How long should a baby suckle so as not to go hungry - instructions for young mothers

The ability to read is one of the basic social skills of a person. Without it, it is impossible to receive and transmit information, therefore this skill must be developed in every person. Modern parents strive to teach their child to read as early as possible, so that by the time he starts learning, he already has some knowledge base. So when should a child start studying in this direction?

Teaching too early - why it's harmful

The development of a child’s cognitive abilities follows certain patterns, certain stages; changing or accelerating it is undesirable, and often completely impossible. Until the age of five, children think figuratively – in pictures, and it is difficult for them to perceive information in the form of letters, numbers or other signs. And even having understood the general principle of reading, little students read, but cannot understand the essence of what is written.

Early learning to read can lead to health problems:

• excessive brain tension;
• unusual blood flow to the hemispheres of the brain;
• visual strain.

Intensive classes can unbalance the development of different types of thinking in a child: the emphasis will be on the logical, and the figurative will be “abandoned.” Yes, the child will begin to remember, speak, analyze, and think logically better, but the development of the right hemisphere will be slowed down, and it is responsible for equally important dreams, emotions, understanding of music and colors. The baby’s emotional development will be somewhat inhibited, and at an older age this may result in serious problems in the form of:

• lack of ability to empathize with others;
• difficulties with a correct understanding of your emotions;
• inability to identify your strengths and weaknesses;
• difficulties in understanding one's own and social values;
• isolation and uncertainty.

It is known that many child prodigies are developed from early childhood, but most often, growing up, they are not happy and are poorly adapted to the realities of the world around them. Therefore, it is more important to raise a child to be a socially adjusted person than to teach him to read too early.

It is important!

A mother should not worry that her child remained hungry, even if she put him to the breast 10 times, but it seems that he did not eat almost a drop. The size of a newborn's stomach is very small, so he eats only about 10 ml at one feeding. Thus, the baby can drink up to 100 ml throughout the day.

On average, milk comes in 3–4 days after birth and its quantity gradually increases. The baby's stomach also grows. This means that the amount of milk consumed also increases. So, on the first day a newborn can drink 10 ml per feeding, on the second day - 20 ml, and on the third day - 30 ml. But remember that each organism is individual and there are no strict limits here. However, if by the 4th–5th day of life the child’s body weight does not increase, but only decreases (by more than 8%), then this requires the attention of a specialist.

There is a popular way to determine the rate of breast milk consumption. You need to multiply the number of days that have passed since your birth by 10. But this method is inaccurate and has no scientific confirmation.

So how much should a newborn eat at one feeding? The table shows the daily and one-time volume of milk by month for children under 1 year.

Do not forget that breastfed children are introduced to complementary foods at approximately 6 months. This means that the amount of milk consumed is reduced, giving way to more mature food.

What experts say

Psychologists, psychophysiologists and other experts recommend starting to teach a preschooler to read no earlier than he turns 5 years old, but at the same time he must be ready to learn. They say about this:

• intelligible, correct speech without speech defects;
• correct listening comprehension of the text;
• the ability to explain the meaning of a word;
• the ability to build coherent logical sentences;
• the ability to briefly retell the plot of a cartoon or fairy tale, or describe your day;
• the ability to concentrate on some activity, for example, needlework.

A healthy child of five years old usually has all these skills. And at this age it’s time to get acquainted with letters and sounds, then by the time the child enters 1st grade, he will have mastered reading at a sufficient level.

How to stimulate the pronunciation of words at 1 year old

By the age of 1, speech is not yet the most important means of communication for children. It is necessary to teach the baby to use speech. To do this, you do not need to immediately give the toy that the baby wants to take. First you need to say the name of the toy (you can simplify it): “Should I give you a la-la?” Let the baby try to repeat “la-la”, “beep-beep”. When presenting the desired item, you can emphasize: “This is lala, na.”

The vocabulary of an adult communicating with a baby should contain both full and abbreviated words: “kar-kar”, “ding-ding”, “knock-knock”, “tick-tock”. These substitutes for full words are temporary and are needed only because they are easier for the child to pronounce.

