From Newborn Adoption: The First Week:

2. Coordinate consistent feedings.

A newborn baby’s digestive system can be a delicate thing, so you want to keep the feedings as consistent as possible. Unfortunately, feeding an adopted baby exclusively with breast milk is not an option for most adoptive parents, so you will want to choose the best formula for your baby.

A good place to start is to find out what formula the hospital fed the baby and then use the same brand, if possible. Ask your adoption agency or facilitator to find out this information for you if you do not go to the hospital yourself. If you have an open adoption, discuss the feedings ahead of time with the placing mother so that you can move the baby from one environment to the other without changing his diet in the process. Try to find out all you can about the baby’s feedings before you take physical custody so you can keep them as consistent as possible.

Some babies have trouble with particular types of formula. My son had issues with his first brand, so his pediatrician recommended trying a soy-based formula. Making that switch made all the difference. Be sure to talk with your child’s pediatrician if you notice any issues, such as lots of crying, gas, or spitting up after feedings.

Even if you are considering breastfeeding your adopted baby, you will still want to keep the brand of formula and the timing of feedings as consistent as you can. The baby has been through many changes over the past few of days: He has moved from the warmth of his placing mother’s womb into the world and then away from every sound that was familiar to him before his birth. Keeping his feedings consistent will offer the baby more security by cutting down on the number of transitions that he will have to make.

Related Topics:

• Adoptive Breastfeeding Series




• Infant Formula - An Overview