1. Feeding Schedule
- Newborn to 2 months: During the first few months, it feels like your baby is always hungry. Babies usually feed every 2-3 hours, and it can be exhausting at first. I remember a friend who said she felt like a “milk machine” because her baby was constantly latching on. She would joke about setting alarms in the middle of the night to make sure she didn’t miss a feeding. It was tough, but by around 6 weeks, she noticed her baby started going a little longer between feeds, and things slowly became more manageable.
- 3 to 6 months: As your baby gets older, their feeding patterns become more predictable. A friend of mine, who had twins, shared how, by 4 months, her babies started feeding less frequently but in larger amounts. She felt like she could finally catch her breath between feeding sessions. Her trick was keeping a small feeding diary to track their patterns, and she noticed how much easier it got after the first few months.
2. Breastfeeding Tips
- Latch and Positioning: Getting the latch right is crucial. I had a friend who really struggled at first, and it was painful for her. But after meeting with a lactation consultant, she learned a new position—the football hold—and it made a world of difference. Her baby latched better, and her soreness disappeared. She said it felt like she finally got the hang of it after weeks of trial and error.
- Signs Baby is Getting Enough: A common worry for breastfeeding moms is whether their baby is getting enough milk. I knew a mom who was constantly anxious about this, but her pediatrician told her to focus on the baby’s diapers and weight gain. Her baby was having six or more wet diapers a day and gaining weight well, so she finally relaxed and trusted her body.
- Milk Supply: I remember a friend who was obsessed with keeping her milk supply up. She drank lots of water and swore by oatmeal to boost her production. She also nursed on demand, which helped regulate her milk. There were days she doubted herself, but her baby thrived, and that reassured her.
3. Formula Feeding Tips
- Amount per Feeding: Formula feeding is a bit easier to measure since you can see exactly how much your baby is drinking. A cousin of mine would always make sure her baby was getting the recommended 2-3 ounces per feed in the first month. By 5 months, her baby was drinking about 6 ounces at a time. It was helpful for her to keep track, and it gave her peace of mind knowing her baby was full.
- Burping: Burping can sometimes feel like an Olympic event! One mom I knew had a baby who needed to be burped after every feed, or else he’d get super fussy. She’d sit him up, pat his back, and sometimes it took a while, but when that big burp finally came, it was such a relief—for both mom and baby! She learned that patience was key when it came to burping.
4. Hygiene and Bottle Care
- Sterilizing Bottles: Sterilizing bottles became a daily routine for one of my friends. She had a special section in her kitchen where she boiled water every morning to sterilize all the bottles for the day. It gave her peace of mind knowing everything was clean and ready for her baby. After a while, it just became part of her routine, and she got it down to a science.
- Handwashing: One of the dads I knew was so particular about hygiene, especially in the early months. He made sure everyone washed their hands before holding the baby, and even though it might have seemed a bit much to visitors, it really helped keep germs away during that fragile time.
5. Sleep and Feeding
- Frequent Feeding: In those early months, your baby will likely feed every two hours, including through the night. One friend said she would nurse in bed with her baby to make those midnight feedings easier. She’d sit in the dark, feeding her baby quietly, and while it was tiring, she also cherished those peaceful moments together.
- Longer Night Sleeps: As babies get older, they start sleeping longer stretches at night. I remember one mom who, at around 4 months, woke up in a panic because her baby had slept for five hours straight! She was so used to feeding every few hours that the silence startled her, but her baby was just fine, happily snoozing. It was a sign that her baby was growing and starting to sleep longer between feeds.
6. Dealing with Common Issues
- Colic or Gas: Colic can be really challenging. One of my neighbors had a baby who cried for hours every evening, and it was heartbreaking to watch. She tried different techniques to soothe him—holding him upright during feedings, doing gentle tummy massages, and giving him warm baths. Eventually, she found what worked for her baby and things slowly improved. It was a tough phase, but she powered through it.
- Spit-Up: Spit-up is pretty common in babies. A dad I knew always kept a burp cloth handy, like it was part of his uniform! His baby would spit up after almost every feed, so he’d hold her upright for about 20 minutes afterward, and that seemed to help reduce the spit-up. He joked that he got used to wearing baby spit on his clothes—one of the many badges of parenthood.
- Growth Spurts: Growth spurts can be exhausting because your baby will suddenly want to feed all the time. I remember a mom who said her baby went through a growth spurt at 3 months and fed almost every hour for a few days. She was so tired, but she knew it was a sign that her baby was growing and needed the extra nutrition.
7. Introducing Solid Foods
- Around 6 months, you can start introducing solids. One of my friends shared how exciting it was to introduce her baby to mashed bananas. The baby’s face was priceless—half confused, half curious. Each week, she’d try a new food, like mashed avocado or pureed carrots, and watching her baby explore new tastes and textures became one of her favorite parenting milestones. It was messy but fun!
NB// nursing your baby during these first months is a journey. There will be challenges, but with patience, you’ll find your rhythm. Every baby is different, and so is every parent’s experience, but those little moments of bonding make it all worth it.
