Many are afraid of the prospect of artificial feeding. Moms think that so their child will develop incorrectly and grow backward and inferior. It is not true! The question is how to approach the issue of feeding a child, what type of food to choose. With a well-organized process of feeding and choosing quality blends, you can be sure that your baby will grow and develop properly and fully. There are several basic tips to follow.
1. Choose a mixture with the pediatrician
This decision has an impact on your child's health, so do not follow the advice of colleagues or low prices in the supermarket. Each child has different needs, so it is better that your pediatrician advises the mixture, based on the characteristics of the baby. The doctor will assess whether it is possible to feed your child with the usual mixture or a special one will be needed. If, for example, a baby is not gaining weight well, has digestive problems or suffers from allergies, then adequate provision of such a baby with food is necessary. Sometimes it is available only by prescription. If your child will have special requirements for nutrition, the doctor will suggest a mixture of broad market offers.
The modified mixture should be matched with the child's age, since the kids have different needs in different months of life. Thus, for babies up to 6 months of age, it is more expedient to select a mix No. 1. Older children should receive milk from No. 2 or 3. "Junior" mixtures can be given to children who have reached the age of 12 months.
Remember - if a kid gets a defective or incorrectly selected artificial food, then he can expect a lot of problems. The most frequent of them - bloating, diarrhea or rash. If your child has such manifestations - report this to the pediatrician!
2. Read information on product packages
The modern composition of the mixture must contain the necessary vitamins and minerals, corresponding to the age of the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats. The law also requires producers to ensure that the mixture contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential fatty acids, which have a positive effect on the development of the brain and retina of the child. However, different companies use different names that define these substances (for example, LCD PUFA, Lipil). Reading labels will help you understand what exactly this mixture contains and how it will affect your child's health.
3. Use clean drinking water and store the mixture appropriately
You must use water with a low content of minerals. It is better to take clean bottled water - it is tested and recommended by the Center for Child Health and the Institute of Mother and Child. This water is completely ready to prepare the mixture. It does not need to be boiled - enough to warm up. If you have high quality water at home or have a filter - you can use this kind of water.
Experts do not recommend using tap water for mixtures. Even boiling does not remove chlorine, heavy metals and impurities from the water. In addition, when stored outside the refrigerator in such water, bacteria and algae that are dangerous to health begin to multiply rapidly. Such water sometimes also contains too much iron. For a small child, all this can lead to serious problems. So you need to approach the issue of water selection very carefully.
If you do not have the opportunity to purchase a filter or ready-made clean water - prepare the water yourself. Pour the water into a saucepan, warm it gently, remove the lid and allow to stand for at least 3 hours. Chlorium will be released during this time. Then gently drain the water in the thermos, leaving a little water on the bottom. There heavy metals settle, do not pour them. In a thermos bottle, this water remains clear up to 12 hours.
4. Do not change power too often
Some manufacturers of baby food during the transition to artificial feeding are advised to change the mixture every few months. Doctors categorically oppose this! The child's organism (especially up to a year) is very sensitive to artificial mixtures. And if you managed to pick one that does not cause side effects - use only it. At least to strengthen the baby's body. If the mixture is good, balanced and nutritious - the child will not "get bored". There is no need to change it, condemning the child's body to a new adaptation. If the baby has taken milk, has a healthy growth and adds weight - do not change anything.
5. Caress your child while eating
It has been proven that tactile effects (physical contacts) are crucial for the normal development of the child! So, giving the child a bottle, hug him, as if you are breastfeeding. Try to make your child always feel closer to your body and hear the heartbeat. Avoid fuss and nervousness during the process of artificial feeding. Remember that stress contributes to stomach problems in your child.
6. Feed on demand according to the child's appetite
Although it is assumed that the child should be fed every 3 hours - it is not always possible to adhere to this rule. The child's appetite can vary depending on his mood. So sometimes a kid has the right to drink more, sometimes less. A frozen or very tired child can temporarily lose appetite. Therefore, if the capricious kid does not want to eat - do not force him.
Healthy children eat when they are hungry. Remember that the rules regarding the dosage of food presented on the pack are indicative. The bottom line is that the child should receive all the components corresponding to his age during the day. And how to divide a portion of the daily dose - you decide. Listen to your child. He instinctively knows better when and how much he should eat.
7. Do not indulge in the habit of sleeping with a bottle
A child should not develop the habit of sleeping with a bottle of the mixture. Exactly the same as with a pacifier in the mouth. This is the natural aspiration of the child, it will be better to fall asleep while holding a bottle of milk. Many parents "give up", allowing the kid to do it. But this should not be allowed!
