Becoming a mom is a feeling like no other. There are so many exciting and wonderful experiences you’re going to have with your newborn. Feeding your babe is one of these wonderful experiences and it’s something that will take a little practice. When it comes to feeding your little one, there are all kinds of things to learn, such as how baby teething will affect breastfeeding and chewing food, and how to organize feedings around baby bath time. The more you learn before your new newborn arrives, the smoother things will go.

The Best Time for Feeding Baby

If you’re like most new moms, you’re going to stress out a little over when you should feed your newborn. However, this is something that you’ll get down pat after a while. Most newborns are going to need feeding several times a day, and how much they need will depend their individual appetites and growth spurts. Generally babies nurse every two to three hours and take a bottle every three to four hours.

If you’ve chosen to breastfeed and your infant is experiencing baby teething, you may be concerned about keeping up a regular feeding schedule. It’s still possible to breastfeed while a child is going through this, but generally your little suckler will wince and shriek in pain.  This is when it is important to try any or all of these teething remedies to soothe your baby’s pain:

• Chilled damp washcloth to suck and chew on
• Teething ring
• Mesh bag teether with frozen fruit inside
• Frozen waffles
• Corn cob

Feeding and Baby Bath Time

When possible wait until after the last meal of the day to bathe your infant.  This will allow you to wash peas and carrots out of nooks and crannies and let baby have the opportunity to settle into a nightly routine before going to bed.  This bedtime routine may not seem like much at six months but, at one year, you will be glad you stuck to a solid routine.

Feeding Baby and Outings/Parties

The Rule of thumb for any outing involving baby is to have her fed and rested prior to leaving. This will generally allow you an hour or so to visit with adults or enjoy the occasion before needing to tend to mommy business.  Of course, there are exceptions, so being flexible is important, too.  It’s easier to feed, whether by bottle or by breast, when you are in a quiet room, because sights and sounds can be distracting.

Keep in mind that all infants are different and will have different experiences with breastfeeding and baby teething. Get into a feeding routine with your little one, so you can spend more time bonding. More great tips for mommies are available on Baby Magic.com.