Concerned about your baby's health? Adj Assoc Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant from the Department of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine at Singapore General Hospital, gives detailed answers to your questions.
Which is better for a baby, breastfeeding or bottle-feeding? What vaccines does a newborn need? And how do you properly care for your baby? These are just some of the questions that you may have about your baby’s health as a new parent. Even seasoned parents can worry about common symptoms such as fever, colic and rashes.
Adj Assoc Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant from the Department of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine at Singapore General Hospital, gives detailed answers to your questions.
Question by rsim
Hi Prof, How would I know if I am suitable for breastfeeding?
Thanks.
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Breastfeeding is recommended for all newborns.
The only few contraindications to breastfeeding include:
- Galactosaemia in baby
- Mother has active untreated tuberculosis
- Mother is receiving diagnostic or therapeutic radioactive isotopes
- Mother is receiving chemotherapeutic agents
- Mother is abusing drugs,
- Mother has herpes simplex lesions on her breast
- Mother is HIV positive
All other mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their newborns for a minimal duration of 6 months.
Question by chai
Dear Prof.
When is the month/period to bring newborn baby for vaccines?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
It is advisable to vaccinate all well, term newborns at birth with BCG and hepatitis B vaccines. It is encouraged that all newborns should follow up with the vaccine schedule as recommended under our National Immunisation Program and the schedule is attached in the health booklet of all newborns.
Question by simply6
Hi Prof
What is the best formulated milk for baby? Is it associated with price?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Breastmilk is the best for all babies. Few babies with specific gastrointestinal conditions may benefit from specialised formula, however all other infant formula are comparable with no outstanding benefits.
Question by pocoyosky
How many times should I feed my newborn baby?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Currently there are no supplements in the market that have been proven to improve or prevent spine degeneration. Supplements such as glucosamine sulfate +/- chondroitin sulfate may be useful for the joints in the spine, although the other structures like muscles, ligaments and discs may not benefit.
Question by esim
How many times should I feed my newborn baby?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Daily breastfeeding patterns vary from baby to baby and from day to day. This variation is normal. Well, term newborns feed an average of 8-12 feeds per day. This frequency decreases as babies grow.
Question by SCH
How do we differentiate baby crying for different needs?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Crying is an expression of needs. Babies who are seeking comfort settles when curdled and hungry babies calms with feeding. An unwell child may cry or be unusually quiet with or without poor feeding.
Question by esim
Hi Prof, What is the normal weight gain from newborn baby to a year old?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Well, term babies triple their birthweight by a year old, hence the average weight of a child at 1 year of age is about 9-10kg.
Question by mrina
Dear Prof, When newborn baby has fever, what is the immediate step to take if clinics are not available within hours? Can we use the cooling gel pad?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
It is advisable to consult your family doctor or your child’s paediatrician when your newborn (especially those less than 2 months old) has fever. The emergency departments in the restructured or private hospital provide service throughout the day. Self-medication may mask temperature and give false sense of well-being.
Question by mosmos
Dear Prof,
Due to current haze problem, what preventive measures must we parents do to prevent the baby breathe in lesser haze when the child is outside?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
It is best to avoid outdoor activities when the haze builds.
Question by octane
Dear Prof Yeo, I am quite worried for a new born baby getting multiple vaccines, can we opt to get those vaccines at at later age such as during 1-2 year old?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
All vaccines recommended under the national Immunisation program is safe and protective of the child against the infections for which they are vaccinated. Unless child is unwell, it is not necessary for children to defer their vaccination schedule.
Question by kyduj
Is it normal for breast fed babies to stop passing motion for a few days? My 3 weeks old baby stops for 2 days then passed motion twice (a lot) then stops for 4days?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Breastfeed babies generally have frequent stooling in their initial weeks of life, however the frequency decrease and it is not infrequent for fully breast fed babies to pass motion once in few days to a week.
Question by sinful.jas
Dear Prof, I was told of many vaccines (ie. "6-in-ones") offered by pte clinics (PD). Do we need really these vaccines or can we get it done at polyclinic? Tks.
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Polyclinics provide the combined ‘5 in 1’ vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, hemophilus influenza. Parents keen for their babies to receive the ‘6 in 1’ vaccine which includes vaccines listed plus hep B should contact their nearest polyclinic to check on its availability.
Question by chocmonster
Dear Prof
My 2nd child is now going 11 mths and approx 8kg. His birth weight was 3.44kg. His growth progressed well in the 1st 3 mths but weight gain slowed down thereafter as we had problem feeding him (exclusive breastfeed for 4 mths and from 5th to 7th mth, partial) and he slept much lesser. He is an active and happy baby.
Can do what most babies can do at different milestones and can be considered faster than average i.e. 3rd mth flipped, 5.5mths sit and thereafter crawl, 7 mths stand with support and now at 10.5 mths can like 6 steps without support.