First, it is not recommended because of the risk of developing so-called decay. Any liquid that is filtered through a nipple on a bottle (including juices, tea, and even plain water) should be diluted with saliva. In a dream, the salivation is minimal. So the liquid gets directly into the baby's stomach. But one of the most important tasks of saliva is to protect the teeth from bacteria! Milk contains natural sugars, which are an excellent place for the reproduction of microbes. And since there is less saliva in the mouth before sleeping, this creates ideal conditions for caries development! So if you just start feeding from a bottle and your baby already likes to fall asleep during feeding - be vigilant! After the meal, put the baby on its side. So he will not be able to demand from you a bottle again. Experts assure that adherence to this principle will avoid many problems in the future!
8. Do not use leftovers if the child does not eat
In milk, which came into contact with saliva, bacteria can rapidly multiply, which cause severe poisoning in a small child. For this reason, you should not prepare the mixture "in stock" and leave it in the bottle. After an hour the mixture loses its freshness! You should always apply a mixture that is prepared just before serving! About this, incidentally, many manufacturers warn on the packaging of food.
9. Avoid excessive feeding, especially before bedtime.
Not only do adults like to eat before bedtime and then suffer a stomach at night. Children can also have problems with this. Why not give your child an extra dose of milk? However, if you see that it is already saturated - it is better not to overfeed. If you have any doubt about whether your child is eating enough, ask your pediatrician.
If the child is already 4 months old, the doctor can recommend a mixture with the addition of rice. It is usually more nutritious and easily digestible (and not containing additional calories.) If you are going to increase part of the mixture - it can be excessive for the baby. When switching to artificial feeding, doctors' advice is similar in one - do not overfeed. Usually "artificial" gain weight faster than children on breastfeeding. But too much - it's not great!
10. Do not leave the baby with a bottle of one
Do not even think about giving the baby milk and leaving it for a minute. In the supine position on the back, the baby can easily choke! Even if your baby grows up, you should help him with food. A kid can not hold a bottle for a long time - you should always be close. The child can suddenly laugh, cry, cough and the mixture will get into the respiratory tract.
11. Observe the proportions following the prescription
Follow the recommendations of the manufacturer, which are indicated on each package of milk powder. The child should receive nutrients in the correct proportions, so the mixture can not be too thick or too watery. You should carefully measure each serving of milk. Always use a measuring spoon attached to the package.
Also consider other recommendations, including water temperature and the way milk is mixed. Only then you will gain confidence that the child receives valuable food.
12. Wash accessories preferably immediately after use
The hygiene of the bottles and the nipple is just as important as maintaining the proportions for preparing the mixture. Here you also need to keep special care. In the cavity of the bottle and nipple, pathogenic bacteria multiply rapidly (as you know, milk is the nutrient medium for them). So, soon after eating, you need to clean all accessories. If the child has not yet reached 6 months, you should sterilize the bottle and the nipple every time after feeding. You can cook them in a pot of boiling water (10 minutes) or use an electric or steam sterilizer. If the child is older, the bottles and nipples can simply be rinsed under running water with a usual liquid soap and then rinsed well. And one more thing - in a dishwasher you can only wash bottles with a screw cap. After washing accessories, you should wash your hands.
13. Store the mixture in accordance with the recommendations.
After opening the pack, as a rule, the mixture remains fresh for 4 weeks. Check this information on the packaging, because sometimes this period is usually shorter. Keep the pack of the mixture sealed in a cool and dry place (18-25 ° C). Remember that you can not store the mixture (powder) in the refrigerator.
14. Throw the damaged nipples!
Of course, damaged dummies should be immediately exchanged for new ones. Keep in mind that in small cracks and bends accumulate bacteria that can harm your child. Even if the nipple looks undamaged, replace it every 3-4 months. Scratched and damaged bottles are not suitable for use, because this can lead to the production of a toxic component of plastic - bisphenol. This can cause irreparable damage to your child's health. Remember - undamaged bottles and nipples are completely safe for the baby!
15. Take care of hand hygiene and the entire kitchen
In the kitchen there can be many bacteria and molds that are dangerous to health, even more than in the toilet! Therefore, remember that before preparing the milk, you should always wash your hands. Use separate (clean and dry) containers to dry bottles and nipples. They must be disinfected. When preparing the mixture, do not lose your vigilance and wash all the accessories well - it's about your child's health! Hygiene is especially important if your baby is weakened or poorly gaining weight.