In order for children to establish a connection between a word and an action, you need to ask him to perform some action: give or take a toy, show a familiar object, wave a hand. Also verbalize all the actions that he performs with toys. For the same purpose, they play with 2–4 familiar toys and ask the baby, for example, to take a ball, throw it or catch it. Adults carry out all actions emotionally, clearly pronouncing both words-objects and words-actions.

Is it possible to instill a love of reading?

It is not enough to teach a child to read - he also needs to instill a love for this activity. Look at your favorite books and read them, study the illustrations, and get acquainted with the adventures of the characters. It is important that older family members show the child that reading is an amazing educational opportunity, and not a hateful duty. It will be useful if the child saw people with books in his close circle, then, imitating them, he himself will want to plunge into the world of literature.

The first reading lessons should be conducted in the format of a game: this way the child will assimilate the material easier and better, the child will not have time to lose concentration during the lesson, and will avoid stressful experiences.

First words: when to expect

All children develop speech at their own pace. There is no strict norm for when a child should say the first word. Often, but not always, this happens closer to the baby’s first birthday. The vocabulary of a one-year-old child grows very slowly, but by the age of two the pace can accelerate - by that time, many children (but not all) know several dozen words and can compose a sentence of two words.

Choosing a teaching method

Today there are many methods for teaching a child to read; it is important to choose the one that is right for your child.

Perhaps the most popular method is classes in the classical alphabet (the alphabet itself can be developed by any author). The baby quickly remembers the letter, since he will now associate it with a certain picture. Later, you can move on to another well-known book - the primer and study reading syllables from it.

Many techniques are based on the use of cubes or tablets. They are convenient and interesting, but are often criticized by school teachers. It is believed that such training misses a very important component - basic familiarity with the alphabet.

The most famous of these techniques:

The Montessori method is another well-known educational option. Kids first master writing, then move on to familiarizing themselves with letters, and then learn to read syllables.

At what age should you worry if your child doesn't start talking?

Let us remind you once again: each child is an individual with his own individual characteristics. The age at which each stage of speech development occurs varies greatly among different children. If the baby said his first words a month or two later than normal, it’s okay. You can talk about a possible problem only if the baby is behind by a stage or more:

Why doesn't the child pronounce his first words?

If a child shows signs of speech delay, a medical problem must first be looked for. In addition to conditions associated with abnormalities of brain development (cerebral palsy, autism and others), these may be hearing impairment and physical defects of the speech apparatus - the larynx, vocal folds, pharynx, jaw muscles.

If they are ruled out, it is most likely a temporary psychological problem. The baby will outgrow it with the help of a speech development specialist. And then the parents will dream about something else - how to silence him

When does a child start speaking if the family speaks two languages?

If a child is in a bilingual environment from birth, he will begin to speak later than his peers. But in both languages ​​at once! The reason is obvious: the baby has to figure out on his own why adults pronounce certain sounds during different actions, and if they call one thing in two words, it is much more difficult to understand the mechanics of “speaking.”

It is not at all necessary that mom and dad speak different languages. The source of alternative linguistic knowledge can be a grandmother, a nanny, or older children in a nursery. If you want your child to know two languages ​​from infancy, just be patient while waiting for the first words. But if your plans do not include teaching your baby the nanny’s native language or the grandmother’s special dialect, ask them to speak in the clearest Russian possible in the presence of the baby.

The baby learned his first words. What's next?

Speech is the basis of communication, which means that enormous opportunities open up for you to communicate with your child and teach him. Explain, tell, answer questions. And don’t forget in any case: it is important not only to talk, but also to listen, recognizing and taking into account the needs of the little person.

Are there any downsides to homeschooling reading?

Lack of consistency is the main problem of independent lessons in teaching reading. In addition, at home, parents usually miss such an important part of the lesson as the sound analysis of words, and the child may also have difficulty breaking words into syllables. It can be difficult to correct this mistake later, so it is better to immediately entrust a professional teacher with teaching the child to read and write. This can be either a private tutor or a teacher of preparatory courses for the first grade - such classes are held in literally every school today.

