The main way to know if your baby is feeding well is through weight gain. One should weigh the baby with a 15 day interval and the baby's weight should always increase.
Other ways to assess baby feeding can be:
- Clinical Assessment - the baby should be alert and active. Signs of dehydration such as dry skin, dry, hollowed eyes or cracked lips may indicate that the baby is not nursing the desired volume.
- Diaper Testing - A baby who is feeding exclusively on breast milk should urinate about eight times a day with clear, diluted urine. The use of cloth diapers facilitates this assessment. In general, with regard to bowel movements, hard and dry stools may indicate that the amount of milk ingested is insufficient, as well as their absence.
- Management of breastfeeding - the baby should breastfeed every 2 or 3 hours, that is, between 8 and 12 times a day.
If after the feeding the baby is satisfied, falls asleep and sometimes even drops of milk running down the mouth is a sign that the milk he drank was enough for that meal.
As long as the baby is gaining weight and I have no other symptoms like irritation and persistent crying he is being well fed. When the baby does not increase or lose weight, it is important to consult your pediatrician to see if there is any health problem.
Sometimes the baby's weight loss occurs when he refuses to eat. Here's what to do in these cases:
Also see if your baby's weight is fit for age at:
- The ideal weight of the girl.
- The right weight of the boy.