by BabyCenter Featured Expert posted in Parenting

By: Dr. Smita Malhotra
Wouldn?t it be nice if every baby came with an instruction manual" The first few months of parenthood can be a roller coaster of emotions and sleepless nights. These tiny humans can turn your life upside down, and it is only natural for new parents to have several questions for their pediatricians.
Here are five of the most common questions I hear from new parents about feeding their babies:
1) Can I let my newborn sleep through the night if he/she does"
While it is important to go with the flow of your growing baby, the first 2 weeks of a newborn?s life are crucial for re-gaining birth weight. Therefore, during this time newborns need to be woken up every 2-3 hours to feed. After that, they can feed on demand. In general, we do not want them to go more than 4 hours without eating. If you have a premature baby or a baby with other medical problems, please consult with your pediatrician about timing of feeds. 2) How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk or formula"
In general, newborns can lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days of life. If your baby has re-gained their birth weight by two weeks of age and continues to gain weight steadily, this is a good sign that they're getting enough milk. Also, if your baby has at least 4-6 wet diapers per day, this means that they're well-hydrated and getting enough milk.

3) If I give my baby the bottle...