Breastfeeding

  • Download and print our "Baby's First Week" Breastfeeding Record. Then take it with you to your baby's checkup.

    Copyright © 2009 AAP Feed run on: 9/23/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/23/2024

  • Breastmilk is good for your baby. It is superior to any alternative form of infant formula and is uniquely designed to meet the nutritional needs of your infant. It contains antibodies which will help protect your baby against illness. Breastfeeding is easy, inexpensive, and convenient; there are no bottles to wash and no formula to prepare. Breastmilk is easy to digest, and less allergenic, thus there are fewer problems with constipation and diarrhea. Breastfeeding provides a special bonding for baby and mother. It also helps mom get back into shape by contracting the uterus.

    While breastfeeding may be the natural thing to do, it helps to know a little about how to do it. Here are a few steps to help you get started.

    • Wash hands with soap and water.

    • Hold your baby close to your breast and turn your baby so you are tummy to tummy.

    • Hold the breast in your hand and gently stroke the babies lips with the nipple until the baby opens wide. Your baby has a "rooting reflex" which will make him turn his mouth toward your touch.

    • Pull the baby onto your breast, helping him to take in as much of the brown area of the nipple as possible.

    • Nurse the baby on both breasts, about 10 minutes per side, burping in between.

    • To remove the baby from the breast, place your finger in the corner of his mouth to break the suction.

    • Proper positioning of the baby on the breast and using different positions to hold your baby while nursing is very important to reduce nipple soreness.

  • Vitamins and Fluoride

    Breastmilk provides the best nutrients for your baby. However, it is likely that your precious jewel will need some additional vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus and also support his/her immune system. If you breastfeed or partially breastfeed your baby, you should give your baby 400 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D by mouth per day. You should also give this supplement if your baby receives less than 32 oz of Vitamin D-fortified formula in a day.   

    Flouride provides your child with excellent protection from cavities. Upon the eruption of his/her first tooth, you should subsequently brush the teeth with "half a pea-size" smear of flouridated toothpaste. You may increase that amount to a "pea-sized" smear at 3 years of age.  At the 6 month well child visit, ask your provider if they recommend that a flouride varnish be applied to your child's teeth after they erupt. 

    If or when you start your young child on supplemental formula, you may use city tap water to mix with the formula for this is already supplemented with flouride. If you use well water for your drinking water, please check with your county health department* to have your well water tested and then consult with your pediatrician or family physician to assure that your child is getting the right amount of flouride.  

    * or check out the My Water's Flouride website.


  • When a mother becomes ill, she should not interrupt breastfeeding for fear that she may make her baby sick. Breast milk passes immunity to the baby in many circumstances. Frequent hand washing will also decrease the risk of contagiousness.

    If you are nursing while ill, it is generally best to avoid most medications. If you wish to take medicine, the following medicines may be taken safely (at the recommended dose) without risk to your baby:

    For fever: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

    For colds: Sudafed; nasal sprays (eg. Afrin, Neosynephrin); Benadryl (Other antihistamines may be given, but there may be a slight decrease in mother's milk supply)

    For pain: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, codeine, Demerol, Naprosyn

    For infection: Antibiotics do not usually produce adverse effects in breast-fed infants.

    You may take: Penicillins (eg. Amoxicillin), Ceclor, Cefzil, Lorabid, Suprax, Duricef, Keflex, Augmentin

    For weight reduction:

    After your child reaches one month of age, you may take products with Aspartame(Nutrasweet) or saccharin. Mothers who carry the gene for phenylketonuria should consult us before taking Aspartame.

    If you are taking a medicine which is not listed here, call and speak with our phone nurse.

  • Situations arise where you may need to be separated from your baby; school, work or an evening out. When this occurs, you may wish to pump and store your milk ahead of time. There are a number of different breast pumps available and you will need to find the one that fits your needs.

    Breast milk may be stored in the refrigerator for 48 hours. To freeze breast milk, first cool it in the refrigerator, and then put it into the freezer. Frozen breast milk should be used within 3 months if it is stored in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator. Milk stored in a deep freezer is good for 6 months. Remember to label the breast milk with the date that you pumped it. Thaw milk in the refrigerator or in warm water just before feeding. Thawed milk must be used within 24 hours. Note: freezing breastmilk destroys some of its antibodies.

    You may introduce a bottle of breast milk or formula at 2-3 weeks of age (2-3 times/week). This is enough to get your baby used to a bottle, but not so much that it will compromise your breast milk supply.

  • 1.Your baby should have at least 6-8 wet diapers per day and frequent bowel movements. Call us if your newborn is stooling less then 4 times a day in the first two weeks of life.

    2.Initially, your baby should nurse 8-14 times over 24 hours (every 1 1/2 to 3 hrs). In the first 2 weeks of life, you should wake your baby for feedings if she sleeps beyond 5 hours.

    3.Your breast should feel full before feeding and softer after your baby has nursed.

    4.In general, your baby should seem satisfied and content after feeding. If you are concerned, you should call us. We may want to have the baby weighed.


  • There is enough water in formula and breast milk to meet your babies needs, so no extra water is really needed. It may be offered during hot weather or when baby is ill. Once your baby starts eating solid foods, he may require more water.