There are so many questions that arise in a mother's mind regarding her baby. One of the most confusing ones would be regarding feeding. How can you tell whether your baby is hungry and needs feeding or is crying for some other reason? When do you stop feeding? How many times in a day do you need to feed? Is breastfeeding better than formula milk?...etc.

No mother is an expert and no one expects you to be one. Each baby is unique and has different needs when it comes to their feed and the quantity they require to satisfy their hunger pangs. A mother, after some experience will learn to sense her baby's needs and act on them. Here is some useful information that will help you.

Breastfeeding is considered the best for a new born baby as the mothers' milk has antibodies which protect the baby and gives them increased resistance and immunity against colds and infections in the later days to come. It has been observed that children who are breast-fed are healthier, stronger and more intelligent than ones who have not received any.

Breast milk has all the essential nutrients required for a baby and should be given for at least six months. While breastfeeding, a mother should be careful about her diet as it affects the baby directly. If for some reason, a mother is unable to breast feed, then formula milk can be given.

Always feed your baby on demand and not on a schedule that has been laid out by anyone. On an average, a baby requires up to eight feeds in a day. But there is no need to worry if your baby is taking less or more than this amount. If your baby is gaining weight proportionately, it means that the food requirements are being met.

If you are bottle-feeding your baby, ensure that the bottles are always sterilized so as to avoid any kind of infection. The milk should also be warm and not hot. It is essential to burp the baby after every feed and it is normal for them to bring out some of the milk after feeding is over.

After four to six months, babies can be given carbohydrates like mashed bananas to start with. When the baby completes ten months, they can be given other fruits, vegetables and meats as well. And here are some steps you can follow:

* begin with just a teaspoon or less when you are first introducing solids and then slowly increase to a tablespoon or more as your baby gets the hang of eating solid foods

* after rice cereal, consider moving on to other cereals, like oatmeal and barley, and then introduce strained vegetables, fruits and lastly, meats

* continue to offer your baby an iron fortified cereal even after you introduce other solid foods, as it is a good source of iron or your growing infant

It is good to introduce food items one at a time so as to notice any reactions or allergies to the same. If any reaction occurs, it is advisable to contact your doctor immediately as it should not be ignored.

Trying to figure out when your new baby is hungry is not very difficult. Some people might try to tell you to wait until the baby is crying or to feed him by the clock, but both are wrong. New babies need to eat to grow, and when they are hungry it's time to eat. Crying is a late sign of hunger in a new baby so you need to learn to see the early feeding cues of a newborn.

Earlier signs of hunger that mean you should nurse the baby include:

·Putting his hands near his mouth

·Turning his head from side to side

·Rooting towards anyone when held in a nursing position

·Sucking on his hands or clothing ·Getting fussy or frantic

·Crying

The sooner you can feed the baby, the fewer signs the baby will exhibit and the easier it is to feed the baby and to not become stressed out yourself. If you wait until the baby is crying you must first calm the baby before trying to feed him.