Baby development at 8 months

Where's mom? If at 7 months babies are worried when their mother is not around, then at 8 months children develop a fear of strangers. One follows from the other, and both phenomena are normal for each of these stages of growing up. You will do the right thing if you try to surround your baby with special care, affection and emotional warmth, and be sensitive to his needs. Scientific research has shown that children who receive a lot of warmth and affection in infancy are much more resistant to stress as adults.

Physical development:

• Crawls at high speed and over any distance;
• Rise up and down from a sitting position with support;
• A “tweezer grip” appears - can grasp small objects with the thumb and forefinger;
• He holds and eats pieces of food in his hand;
• Makes the first attempts to move with an extended step, holding onto a support.

Psycho-emotional development:

• Feels confident in a familiar space;
• The range of emotions expands - you can notice dissatisfaction, surprise, joy, delight, perseverance;
• Repeats syllables loudly and clearly;
• The vocabulary increases, the first conscious words appear - “mom”, “dad”, “baba”, “give”;
• Begins to show increased interest in new objects, expressing surprise and wariness with facial expressions.

When your baby is 8 months old, he is already able to control the volume of his voice, and from now on you can sometimes whisper to each other. If you are not yet reading to your baby before bed, now is a great time to start: you will practice the bedtime reading ritual and once again practice regulating the volume of your voice.

A few important details

If you decide to teach your child to read at home, it is important to follow a few rules. All studies should be built on the principle “From simple to complex”, that is, you first need to learn letters and sounds, then you can begin to compose them into syllables and only then move on to whole words. Apply the material you have learned in practice: look for familiar letters on signs while walking, write them in the sand or in the snow, sculpt them from plasticine, lay them out from beads.

For studying, you need to arrange a corner with a comfortable chair and a table or desk, and proper lighting. The first lessons should not last longer than 10-15 minutes; the student should not be overtired. After finishing, you should clean up your work place and put away your books and school supplies.

Lessons should be held regularly, but it is not a good idea to conduct a lesson if the student is over or in a bad mood. The child must be praised for every educational achievement.

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Child and care

Authors : Spock B.

*What does feeding mean for a baby*

60. He knows more than you think.

A child, like any person, has an instinct of hunger. If he is chronically underfed, he will scream for more milk. Believe him and consult your doctor. If he hasn't finished his usual portion, don't insist. Consider that he wakes up because he is hungry, and most likely cries because he wants to eat. He greedily catches the nipple (or pacifier) ​​in his mouth. Sucking is serious work for a baby. He may even sweat from the effort. If you take the pacifier away before he has had enough, he will scream indignantly. When he has sucked as much milk as he needs, he will become drowsy from satiety and fall asleep again. Even in his sleep, he makes sucking movements, as if he is dreaming that he is being fed, and there is a blissful expression on his face. All this suggests that food is the main joy in his life. He gets his first ideas about life from the environment in which he is fed. He gets his first ideas about people from the person who feeds him. If the mother constantly insists that the child drinks more milk than he wants, he will gradually lose his appetite. He will try to avoid this by falling asleep earlier and earlier each time, or he will protest and persist in his reluctance to eat. If this continues, then his lively, joyful curiosity about life will disappear; he seems to think to himself: “Life is a struggle. It's people who don't give me peace of mind. I have to fight to protect myself." So, don't force your child to eat more than he wants. Let food remain a pleasure for him, and then he will feel that you are his friend. This is very important for the development of his self-confidence and cheerfulness, the foundations of which are laid in the first year of life.

61. Sucking instinct.

A newborn suckles vigorously for two reasons. Firstly, because he is hungry, and secondly, because he loves to suck. If you feed him enough but don't give him the opportunity to satisfy the need to suck, he will suck his fist or thumb or clothes. It is very important that feeding is long enough and that the number of feedings is sufficient (see sections 296-309). Try to prevent your child from getting into the habit of thumb sucking. Take action when he is looking for something to suck.

