Spoiling Babies :)

here's some facts from the kellymom.com website:
Your baby will not be spoiled if you hold him and nurse him often - quite the opposite, in fact. Studies have shown that when babies are held often and responded to quickly, the babies cry less, and the parents learn to read baby's cues more quickly. A young child's need for his mother is very intense - as intense as his need for food. Know that your child really needs you. It is not about manipulation or something you can "fix" with the right discipline. Often a baby who is perceived as fussy is simply a baby who needs more contact with mom (and is smart enough to express this need) and is content once his needs are met. See the links below to read more about spoiling.
Are you worried about spoiling your baby? Read on...

• Spoiling from AskDrSears.com
• Can I spoil my baby? by Pinky McKay
• Could your baby be spoiled? by Gayle Peterson, MSSW, PhD
• Will I Spoil My Baby by Holding/nursing Him So Often? LLL FAQ
• Will I Spoil My Baby If I Carry Her in a Sling? by Dr. William Sears
• Where does fear of spoiling come from? by Teresa Pitman
• Shutdown Syndrome from AskDrSears.com
• Reflections... by Paula Yount @

Should baby be on a schedule?

Breast babies and schedules by Becky Flora, IBCLC

Should you schedule baby's feeds? by Debbi Donovan, IBCLC

Breastfeeding and schedules by Paula Yount

Scheduling Feeds by Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC

Right On Cue: Can You Breastfeed on a Schedule? by Gwen Morrison

Examining the Evidence for Cue feeding of Breastfed Infants by Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC and Jan Barger, MA, RN, IBCLC

Chang SR, Chen KH. Demand feeding for healthy premature newborns: a randomized crossover study. J Formos Med Assoc. 2004 Feb;103(2):112-7.

This helps as well:

• Infant Massage by Angela Sinclair
• Colic Relief Routine by Vimala McClure
• Guidelines for Infant Massage from the Department of Women & Infant Nursing, The Ohio State University Medical Center
• Baby Massage from the book "Hola Familia" (Hello Family)
• Benefits of Baby Massage by Michelle Ebbin

Low Milk Supply issues part two

hey, i just read this book from the library, and I thought it was really good. Its an easy read.
The name of the book is
So That's What They are For! A definitive guide to breastfeeding by Janet Tamaro


oh, and here's something really interesting (from the book): pg 118
what the baby needs per breastfeeding (with a normal 8 - 12 feedings in 24 hours)
if he weighs:
9-12 lbs - 3 oz of breastmilk per feeding
13-15 lbs - 4 oz of breastmilk
15-17 lbs - 5 oz of breastmilk


Another formula on page 222 is this:
your baby will drink 2.5 oz of milk per pound of weight in a day. So a ten pound baby will drink about 25 oz in 24 hours. So sometimes, he will drink 2 oz, sometimes 4 oz.

My own personal experience: Aidan will cluster feed and feed continuously from 2 pm to 7 pmish. then every 2 hours or so after that until about 1 AM and then he will give me a nice solid block of 5 hours of sleep. then an hour feeding. then another block from 7 to 11AMish. So he tanks up in the afternoon, to be able to have that nice block of sleep. He will feed for a 45 minute block or longer, usually on one breast, then we wait for about 30 minutes, and then feed for another 45 minute block or longer on the other breast - and we do this for several hours. The breast continuously produces milk so for me, there is enough.

I also know several working women who wear a special shirt in the car, and pump all the way to work and all the way home, this helps keep up their supply. (+ pump 3 times during working hours).

Here's a website: www.lowmilksupply.org

Di-Gize Oil for Colicky Babies

I love Di-Gize oil for my whole family, and it really helps Aidan's colic. Thanks Candi!

Di-Gize oil by Young Living on the bottom of his foot helps colicky babies A LOT! In my experience, in the midst of a colic attack, I can continue to breastfeed him within 30 minutes of application, after which he drops off to sleep.
An article on Di-Gize: http://mamalovesoils.com/monthly-oils/di-gize-december/129
I personally put this on Aidan's foot with either coconut oil or olive oil. One or two drops is usually sufficient.
Also check out my breastfeeding diet for colicky babies page:
http://melissaneece.blogspot.com/2010/02/breastfeeding-diet-and-recipes-for.html

You could also try other digestive type blends from other companies (Butterfly Express, Native American Naturals, etc) or even blend your own.  Just remember to put coconut oil on first for the sensitive foot of your baby.

Check out my other articles on Colic help.

Happiest Baby on the Block Info

If you haven't checked out the Happiest Baby on the Block material, you really should. Its fantastic. Some of it we were already doing, but we hadn't swaddled Aidan in a few weeks, and we weren't doing all 5 S's at the same time. It really does calm him down. :)
We checked out the DVD from the library - really good to see how it all works and really calms the babies immediately.
Its also endorsed by most breastfeeding sites as being a breastfeeding friendly baby calming method (not all methods out there are).

http://www.happiestbaby.com/

Google video search link

You tube search link

From the website:

Never again will parents have to stand by helpless and frazzled while their poor baby cries and cries. Dr. Karp shows the world that we do not have to let our babies cry it out. “Now parents can easily learn the methods used by the best baby soothers throughout history.”

In a thought-provoking new view of infancy, Dr. Karp blends modern science and ancient wisdom to prove that newborns are not really ready for the world when they are born. Through his research and experience, he has developed four basic principles that are crucial for understanding babies…improving their sleep…and soothing their senses:

• The Missing 4th Trimester: As odd as it may sound, one of the main reasons babies cry is because they are born three months too soon.
• The Calming Reflex: The automatic reset switch that can stop a baby’s crying…and boost a baby’s sleep…during the first months of life.
• The 5 S’s: Five simple steps that trigger the calming reflex (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking). For centuries, parents have tried these methods only to fail because, as with a knee reflex, the calming reflex only works when it is triggered in exactly the right way.
• The Cuddle Cure: The perfect mix the 5 S’s that can soothe even most colicky infants and add hours to their sleep.