Health Tip: When Your Newborn Wants to Eat

(HealthDay News) — It may seem that your newborn is always hungry and crying for food.

The Mayo Clinic offers these tips for feeding newborns:

Offer a meal when your baby indicates hunger, rather than on a schedule. Expect a newborn to eat as often as 12 times per day. You’ll know baby is getting hungry when she starts stretching, moving her lips or making a sucking motion.
Never feed a newborn anything other than breast milk or formula.
Talk to your doctor about whether your baby needs vitamin D drops.
Expect your newborn to eat different amounts and at different times of day, at least at first.
Don’t worry too much that your baby isn’t eating enough. Learn to trust your instincts.
Use feeding time as an opportunity to bond with baby.
When you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it from friends and family.