62. In the first days after birth, children lose weight.

Some parents are overly concerned about this phenomenon. It seems unnatural and dangerous to them. They may also have heard about dehydration due to sudden weight loss. Don't worry. If this happens, the newborn will be immediately cured by giving him water. In maternity hospitals, newborns are regularly given water to prevent dehydration, especially if the mother has not yet produced milk. Some mothers, overly worried about their baby's weight loss and thinking that they are not producing enough milk, give up breastfeeding before they try to establish it properly (in some maternity hospitals, mothers are simply not told the baby's weight, but then they may imagine that something terrible). Mothers should understand that newborn weight loss is completely natural and trust their doctor.

* Mode *

Your child's doctor will explain what kind of diet your child needs. It will depend on the baby's weight, appetite, sleep schedule and nutritional needs. Your pediatrician will help you create a routine that suits both you and your baby. Next, I want to discuss only the general principles of nutrition.

63. What is meant by strict and flexible regime.

In the past, children were usually kept on a very strict diet. A 3.5 kg newborn was fed strictly at 6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00 and 2:00, neither earlier nor later, regardless of whether he was hungry or not. Doctors did not yet have a clear idea of ​​the causes of severe gastric diseases that affected tens of thousands of newborns every year. It was believed that these diseases were caused not only by bacteria in the milk (for example, on dairy farms kept in unsanitary conditions, or due to the lack of refrigerators, or unhygienic conditions at home), but also by irregularities in the quantity and timing of food intake. Doctors were so afraid of irregular eating that they finally came to condemn it from a psychological point of view. They assured mothers that irregular nutrition would lead to spoiled children. The most zealous defenders of a strict regime advised mothers to approach the child only during precisely established feeding hours, and to pay no attention to him the rest of the time. Some insisted that children should not be kissed or caressed, as this could allegedly spoil them. Most children adjusted to the strict regimen as they could drink enough milk to not feel hungry for the next 4 hours; This is how the newborn’s digestive tract usually works. A person quickly gets used to everything at any age. If we are always fed at precisely set hours, then it is at these hours that we will feel hungry. But there were always children who found it very difficult to adapt to the strict regime in the first months. These are children whose stomachs could not hold enough milk for a 4-hour break, or those who fell asleep before they had time to get enough, or restless children, or those who were tormented by gas. They screamed desperately for several hours a day, but their mothers did not dare feed them or even pick them up outside of the schedule. The poor child had a hard life, but it was even harder for his mother, who listened to her baby’s cries, bit her nails in despair, tried with all her heart to console him, but did not dare to disobey the doctor, who assured that a strict regime was the key to the child’s health and happiness. Today's mothers are lucky - doctors allowed them to follow their natural aspirations. Moreover, severe gastric upsets have become rare due to the pasteurization of milk, its proper storage and hygienic care of the child. It took many years before doctors decided to try flexible feeding schedules. When a large number of observations were made, it turned out that irregular eating did not lead to gastric upsets or indigestion, or even to spoiling, as many had feared. The first experiments were carried out by Dr. Preston McLendon and Frances Simsarian with her child. The purpose of the experiment was to discover what kind of routine a breastfed baby would establish if he was fed as soon as he seemed hungry. In the first few days, the child did not wake up too often. Then, as his mother's milk came in, he began to wake up too often, up to 10 times a day. By the time he was 2 weeks old, he had progressed to eating six or seven meals a day at irregular intervals. By 10 weeks of age, he only needed four meals a day. When the results of this experiment were published, many parents breathed a sigh of relief and switched to a more flexible schedule, which had a positive impact on both children and parents.

