How will I know my grandbaby is getting enough?

Sometimes you might worry that your grandbaby is not 

getting enough milk. You can be assured that the baby 

is getting plenty of milk in a number of ways, including 

counting the number of wet diapers and poops. The color, 

texture, and frequency of your breastfed grandbaby’s poops 

will change as your grandbaby grows. The chart below 

offers a guide for the frequency and color of your grandbaby’s daily poops and wet diapers.

The boxes show the smallest number of diapers for most 

babies. It is okay if your grandbaby has more diapers than 

what is shown.

Your grandbaby may have more than 6 poops a day after 

the first week. Do not worry if your grandbaby loses a little 

weight in the first few days. After about 5 days, the baby 

should gain 4–8 ounces or more per week with breast milk. 

After 6 weeks, there may be fewer dirty diapers. 

Contact your local WIC office for more information.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This project was funded by USDA/FNS WIBR-05-TX-1.

October 2008

Grandparents Play 

an Important Role

DAY 1 (birthday)

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

DAY 5

DAY 6

DAY 7

Baby’s Age Wet Poops

Breastfeeding: A Magical Bond of Love

Some Things Never Change:

Nothing Is Better Than Breast Milk

• Breast milk is easier to digest. Breastfed babies have less 

 diarrhea, constipation, and colic.

• Breast milk contains antibodies to fight infections.

• It may reduce the baby’s risk of becoming obese, having 

 diabetes, and developing other diseases.

• It lowers the risk of asthma, allergies, and certain cancers.

• Breast milk contains special ingredients to promote brain 

 growth.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Moms 

Breastfeeding is best for the mother too! It helps mom’s 

uterus shrink to its pre-pregnancy size. Mom loses weight 

faster. And it reduces your daughter’s or daughter-in-law’s 

risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

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Do not give the baby water or formula in the first weeks.

Feeding the baby anything other than breast milk interferes 

with mom’s milk production. 

Let Her Know What a Proud Grandparent You Are

You know how valuable breastfeeding is for babies. So be 

sure to let your grandbaby’s mom know you support her 

breastfeeding. When you do, you show your love and pride 

for your daughter or daughter-in-law for making such an 

important, healthy choice.

Your daughter or daughter-in-law has everything she needs 

to successfully breastfeed her baby. Be sure she gets her rest 

and lots of nutritious meals. You can reassure her that the 

baby is getting plenty of milk in a number of ways:

• Baby is interested in feeding every 11⁄2 to 3 hours, 

 around the clock. 

• Baby wakes to feed.

• Mom can see or hear her baby swallowing.

• Baby appears satisfied and content after feeding.

• Mom’s breast softens during the feeding.

The Magic of Sharing Wisdom

Each new grandchild is a jewel in a grandparent’s crown. 

And when your children become parents themselves, they 

turn to you for advice and wisdom. They value your 

experience when they make their decisions about how 

to take care of your grandchildren. This is especially true 

when it comes to feeding their newborn babies.

How Grandparents Can Help

Remember the cuarentena? Our grandmothers used to tell us 

to take 40 days to rest after the birth of a new baby. While 

new mothers do not need a full 40 days, special foods, or to 

avoid the outdoors, they still need plenty of help the first few 

weeks. 

Here is how you can help:

• Help with housework and cooking to give mom and 

 baby time alone to get to know each other.

• Help limit the number of visitors and visiting time. 

• New moms do need plenty of rest and fluids!

• Change your grandchild’s diapers. Bathe and dress him. 

 Sing and talk. If you see your grandchild searching for 

 mom’s breast, sucking his fist, or making sucking 

 noises, take him to mom for a feeding. Let only mom 

 feed the baby!

• Some new mothers experience pain when they first 

 breastfeed. They may become engorged, or the baby 

 may not latch on correctly. A WIC breastfeeding 

 counselor can help. And you can 

 offer support and encouragement 

 to stay with it!

• Look at your grandbaby’s tiny fist 

 and remember - that is about the 

 same size as her stomach! 

 Newborn babies will need to 

 breastfeed often, every 11⁄2 to 3 

 hours, around the clock.

Mom’s early milk, called colostrum, is there from the 

beginning and is the only food her new baby needs. 

Colostrum’s special role is to help her newborn stay healthy. 

It is filled with important vitamins, minerals, proteins, and 

immunities. Between the third and fifth days after birth, mom 

will start to feel fullness in her breasts, indicating her milk 

has come in.

As Hispanic mothers, we have a proud 

heritage of breastfeeding. Many of us 

breastfed our children, and want our 

grandchildren breastfed. We know that 

breast milk is the most nutritious food 

for babies. Sometimes, though, our 

children have to live differently. For 

example, they may have to go back to 

work or school after the baby is born. 

They may become unsure about the best 

way to feed their babies. 

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