The main thing to understand is that today's mixes are very different from those that were on sale a few years ago. Therefore, the outrage of older and more experienced relatives, such as "Oh, how can you feed the children? !! "You just can not react. Modern mixtures are maximally adapted to mother's milk, they instantly dissolve even in cool water and their composition is much richer than before. This provides more comfort in feeding, but does not release from performing other necessary operations, as it does not negate the knowledge of certain rules. Which ones? Read below.
1. Choose a mixture with the pediatrician
This decision has a direct impact on your child's health, so do not rely on colleagues' advice or a lower price in the supermarket. Every child has different needs, so it is better to consult a pediatrician with this question.
The doctor will assess whether the child can, for health reasons, perceive a particular mixture, according to its composition. If an infant, for example, is born prematurely, badly gaining weight, suffers from a digestive disorder or food allergy, then an adequate selection of the mixture is necessary. If your child will have special requirements for nutrition, the doctor will prompt mixtures that suit him.
The choice of artificial mixture should also be consistent with the child's age. After all, a six-month-old baby, for example, has other needs than, say, a newborn baby. Thus, for babies up to 6 months, special rules for formula-feeding should be applied.
Remember! If the baby will not tolerate some of the blends (bloating, diarrhea or rash), tell the pediatrician right away!
2. Read the information on packages
The modern composition of artificial mixtures is very rich. They contain the necessary vitamins and minerals, corresponding to the age of the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats. But to read the composition on the packaging is your direct duty.
The law requires manufacturers to mix, so that they also contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential fatty acids, which have a positive effect on the development of the brain and retina. However, different companies use different names that define these substances. The package shows what exactly this mixture contains, and the pediatrician will tell you how this can affect your child's health.
3. Use clean drinking water and store the mixture correctly
These are the two most important rules of artificial feeding. You must use water with a low content of minerals. It is better to buy it in the store (there is even special water for the preparation of mixtures). If you have a filter at home, you can use it.
Specialists do not recommend the use of tap water. It is poorly stored, and it can multiply many dangerous bacteria for health. Boiled water can be stored in a thermos so that it does not boil every time. This water remains fresh for about 12 hours. On sale there is even specially purified water, which does not need to be boiled.
4. Do not change mix too often!
Producers offer every few months to try a new mixture. This is nothing more than an advertising move. Do not try to follow these calls, as a child may get an allergy or digestive problems. If the baby has taken a certain mixture, he is healthy and is gaining weight well, then do not change anything.
5. Observe the proportions following the prescription
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on each package of the dry mix. The child should receive nutrients in the correct proportions, so the mixture can not be too thick or too watery. Therefore, you should carefully measure each serving of milk. Always use a measuring spoon, which is attached to the package.
Observe the other basic rules for preparing the mixture - warm the water to the desired temperature, use the proper mixing order. Only then will you be sure that the child receives valuable food.
6. Wash accessories immediately after use.
The hygiene of the bottles and the nipple is also important, as is compliance with the rules for preparing the mixture. Here you must also provide special care. In the scratches and cracks of bottles and pacifiers, disease-causing bacteria multiply rapidly (as you know, milk is an excellent medium for them).
So, soon after eating, you need to clean all accessories. If the child has not crossed the threshold in six months, you should also sterilize them. If the child is older, the bottles and nipples can simply be washed under running water with a usual liquid soap, and then rinsed well.
7. Take care of hand hygiene and the entire kitchen
In the kitchen can contain and multiply many more types of health-threatening bacteria and mold than in the toilet! Therefore, remember that you always need to wash your hands before preparing the mixture. For drying bottles and nipples, separate (clean and dry) containers should be used. Nearby should not be food.
Preparing the mixture day by day is gradually becoming a routine. You begin to forget to wash your hands, wipe the bottle, etc. Do not lose vigilance and good habits - it's about your child's health!
8. Feed your baby on demand
Although it is assumed that the child should be fed every 3 hours on average, but do not obey this rule too rigidly. The child's appetite can vary depending on his mood. So sometimes a kid may want to eat more, sometimes less. Therefore, if the baby refuses, do not force him to eat.
Children always eat when they are hungry - this is a protective reflex from nature. The infant still does not know how to "be capricious" and is not "you for evil." The main thing is that the child during the day received all the necessary components appropriate to his age.