Feeding Checklist

In the early weeks your baby will spend most of her waking time feeding, it’s an important time not just so your baby grows but also so she feels safe and trusts that your baby can have food whenever your baby needs it.

There’s a lot for you and your baby to learn when you start breastfeeding and sometimes it’s hard to know whether you’re worrying about something that’s perfectly normal. This checklist can help set your mind at rest. However, if you have any concerns about your baby's nappies, behaviour or weight, or if you have any concerns about your milk supply, be sure to speak to your midwife or health visitor

Nappy checklist

From a day old your baby should be having wet and dirty nappies, you can check what you should expect to see in the image and chart below.

Baby's age	Wet nappies	Dirty nappies
1-2 days old	1-2 or more per day - may be pink in colour because of urates*	1 or more dark green/black ‘tar like’  called meconium
3-4 days old	3 or more per day nappies feel heavier	At least 2, changing in colour and consistency – brown/green/yellow, becoming looser (‘changing stool’)
5-6 days old	5 or more heavy wet**	At least 2, yellow; may be quite watery
7 days to 28 days old	6 or more heavy wet	At least 2, at least the size of a £2 coin yellow and watery, ‘seedy’ appearance

*Urates are a dark pink/red substance that many babies pass in the first couple of days. If they are still pink in colour beyond the first couple of days you should tell your midwife as it may be a sign your baby is not getting enough milk.

** With new disposable nappies it's often hard to tell if they're wet, so to get an idea if how much is enough urine, take a nappy and add 2-4 tablespoons of water. This will give you an idea of what to look and feel for.

 

 

Is breast milk enough?

Many mums worry about their babies being hungry, but most of the time they have nothing to worry about. Some mums try to introduce formula feeding or solids early on, sometimes hoping that it will encourage their baby to sleep for longer periods. However, breast milk is all babies need for the first 6 months of their lives, and research shows that babies fed this way are healthier.

Most babies don't need solids until they reach 6 months old, but speak to your health visitor if you think your baby is hungry. Even after you’ve introduced them to solid food, they'll still need the goodness of breast milk, so do keep breastfeeding if you can.