Crying can be a telltale sign of hunger, but there are others. When your baby makes sucking movements or puts her fingers to her mouth - even if she's sleeping - she may be telling you she's ready to eat. It's best to feed her when she's fully awake. You can help wake her by playing with her, changing her diaper, or talking to her before she eats.
During the daytime, if three hours have passed since her last feeding, or if your breasts are full, you may want to wake her to feed. Talking, rubbing, patting, unwrapping, or undressing her will help. It may take five to 10 minutes to wake her completely, but it usually will result in a better feeding.
If she shows signs of hunger - even if she just ate an hour ago - it's OK to feed her again. Sometimes infants "cluster feed" before taking a nap. It doesn't mean your milk supply is low. Instead, this is normal breastfeeding behavior.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months. But for some moms, that's not possible.
Whenever you decide it's time for formula, you can supplement without worrying. All baby formulas are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and are safe for your baby. Most doctors recommend that you begin by feeding a milk-based formula such as Similac® Advance®. And Similac Advance has our unique blend of prebiotics, nucleotides, and carotenoids - nutrients naturally found in breast milk.
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