64. Some parents have the wrong idea about the flexibility of the regime.

Some young parents, who consider themselves very progressive, went to the opposite extreme. They fed their baby whenever he woke up, and never woke him up for the next feeding, as if they were conducting a scientific experiment, considering themselves experts in matters of regularity of feeding. This approach will not cause harm if the child is calm, has good digestion and if it does not disturb the mother’s routine and she does not mind getting up to see the child at night. But if the baby is restless and cries often, this can lead to too many feedings, so that during the first few months the parents will not know the rest. And some children may even demand milk at night at the end of the first year. This situation can scare off a new mother, and she will curse the flexible regime. I heard mothers talking about their children, and one of them said in a tone that did not allow for objection: “My child is on a flexible schedule,” and the other answered in exactly the same tone: “But mine is not!” When parents talk as if diet is something like a political or religious belief, I think they are missing the point. And the main thing is that the regime is necessary for the benefit of the child, on the one hand, and for the convenience of the parents, on the other. The mode saves your energy and time. Flexible feeding means keeping the number of feedings to a reasonable number at more or less specific times and stopping night feedings as soon as the baby is ready. Otherwise, parents will be too tired to give the child more than just food. What is good and convenient for parents is good and convenient for their child, and vice versa. Since there is no need to follow a strict routine, you can first obey the child's demands, and then gradually establish a routine that is convenient for both you and him. If a mother chooses to feed her baby without a regimen for many months, then there will be no harm to the baby's digestion. It won't do any harm to the mother either, if she doesn't like schedules at all. But if she sticks to a routine in everything else, and if she has a lot of other things to do besides caring for the child, does she really think that the more she gives up her comforts, the better for the child? Does she really think that this is how she proves that she is a good mother? Such self-sacrifice may eventually lead to other difficulties.

65. How to establish a routine.

It is important not to make your baby cry for too long. He doesn't mind being woken up 3-4 hours after his last feeding. Every child can get used to the regime and this will happen faster if the mother helps him. In addition, the intervals between feedings increase as the baby's weight increases. A baby weighing from 2.5 kg to 3 kg usually needs feedings at 3-hour intervals, and children weighing 4-4.5 kg usually need feedings at 4-hour intervals. Most children begin to cope without night feedings after 1-2 months. Between the fourth and eighth month, babies begin to prefer a 5-hour interval and at the same time they stop waking up for evening feedings. The mother can help the child in his quest for regular feedings and reducing their number. By waking him up 4 hours after the last feeding, the mother instills in the child the habit of a 4-hour feeding interval. If two hours after the last feeding the baby begins to whine, do not approach him for a while, give him the opportunity to fall asleep again. If he continues to cry, give him water or a pacifier. This way you will help his stomach adjust to longer feeding intervals. If the mother immediately feeds the baby as soon as he moves, even if no more than 2 hours have passed since the last feeding, then she will thereby maintain his habit of small portions and short intervals. Different children need different amounts of time to get used to eating regularly. Most babies move to a 4-hour feeding window by the age of one month and skip night feedings if they are getting enough milk during the day and if they are nursing well and relatively calm. On the other hand, if the baby is inert in the first days and falls asleep in the middle of feeding, or, conversely, he is restless and often wakes up crying, or if the mother does not have enough breast milk at first, then it will be better for both you and the baby not to rush into establishing a strict regime ( see sections 111, 167-169, 249-251). But even in this case, mothers should very gradually and carefully introduce the child to more regular feeding at intervals of 4 hours.

66. How to do it.

A calm baby, weighing 3.5-4 kg at birth, usually tolerates intervals of 3.5-4 hours if he has a full stomach, and initially gets by with six or seven feedings per day. Parents may have in mind a rough schedule of meals spaced out at 4-hour intervals (6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00, 2:00), but they should be prepared to feed the baby earlier if he is clearly hungry: an hour earlier with plenty of bottle feeding and even 2 hours earlier during breastfeeding if the mother does not yet have enough breast milk. If it's time for feeding according to your approximate schedule and your baby is still sleeping, you can wake him up. You don't have to force him to eat. A child woken up four hours after his last meal will feel hungry within a few minutes. But suppose he woke up an hour before the scheduled time. There is no need to feed him as soon as he starts whining. He is not yet sure whether he wants to eat. But if after 10-15 minutes he is desperately screaming from hunger, I would not wait another minute. What about the regime then? Maybe he'll sleep longer next time and get back into the routine, not during the day, but at night. If he always wakes up hungry an hour earlier, he may not be getting enough milk for the 4 hour interval. In this case, when breastfeeding, feed him more often, even after two hours if he is clearly very hungry. Emptying your breasts more often will encourage them to fill up more, and after a few days you may have enough milk and your baby will be fuller for longer. If, when bottle-fed, he drinks the entire portion and still regularly wakes up early, consult with your doctor about increasing his portion of milk.

