Top 10 tips for feeding your baby

 

"Breastfeeding is harder than you think; the advice of all the different midwives can confuse you so I would recommend getting a private lactation consultant. Also, accept that it can take up to six weeks to get the hang of it, then it becomes easier. Don't set yourself limits - if you enjoy it breastfeed for as long as you can." - Natalie Hudson, prenatal yoga teacher and mum to Milla, age 2.

 

"Focus on your posture when feeding. Use pillows to bring baby closer to your breast or bottle, rather than folding over baby causing the upper back to be stretched and the muscles in the chest to contract." - Michelle Wright, personal trainer and mum to Ethan, 15, Simon, 13, Millie, 12 and Max, 9.

 

“When bottle-feeding, switch sides just as you would if you were breastfeeding. This gives your arm a break and helps baby get used to being fed on both sides. It’s also good for your back and is better for your baby’s neck and vision.” – Charlotte Whittaker, mum to Grace, six months.

 

"I really wish I had been given a more balanced view about breastfeeding. I had heard and read about how imperative it was to do it, and then when it really didn't work out - for a multitude of reasons - I was left feeling very guilty. I wish I'd had the insight beforehand that a happy mum and bub is the most important thing. A friend of mine told me that the smartest guy she knows, who is some sort of mathematical genius, was bottle-fed - that made me feel better! I am obviously not against breastfeeding, just against the pressure when it doesn't work out." - Fiona Boyce, mum to Oscar, 3 and Asher, 1.

 

“Older babies get distracted easily during feeding, especially during the day. One way to get them to finish their bottle is to tap the base of it gently with your fingernail as they’re feeding. They focus on the sound and movement and keep drinking to the end.” – Jo Elliot, mum to Elijah, 6, and Chloe, 3.

 

"If you’re breastfeeding, consider expressing some milk each day so that you build a stash in the freezer. At some stage you’ll be ready to leave your baby with someone else for a couple of hours and it’s very handy if you have expressed milk on hand. It’s easy to express in the early days because you have heaps of milk. I had less excess milk as time went by and it was harder to express and therefore harder to get a babysitter because my son didn’t like formula." - Gail Virgona, mum to Luca, 5 and Leo, 2.

 

"Finding low-key ways to keep my toddler entertained while I’m feeding the baby is incredibly helpful. One activity that has worked very well for us was to create a children’s playlist on the iPod. All my children have loved listening to story CDs (audio books). I’ve imported a number of my toddler’s favourites and made a playlist. We have a connection from our stereo into which I can plug the iPod. If the stories have an associated book, I can have that ready for him to look at while he listens and I feed the baby." - Nicole Avery, blogger at planningwithkids.com and mum of five.

 

"When learning to breastfeed, keeping asking the midwives to make sure your baby is latching on correctly. Don’t expect your milk to come in on day three or four - mine didn’t come till day seven. Express, express, express to increase your supply. Take fenugreek to help the supply as well." - Amanda Ferguson, mum to Chelsea, 11 months.

 

“Whether your baby is breast- or bottle-fed, get them used to taking a bottle from someone else on a regular basis. If you breastfeed and they don’t drink from a bottle for a long period of time, then you may be dealing with bottle refusal just as you have to go back to work.” – Sue Cartwright, mum to Stephen, 10, and Noah, 7.