Feeding Your Baby: The Basics

Your baby will not be discharged from the NICU until he is eating regularly and growing steadily. You are very capable of feeding your baby and taking care of his needs. You and your baby will work together as a team.

Breastfeeding Your Baby

Fully breastfeeding a baby who has been in the NICU can be challenging. But most babies, even those born very prematurely or with certain birth defects, can learn to breastfeed.

Feeding Your Baby with Formula

Your baby's health care provider will tell you the type and amount of formula to feed your baby. Before your baby comes home from the NICU, be sure you have enough formula for about two weeks and enough bottles and nipples for one to two days.

Tube-Feeding Your Baby

Even if you are tube-feeding your baby, you can build a strong relationship around feeding. Hold and cuddle your baby. Make eye contact. Talk and sing to your baby.

Reflux in Infants

All babies spit up now and then. But some do so more often than usual. This is called reflux. Reflux is short for gastroesophageal reflux or GER. Reflux is common among premature babies. Most babies outgrow it after a few months.