67. When to feed the baby next time.

I have already said that if the child usually calmly maintains an interval of 4 hours, but sometimes wakes up after 3-3.5 hours, then he can be fed immediately, without waiting for the set time. But suppose he woke up an hour after his last meal. If he has sucked the usual portion of milk, then he is unlikely to be hungry. Most likely he woke up because he was bothered by gas. Help him burp air or give him water or a pacifier. I wouldn't feed him this early, but you can try if nothing else calms him down. You cannot be sure that a child is really hungry if he tries to suck his fist or drinks milk greedily. A child suffering from gas usually behaves this way. It seems that the child himself cannot distinguish between hunger pains and gas pains (see section 251). In other words, you shouldn't always feed your baby as soon as he cries. If he cries often, try to find the reason and talk to your doctor.

68. Different feeding regimen.

You can, of course, set other feeding times if your baby doesn't mind. For example, 7.00, 11.00, 15.00, 19.00, 23.00 and 3.00. The trouble is that most children start their day between 5 and 6 am, whenever they are fed at night. There are happy mothers whose children calmly wait for the first feeding until 7 am, and then adhere to the usual schedule: 10.00, 14.00, 18.00, 22.00. This is also normal.

69. Three-hour interval.

If your baby drinks as much milk as he wants and still wakes up after 3 hours, leave him on this regimen for now. Typically, a 3-hour interval is needed for children weighing less than 3.5 kg. But it is not always the case. Some children weighing about 3 kg can easily withstand 4 hours. And others weighing 4 kg in the first two weeks cannot maintain an interval of more than 3 hours. Most children who need a 3-hour window during the day can handle 4 hours at night if they weigh at least 2.5 kg. In this case, the schedule will be approximately as follows: 6.00, 9.00, 12.00, 15.00, 18.00, 22.00, 2.00.

70. Night feeding.

The most important rule is not to wake your baby for night feedings, let him wake you up if he gets hungry. A baby who requires night feeding will initially wake up almost exactly at 2 am. Then one day he will wake up around 3-3.30 am. Feed him at this time and consider it a night feeding. In the morning he will probably wake up at 6-7 o'clock. The next night he might sleep until 4:30 or 5 am. Feed him, but consider it a morning six-hour feeding and hope that next time he wants to eat around 10 o'clock. It usually takes two or three nights for babies to get used to night feedings. When this happens, increase his daily portion of milk so that the total amount remains the same.

71. Skip night feedings.

If the baby is already a month old and weighs about 4.5 kg, but is still waking up for night feedings, I think it would be wiser not to rush to him with milk as soon as he moves, but to let him cry for 15-30 minutes, after which he might fall asleep again. If he doesn't calm down, try giving him warm water. If after half an hour he cries desperately again, then it’s easier to feed him; but try the same thing after a week or two. Generally speaking, a baby who weighs about 4.5 kg and eats normally during the day does not need night feeding.

72. Evening feeding.

Feed your baby when it's most convenient for you. A few weeks after birth, babies usually wait quietly until 23 or 24 hours. If you want to go to bed early, wake your child at 10 pm or even earlier. If it's more convenient for you to feed him later and the baby doesn't mind, do what's most convenient for you. If your baby is still waking up at 2am, I would suggest not skipping the evening feeding, even if he doesn't wake up. Since he is ready to give up one of the feedings, it is better to let it be a night feeding so that your sleep is not interrupted. If your baby has already stopped feeding at night but still can't get used to a regular daytime schedule, continue to wake him up at 10-11 a.m. (assuming he's willing to eat at that time). This way, at least the last feeding will be on schedule, you will avoid night feedings, and the first morning feeding will gradually move to 5-6 am (see section 195).

*How to feed*

For information on breastfeeding, see sections 86-98. For newborns who suck poorly in the first weeks of life and do not get used to the routine, see section 111. For how to give milk through the nipple, see sections 162, 169. This chapter discusses some of the difficulties that arise in the first weeks of a child's life.

