Feeding

Every mama has a favorite position and we're not talking about sex or breastfeeding. When babies take in milk, either through breast or bottle-feeding, they often ingest air, causing their tummies to fill with excess gas and making them uncomfortable. A burp break can easily alleviate the pain and keep the lil one in good spirits, but just how do you choose to burp your tot? No two babies are identical and no burping position is best. And just because one position works one day, it might not work the next. So tell us, what is your favorite way to burp your offspring?

Are you ready to make the switch? Moving your lil one to a diet that includes solid foods can be an exciting time. While many of today's parents were fed rice cereal almost from the get-go, doctors currently recommend holding off until tots are between four to six months old before bringing a spoon to their mouths.

Before introducing the baby cereal, most pediatricians look for wee ones to exhibit certain developmental milestones such as sitting up (with support), doubling their birth weight, and showing interest in food. Even if your hungry tyke is salivating when watching you eat at four months, some docs insist on maintaining an exclusive breastmilk or formula diet until they reach the half-year mark.

When did you start introducing solid foods?

Among the decisions that a new mama faces is how she will feed her baby. We're not talking breast versus bottle (that debate is ongoing), but whether the baby will be fed on a schedule or on demand.

Nobody likes the sound of a crying baby and knowing that you can calm the screams by simply feeding a lil one may sound like an easy answer. But sleep deprived mamas (and those who live with them) may aim for some semblance of a routine after the first few weeks of living with their tot. Getting on that schedule often requires listening to a hungry baby cry while mom tries to stretch out the time between feedings and gives herself a bit of a break. Others shrug off the lack of sleep and take comfort in the closeness they feel from immediate responsiveness.

Which feeding philosophy did you choose?

Most moms assume that their baby's first taste of real food will be cereal once the pediatrician gives the go ahead, but in my experience this hasn't been the case. And the food wasn't an organic fruit or vegetable puree either.

The other night, my kids made chocolate chip cookies, and my 3-year-old took a warm one into the living room to eat. A few minutes after my son had finished his cookie, I noticed my baby was practically sucking the skin off of his fingers and had chocolate smeared across his mouth. Somehow while the two played, a piece of melted chocolate had exchanged hands and my 4-month-old was loving and licking every bit of it. I don't think this is all too uncommon since my daughter's first taste was tiramisu a friend gave her a taste of at a bridal shower, and my older son's was a lick of my daughter's lollipop. What was your child's first taste?

Don't give the baby a bottle, it will cause nipple confusion! Prior to having a baby, the concept of "nipple confusion" is one that most mamas think is reserved for regulars at Hooters. But once a lil one arrives, friends and family will have plenty of advice about the best time to introduce bottles and pacifiers to a breastfed baby.

Most lactation consultants suggest waiting until a baby is a month old before offering her a bottle, giving both mom and her wee one enough time to become comfortable nursing. Some moms follow this advice, while others throw caution to the wind. One friend who recently gave birth told me that she offered both human and man-made nipples from the day her tot was born and never had an issue. Another waited for three months, at which point her son outright refused the bottle if his mother were in the room.

When did you introduce your baby to the bottle?