There is no debate that a baby in the first months of life should receive breast milk from the mother. Despite all the advantages of natural feeding, there are situations in which we have to feed our baby artificially. Today the industry offers a wide range of highly adapted to the needs of the child’s body milk mixtures. In all cases, breast milk remains the “gold standard” of child nutrition. The key to successful breastfeeding is for the pediatrician to understand the negative effects of artificial feeding, to know how to adapt the formula to the child’s needs, to be able to choose the right formula for the child and to know how to correctly prescribe complementary foods.
What are baby formula products?
Artificial milk mixtures used to feed infants are divided into adapted and non-adapted, sweet and sour milk.
Adapted milk formulas are characterized as follows:
- The composition of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is close to breast milk;
- The total amount of protein is reduced, and the albumin content is increased;
- The fat composition was corrected by vegetable oil;
- Enriched with carbohydrates with bifidogenic properties;
- Enriched with vitamins with improved mineral composition;
In turn, adapted milk formulas, depending on the degree of adaptation and age of the child, are divided into:
“Basic” – for feeding children from 0 to 6 months and is characterized by a high degree of protein adaptation.
“Next” – for feeding children from 6 months to 12 months – characterized by a lower degree of adaptation of the protein component.
Of course, not all babies are the same, and what suits one baby will not suit another. So for children with dietary needs, there are special formulas. For allergic children, there are mixtures based on fully or partially hydrolyzed proteins or soy mixtures. Lactose-free or low-lactose formulas have been developed for lactose deficiency. For children with regurgitation syndrome and persistent colic, there is an anti-reflux formula with carob gum added to help contain food in the small intestine.
Also, adapted infant formula by acidity are:
- sour milk;
- unleavened, casein-dominant;
- soy-based;
- based on goat milk.
Goat or cow, which is better?
The choice of formula begins with the choice of milk – the familiar cow’s milk or the increasingly popular goat’s milk? Any modern milk formula is adapted. This means that its composition is as close as possible to the protein, fat, and carbohydrate content of breast milk.
However, scientists have proven that the proteins of goat milk are absorbed more easily and quickly than cow’s milk – when they are digested in the stomach is formed a softer and, therefore, more quickly digestible clot. This is very important for a smooth transition from breastfeeding to artificial or mixed feeding.
The outstanding representative of baby food based on goat’s milk is Holle Formula. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals and contains other vital functional ingredients to help develop various systems and functions of the body. The formula improves the microflora of the small intestine and softens stools.
Fatty omega acids (DHA and ARA) promote brain and vision development, pre and probiotics help improve digestion and build immunity, and natural nucleotides help develop immunity. If you are looking to buy high-quality organic baby formulas which are containing only the healthiest nutrients for the proper growth of your child, we recommend you to visit the most reliable themilkybox.com organic products store.
How to prepare baby food correctly
Hygiene is extremely important – so wash your hands thoroughly and sterilize the bottle before preparing the formula.
To make the formula tasty and healthy for your baby, take heed of the following tips:
- When preparing the formula, use only a dry spoon – if moisture gets into the powder, lumps will form.
- Prepare the formula just before feeding.
- Follow the proportions without increasing the amount of powder: usually one scoop per 30 ml of liquid.
Many formula feeds contain bifidobacteria, which are good for digestion. Bifidobacteria die when exposed to high temperatures – to prevent this, heat water to a temperature of 36-37 degrees, no higher. Additional heating of the mixture is undesirable, but if such a need arises, you can drop a sealed bottle into a saucepan with hot water.
Rules for preserving artificial nutrition
Manufacturers recommend using the mixture for 2 – 4 weeks after opening the package. After this period, the baby formula may lose its useful properties.
Exact information about the shelf life of the mixture can be found on the package. The expiration date depends on the brand. This is determined by tests, in which the product is tested on how it behaves under conditions without a protective atmosphere. The expiration date also depends on the type of packaging. Mixes in a jar and a cardboard box have different expiration dates.
According to the instructions, the baby formula bottle should be stored in a cool, dry place at a temperature between 10ºC and 25ºC. It should not be kept in the refrigerator either before or after opening the package. Also, it should not be placed near sources of heat and humidity, such as ovens or boiling kettles.
How can you tell if your baby is hungry?
All moms have great instincts, but not everyone can read their baby’s mind at first! Later, you’ll learn to understand your baby’s body language and recognize the signs that tell you he’s hungry. But while you’re still learning, we’ll tell you how to tell when your baby is hungry. Here are the most typical signs:
- Reaches for your breast or bottle with his head.
- Clenches his fists.
- Bringing your hands to your mouth.
- Wrinkles, smacks, or licks his lips.
If you notice even one of these signs, it means your baby is trying to tell you it’s time to get fed. Ideally, your baby should only eat when he is hungry and asks for it. If you are breastfeeding, this approach will allow you to maintain the right supply of milk because the body naturally responds to your baby’s needs and produces the optimal amount of milk. Artificial feeding on on-demand also is good for your baby because babies can regulate their own nutritional needs.
How to know you have chosen the right food for your baby
If the baby grows and puts on weight, nothing bothers him. He develops according to his age norms – so the formula is suitable. Parents have a reason to ask themselves if the formula they have chosen and why the food is no longer suitable for the baby. But among the signs that the formula is not suitable, we can highlight the following:
- The child is poorly gaining weight, falling behind in growth and development;
- Frequent belching;
- Restless sleep with awakening, crying;
- Severe pain, colic;
- Restlessness during or after feeding;
- Diarrhea or constipation;
- Mucus and undigested lumps of food in the stool.
Rules and recommendations must be followed for successful artificial feeding of the baby:
- Milk formula, which replaces breast milk, must be guaranteed to meet all the requirements for nutritional values and hygienic cleanliness of baby food.
- Such features are now characteristic of industrially-produced adapted milk mixtures. But, when choosing a milk formula for your baby, still consult your doctor.
- Any milk formula must be introduced into the baby’s diet by the method of “training and testing,” so start giving it to the child in small portions, gradually over 4-5 days, bringing the required amount in each feeding within a day. This will facilitate the adaptation of the infant’s digestive system and metabolic processes to foreign food and allow you to find out if there is an allergic reaction to this product.