But his weight gain is worrying me. He used to be a chubby baby but is rather lean now. Though he is on solid now - cereal, porridge, milk and fruits - he don't seem to gain much. Other babies in his infantcare with lesser food intake seemed heavier.
Is my baby not absorbing the nutrition from the food? He barely doubled his birth weight at 6 odd mths. Many thanks.
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
At 8 kg, child is lighter than his age peers but he is not underweight. There is no worry so long as he takes 2-3 main balanced meals with 3 milk feeds per day with no significant vomiting or frequent stooling and has age appropriate milestones. Height gain is equally important. Infant grow an average of 25 cm from birth by a year old.
Question by yuet.ellen
Dear prof,
- Does baby need to drink water right after her milk feeding? She is 4mths old.
- Can feed light solid food to a 4mths old baby? What is the right time to feed her with solid food?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
There is no need to supplement with water when infant is on full milk feeding. Weaning can begin at 4 to 6 months. Begin slow with once a day of semi solids, with less allergic food items like blended rice cereals, vegetables like spinach, fruits etc.
Question by sembakamsuppiah
Hi, can u see my one year old daughter schedule and advice her feeding is in good range or I need to change or add on. She was born 20/07/2012.
Priya schedule 7.30 - 8am wake up 2.5 to 3 oz milk 9am breakfast frisco cream wheat with fruit purée n orange juice or Heinz biscuits in milk with fruit purée n orange juice. 10.30 am 2.5 to 3 oz milk n nap between half an hour to 2 hours 12pm 2.5 to 3 oz milk 1 to 1.30pm Lunch- frisco cream rice with stir fried veg ( puréed ) or rice cook with Ikan billis stock( home made) With Vegetables n sometime meat. 2.30 to 3pm 2.5 to 3 oz milk Nap half an hour to 2 hours sleep 4 to 4.30pm Snack- milo with biscuit or cake 5.30 to 6 pm Milk 2.5 to 3 oz 6.30 to 7 pm Dinner- frisco cream / multigrain cereal / barley cereal mix with veg puréed n water 8pm Milk 2 oz 11.30 to 12.30 2.5 to 3 to 3.5 oz milk Sleeps thru until 5plus n drinks 2.5 to 3 oz milk n sleeps again.
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
She spends lots of time at feeding. It is possibly not essential to feed her 6-7 milk feeds when she is already on semi-solids. You may want to keep to 3 semi-solids per day and work on increasing the amount of semi-solids per feeding.
Question by esoossm
My one year old baby was constipated about 2 months ago and she bled when she passed out the hard stools. I'm giving her lactulose syrup everyday now but she refuses to pass motion for fear of the pain, even though her stools are soft. I have to use rectal stimulation every 3 days in order for her to pass motion. This is affecting her appetite. What can I do/try?
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
The experience of anal discomfort during the period of constipation remains. Subjecting child to rectal stimulation may not be the most pleasant experience either. Continue to increase the fiber content in her diet with conscious effort on adequate fluid intake. Our large bowel absorbs water and so the stools that come along may be drier in some of us than others. It is ok to maintain the intake of lactulose so as to keep the stools soft till stooling becomes more regular.
Question by t8247
Prof. Yeo, how to make baby's head round? Do we have to prevent baby from sucking pacifier & thumb, fingers etc in order to have a good set of teeth. Richard LEE
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Head shape is mouldable in early infancy. Babies who sleep on their back tends to have flattening of the back of the head as compared to those who sleeps on their sides. Use of pacifier is not routinely indicated.
Most parents use it to help calm their young infant. However, most babies would self soothe themselves by sucking on their thumbs/fingers. It is possibly less challenging to manage your child on outings as it is hard to be consistent at ensuring that the pacifier is included on outings and kept clean constantly.
Prolonged use of pacifier into pre-school age may affect dentition especially when pacifier is dipped into sugared drinks before use. Constant use of pacifier at that age can also affect dental hygiene.
Reposted by administrator
What can we do if the baby is having tongue tied problem? Baby can’t seem to suckle the breast correctly.
Angie
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
If tongue tie is affecting babies attempt to suck at the breast, minor procedure to release it may be considered.
Reposted by administrator
Prof Yeo, I have been breastfeeding my baby for a year and decided to wean him off breast milk. What is your recommendation on the choice of milk? Formula Milk powder or fresh milk? What is difference between fresh cow milk vs. Fresh goat milk?
Joycie Cheng
Answered by A/Prof Yeo Cheo Lian, Senior Consultant, Dept Of NeoNatal & Development Med, Singapore General Hospital
Fresh milk may be used beyond a year old. There is no added advantage between powered or fresk milk at that age when the child is already having regular main meals. While goat milk is reported to be more easily digested and hence better absorbed, its nutrient value volume for volume is less.
Ref: S13
