2. Infant Feeding

what provides ALL of an infant’s nutrition until 6 months? *

breast milk or formula — no additional water or juice needed

what are early hunger cues in infants?

• sucking motions

• sucking on hands

• putting fist to chin

what is a late hunger cue in infants?

crying

how should an infant be positioned for bottle-feeding?

cradled in a semi-upright position

when should an infant be burped during a feeding?

2–3 times — at least during the middle and at the end

how much does a newborn take per feeding initially?

0.5–1 oz, increasing to 2–3 oz in the first few days

how often do newborns feed?

6–10 times/day

what is the expected feeding pattern by 6 months?

4–5 feedings per day, 6–8 oz per feeding

what type of formula should infants receive? *

iron-fortified formula only

why do infants need iron?

• hemoglobin production

• proper neurological development

what vitamin D supplementation do breastfed infants need?

400 IU/day

when should breastfed infants begin iron supplementation?

4 months

why should bottle propping be avoided? *

aspiration risk and adverse effects on dentition

how should the nurse approach a caregiver’s choice of breast milk or formula?

provide nonjudgmental support