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What is responsive parenting?
Responsive parenting means paying attention to your child's needs and responding to their physical and emotional cues or signs by watching, understanding and taking action.
Responsive feeding means feeding your baby when they are hungry and stopping when they are full. Babies know when they are hungry and full. You do not need to follow a feeding schedule.
Responsive feeding helps you bond with your baby and makes them feel safe and secure. It also helps your baby develop healthy eating habits because they will learn to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full.
How you can do it:
- Watch for hunger signs: look for signs your baby might be hungry, like sucking on their hands, making sucking noises, or turning their head towards your breast or bottle. Try to feed them before they start crying.
- Understand hunger signs: based on what you see, feed your baby whenever they show signs they are hungry. Do not follow a strict schedule.
- Take action: give your baby the breast or bottle when they show hunger signs and pause or stop the feeding when they show signs they are full.
- Notice fullness signs: pay attention to signs your baby is full, like turning away from the breast or bottle, closing their mouth, or getting distracted. Do not force them to eat more if they seem satisfied or full. It is okay if they do not finish their bottle.
Feeding tips
- Bottle feeding tips: if you are using a bottle, hold your baby close and make eye contact. Let your baby set the pace and take breaks if needed. It is okay if they do not finish their bottle.
- Calm feeding environment: try to keep feedings calm and quiet. This helps your baby focus on eating.
- Skin-to-skin contact: hold your baby skin-to-skin during feedings when possible. This helps you bond and can make feeding more comfortable.
If your baby shows signs of fullness, has five to six wet diapers each day, and is gaining weight, do not worry—they are getting enough milk.
If you are worried about whether your baby is getting enough milk or about their weight gain, talk to your child and family health nurse or family doctor.
Things to avoid
- Do not prop feed. Prop feeding means using a blanket, pillow or other object to hold the bottle in your baby's mouth. This can be dangerous because it increases the risk of choking, suffocation, ear infections, and tooth decay. It is best to always hold the bottle yourself while feeding your baby.
- Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle. Bottle-feeding in bed can cause choking, chest infections, ear infections, tooth decay and sleep problems for your baby.
Benefits of responsive feeding
- Feeding your baby when they are hungry and stopping when they are full helps them listen to their body's natural signals and regulate their appetite.
- When you feed responsively, your baby is less likely to overeat. They will learn to eat just the right amount they need.
- Responsive feeding helps your baby develop healthy eating habits. They will learn to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full.
- By following their hunger and fullness cues, your baby is more likely to have a healthy weight as they grow.
Feeding your baby this way helps them develop a healthy relationship with food and keeps them healthy.
Understanding your baby's cries
Crying is your baby’s way of talking to you. They might be hungry, tired, bored, uncomfortable, or just want a cuddle.
Do not always feed them to stop the crying. Try other ways to calm them, like hugging, holding or rocking them.
By being responsive to your child's needs and feeding them based on their hunger and fullness cues, you help them feel loved and secure. Trust your instincts and enjoy these special moments with your baby.
Finding what works for your family
Think about your family's values, goals, culture, and beliefs. Finding what works best for you can make your family stronger.
Responsive parenting is helpful for children of all ages and cultures. You might find it helpful for your family too.
To explain this further you can watch this video by Zero to Three
Being a good-enough parent is good enough.
It is normal for parents to sometimes misunderstand their child's signs. No parent is perfect and being "good enough" is okay.
If you notice you are missing your child's cues or signs, it might be helpful to ask for help or support.
You can find parenting programs across NSW or ask your child health nurse.
It is never too late to learn about responsive parenting.