73. Sometimes between the 4th and 7th month of life, the child behaves strangely during feeding.

The mother says that he greedily sucks on the breast or pacifier for several minutes, and then suddenly lets go and cries as if in pain. He's still hungry, but every time he takes the nipple (or pacifier) ​​again, he lets go earlier and cries. But he is willing to eat solid food. I think this is caused by teeth growth. It can be assumed that in the process of sucking, those gums, inside which teeth are already growing, also partly participate in the general movement of the muscles of the mouth, which causes an unbearably tickling sensation in them. Therefore, to help your baby, you can alternate between giving him milk and solid food, as he will still suckle quietly for a few minutes. If he is bottle feeding, you can enlarge the hole in the nipple so that he can get more milk in a short time (but do not use nipples with large holes while everything is in order, otherwise the baby's sucking needs will not be met). If he starts crying too soon after starting to nurse, don't let him nurse at all for a few days. Give him a cup if he can, or a spoon, or add more milk to his porridge and other foods. Don't worry that he isn't getting his usual milk supply. He compensates for his lack later. It happens that a child refuses to take the breast when the mother is menstruating. Feed him these days from a pacifier. But the mother must suck milk from the breast so that its supply does not decrease. If, after the end of menstruation, the mother immediately stops giving the baby a pacifier, he will return to the breast again and the amount of breast milk will be restored. An ear infection after a cold can cause pain throughout the entire jaw, and then the child will refuse to suck, but will be able to eat solid food.

74. Belching.

All children swallow a little air when they drink. This air collects in the stomach and causes distress to the baby. Some children are forced to stop eating because of this, while others do not stop until they drink all the milk. There are two main ways to help your child stop swallowing air. Choose the one that is more convenient for you. The first method: sit the child on your lap, holding his back, and lightly stroke his tummy. Second, hold the baby in your arms so that his head is resting on your shoulder, and lightly pat or stroke his back. Place a napkin or diaper on his shoulder in case he spits up some milk. Some babies burp air easily and quickly, while others have more difficulty. If the air doesn't come out right away, putting your baby down for a minute and then lifting him up again can sometimes help. If your baby swallows so much air that he has to stop eating, let him burp and then continue feeding. At the end of each feeding, the baby should be given the opportunity to burp. If you put him in his crib before he burps, after a while the air in his stomach will start to bother him. Some children even experience pain from this. On the other hand, if your baby is having trouble burping but isn't bothered by it, you can hold him upright for a few minutes and then put him in his crib. Here I want to mention one more fact that worries many young mothers. A child who has sucked a full portion of milk has a very swollen belly. This happens because the amount of milk he drinks at one time is much larger than the size of his stomach.

*Is he eating enough and gaining weight well*

75. The child usually knows how much food he needs.

If he does not have enough milk or if the mother has less milk due to fatigue or nervousness, then the baby will wake up earlier each time and cry with a hungry cry that is already familiar to you. He will drink the milk to the last drop and look for more with his mouth and will try to suck his fist. If you weigh him, make sure he is gaining less weight than before. Some children become constipated from insufficient nutrition. If your baby is very hungry, he may start crying immediately after feeding. If you encounter such signs, consult your doctor about increasing your milk intake. It is wise to give your baby more milk if he drinks every drop. But be careful not to insist if he doesn't want milk more than usual. If you are breastfeeding him and he wakes early, feed him even if it means an extra feeding that day. Emptying the breasts more frequently will stimulate the production of more milk if the mother's body is capable of it. If you used to feed one breast, now feed both.

