Successful Infant Feeding - Couverture souple

Feeding a baby is a parent's earliest and most important task. Done correctly, it helps a baby grow and thrive physically and emotionally. It also is essential to the wellbeing of the parents because if a baby doesnt thrive or if the process is unsatisfying, parents will be left anxious and distressed. While breastfeeding is the natural way to feed an infant, ignorance of the mechanisms, societal pressures and the lack of help often force mothers into bottlefeeding and the nurturing experience can become less happy and unfulfilling. There is, therefore, a need for information that ensures infants are fed successfully via breast or bottle and in ways that enchance their relationships with their mothers (and fathers). The book covers the technical side of feeding and how to manage it even in special and more difficult situations, such as twins and multiples, pre-term babies, and while travelling or working. As well as being advised on any safety and preparation issues, parents will be guided on responding to their baby's needs by learning to 'read' infant behaviour and adjusting feeds accordingly. The book covers: the latest information on breast and infant milks, help for parents in making the best decision about how to feed their baby, advice on managing feeding so that it is nurturing and emotionally satisfying whether from the breast or bottle, ways of overcoming difficulties plus feeding away from the home and in special situations, information on reintroducing breastfeeding after formula feeding, insights into experiences and emotions to do with feeding, how to respond to being pressurised or undertimined in one's feeding choice and how to cope with feelings about using formula and answers to a wide range of parental concerns in its Q and A section.

Heather Welford, MSc is a writer, journalist and editor, specialising in health topics, especially ones related to parenthood. She is the author of several books on infant and child care. In addition, she works for the NCT as a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor and as a tutor training othe rmothers and healthcare professionals in breastfeeding support.