What Are Some of the Sunnas in Feeding and Caring for a Baby?
Question:
How should we raise our children following the sunna, for feeding in particular?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. I am very pleased to see that you are concerned with teaching your child according to the religion of Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace. May Allah give you success in this!
Breastfeeding
I am not familiar with any particular sunnas related to breastfeeding, but you will find a good overview here:
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/20759/ruling-on-breastfeeding-and-the-wisdom-behind-it
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/general-counsel/is-there-an-age-limit-to-breastfeeding/
It Is Up to the Parents
Islam does not dictate whether to use formula or breastmilk, or whether to use baby-led weaning or any other kind; that is left up to the parents. Usually, parents would choose a method that would be healthy for the child and not too exhausting for the mother. Employ istikhara to make your decisions, even small ones, as that is the habit of many pious people and scholars.
Fear Allah As Much as You Can
The advice that I would give you would be the same advice that I would give on raising older children. Be a role model for your children, be a loving father, make your home a haven of Qur’an, modesty, generosity, cheerfulness, fill it will the halal things, and leave all the haram out. The good environment of your home will raise them Islamically. Make the habit of looking to other religious Muslim families who have successfully raised pious children and seek their advice on important matters.
Resources
I highly recommend you take these courses with your wife and learn your obligations towards your child.
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/courses/keys-to-raising-righteous-children-eight-lessons-on-successful-parenting/
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/courses/40-hadiths-on-parenting-a-prophetic-guide-to-raising-righteous-muslim-children/
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/courses/nurturing-children-key-lessons-from-the-prophet-as-a-parent-educator/
Please see:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/general-counsel/children-and-marriage/
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