76. How much weight should a child gain?

The most correct answer is this: the child himself knows how much weight to gain. If he is given more milk than he needs, he refuses. If he is given less, then at the next feeding he wakes up earlier and sucks his fist. When people talk about weight gain, they mean average numbers, but each child gains weight differently. When calculating averages, doctors add the largest weight gain with the smallest and divide. Some children gain more weight, others less, and this is normal. However, slow weight gain may indicate that the child is malnourished or sick. If your child is gaining weight slowly, then you should take him to the doctor regularly to make sure he is healthy. There are children who slowly gain weight but show no signs of hunger. However, if you give them more milk, they will drink it more readily and gain weight faster. In other words, a baby doesn't always cry when he doesn't get enough milk. On average, children are born weighing 3.5 kg, and by 5 months their weight reaches 7 kg, i.e. doubles. But in practice, children born with low weight gain weight faster, as if trying to catch up with their larger brothers. A large baby may not double its weight by 5 months. The average baby gains about 900g per month in the first 3 months (160-200g per week). Of course, some healthy children gain less weight, while others gain more. By 6 months, the average weight gain drops to 500 g per month (100-120 g per week). From the 9th to the 12th month of life, the average weight gain decreases further to 300 g per month (60-80 g per week). And in the second year of life, the child usually gains 200-250 g per month. The older the child gets, the slower and more regularly he gains weight. As a child's teeth grow, his appetite usually decreases and he may not gain any weight for several weeks. When he is healthy, his appetite returns and his weight increases faster. A child's weight change from week to week does not mean anything. His weight at each weigh-in depends on the fullness of his stomach, bladder or intestines. If you weigh him one morning and see that he has only gained 100g in the last week when he previously gained 200g, do not assume that he is malnourished or ill. If the child looks completely healthy and happy, wait a week or two - perhaps in the next week he will gain more weight. But always remember that the older he gets, the slower he gains weight.

77. How often should a child be weighed?

Of course, most mothers do not have scales at home, and children are weighed only when visiting a doctor, which is completely sufficient. If the child is healthy and cheerful, then there is no point in weighing him more than once a month. If you have a scale at home, do not weigh it more than once a week, or preferably once every two weeks. Weighing him every day will cause you to worry unnecessarily about his weight. On the other hand, if he cries too much or is vomiting or has an upset stomach, frequent weighing may help the doctor make a diagnosis. For example, if a child cries a lot but is gaining weight well, then the reason for the crying is gas, not hunger.

published 06/20/2007 17:30 updated 10/02/2021 - Child care, hygiene, Growth and development, Nutrition, Sleep, The road to the potty. Diapers, Breastfeeding

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Age norms and standards are only a guideline

Remember that so many factors play a role in the development of a child that the most picky specialist will not undertake to strictly assess his maturation in the first year of life.

The period for the appearance of certain skills can be extended in time from 2 to 6 – 7 months. For example, particularly active children may try to get on their feet as early as 5 months; those who, due to their temperament, are in no hurry, may begin to show interest in such activity only at the age of one year. If you think your baby is developing some skills late, don't be afraid to talk to your pediatrician: general practitioners have a lot of experience and knowledge about all the normal variations.

You can be sure that if from the first days of his life the child ate well and slept, was in the fresh air, received a sufficient amount of physical and emotional stimuli, was surrounded by the love and care of adults, was examined on time by a pediatrician and specialized specialists - to his On his first birthday he grew into a beautiful, healthy and happy baby!

List of used literature:

1. Kazmin A.M., Kazmina L.V. Diary of child development from birth to three years. - Moscow: Publishing House "Cogito-Center", 2008.
2. Lisina M.I. Communication, personality and psyche of the child. - Voronezh: Publishing house NPO "MODEK", 1997.
3. Mukhina V.S. Child psychology. - Moscow: Publishing House "Prosveshchenie", 1985.
4. White B. The first three years of life. - Moscow: “Pedagogy”, 1982.

Late feeding

By the age of 6 months, mother's milk only satisfies the need for protein by 60%, carbohydrates by 70% and fats by 80%. And the supply of vitamins and minerals does not satisfy even a third of what is needed. Therefore, delayed introduction of complementary foods can lead not only to delayed growth and development, but also to the appearance of deficiency conditions such as anemia and rickets. Another common problem with late initiation of complementary feeding is a delay in the development of swallowing skills for denser foods and poor stimulation of the development of taste and olfactory sensations. Such children subsequently prefer liquid and pureed foods, and also show selectivity in food preferences.

Precursors of the first menstruation

Female sex hormones - estrogens and progesterone - constantly circulate in different quantities in a woman’s blood1,2. In addition to the uterus, they affect other organs and systems1,2. You will notice changes in them much earlier than menarche. Moreover, by their appearance you can judge how soon your first menstruation will be.

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