can be also an important source of energy and nutrients for children until 24 months of age. Around the age of six months it is necessary to start with some complementary foods as explained above, but breast milk can provide one third of energy needs between 12 and 24 months (WHO, 2013).