Can you mix baby food with formula in a bottle
What to Feed Your Baby: Formula, Breast Milk and Beyond
Introducing a baby to solid food is exciting and scary. Often parents have so many questions: What do you feed them first? When do you start them on solids? How much do you feed them? How often do you feed them? So many questions, particularly when you're sleep-deprived state. To help answer all these questions, here's a baby food guide (with recipes!) for kids 4 months and older.
Note: Babies should NOT have the following until they are 1 year old: cow's milk, honey (can cause botulism), nuts/hard foods, shellfish and unpasteurized cheeses. Their digestive systems are still developing, and certain foods can be obvious choking hazards or cause health issues.
4 to 6 months
Start your baby on solids with simple, basic foods such as puréed fruits and vegetables and iron-fortified baby cereal. Since babies are used to breast milk or formula, mix puréed foods with breast milk or formula to pique their interest. You’ll want the food to be runny for the first few feedings. You can gradually increase the thickness as time goes on and your baby becomes more comfortable with texture. Introduce one new food every three to four days so you can be aware of any allergies that might show up. This chart is a great resource for how much to feed your baby.
Most vegetable/fruit purées follow the same “recipe.” Simply steam or bake a vegetable or fruit until the food is soft. Let cool and place in a food processor or blender to blend with breast milk, formula or water until smooth. An efficient way to make baby food is to make big batches of one vegetable or fruit purée at a time and freeze them in ice cube trays for up to two months. When you are ready to serve, you can defrost a cube of purée. Mix with other cubes for more complex combinations as your child’s diet evolves.
Sweet potatoes or squash make a delightful first food.
Sweet potato purée
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 oz breast milk, formula or water
Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spread the sweet potatoes on a sheet pan.
3. Roast for 20 minutes or until soft. Remove from oven and let cool.
4. Blend the sweet potatoes with breast milk, formula or water until smooth. Add more liquid as necessary.
5. Store in airtight container for three days in fridge or one month in freezer.
For a more complex food, combine roasted carrots, baked apples and roasted butternut squash. You’ll want to introduce each of these foods separately but once your baby has done well with them, mix them for a different flavor. Blend with breast milk, formula and water to keep the purée smooth.
Roasted carrot, baked apple and roasted butternut squash purée
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup apple, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup butternut squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 ounces breast milk, formula or water
Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spread the carrots, apples and butternut squash on a sheet pan.
3. Roast for 20 minutes or until soft. Remove from oven and let cool.
4. Blend the roasted carrots, baked apples and roasted butternut squash with breast milk, formula or water until smooth. Add more liquid as necessary.
5. Store in airtight container for three days in fridge or one month in freezer.
6 to 8 months
At this point, your little one is getting a hang of eating and his or her tastebuds are developing. You can start to introduce yogurts, puréed meats and legumes (beans, chickpeas, edamame, etc) to your baby's diet.
Avocados are a favorite first food due to their soft texture and delightful flavor and combined with edamame, they make a tasty treat. Mash avocados with mashed edamame in a blender or by hand for a chunkier texture.
Avocado and edamame purée
Ingredients:
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 cup cooked edamame
- 2-4 ounces breast milk, formula or water
Steps:
1. Blend avocado and cooked edamame with breast milk, formula or water until smooth. Add more liquid as necessary.
2. Store in airtight container for three days in fridge or one month in freezer.
For a heartier meal, steamed spinach, baked apples with cinnamon and peas are a great combination that will please baby’s taste buds.
Spinach, apple and pea purée
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup spinach
- 1/2 cup apple, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
- 4 ounces breast milk, formula or water
Steps:
1. Lightly steam spinach in a vegetable steamer until soft.
2. Place apple with cinnamon in a saucepan with a few tablespoons of water and cook until soft.
3. Add peas to the apple and cinnamon mixture and cook until soft.
4. Blend the spinach, apples and peas with breast milk, formula or water until smooth. Add more liquid as necessary.
5. Store in airtight container for three days in fridge or one month in freezer.
8 to 10 months
Baby’s pincer grasp is usually strong by now; you're ready for finger foods. No need to make this phase complicated. Start with softer foods that can be easily mashed by little hands but held steady between tiny fingers. Peas, diced blueberries, bananas, steamed zucchini, baked apples and diced avocado are favorites along with small chunks of cheese, diced chicken and cereal (think Cheerios). Alice and Lois have a great list of baby finger foods and bonus smoothie pop recipes.
10 to 12 months
Babies are eating more combinations at this point; most can eat almost everything you eat. A favorite baby food is hummus. Add some extra ingredients to make it more exciting. Blueberries and zucchini are great additions while broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes can break up basic garbanzo beans and olive oil.
Blueberry, rosemary, zucchini, garbanzo bean hummus
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, strained and drained
- 1/2 cup zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces and lightly steamed
- 1 teaspoon rosemary, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Steps:
1. Combine blueberries, garbanzo beans, zucchini and rosemary with olive oil in food processor and pulse. Scrape down the sides and blend until you have reached the desired consistency.
2. Serve with pita bread or crackers.
3. Store in airtight container for three days in fridge or one month in freezer.
Toddlers and beyond
Toddlers have usually moved beyond the basic purée but don’t have very well-developed palates. Also, the concern for choking is still big. Suggestion: smoothies. They're a great way to pack in some nutrients. Popsicles can also be made with fresh fruit and yogurt for a refreshing treat.
Strawberry oatmeal smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup milk (cow, almond, soy)
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
Steps:
1. Combine banana, frozen strawberries, rolled oats, milk and chia seeds in a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Serve immediately.
Can You Mix Baby Food With Formula In A Bottle
by admin
Can You Mix Baby Food With Formula In A Bottle The answer to your question is yes, you can.
There are a few things you need to know first before proceeding. You want to be sure that the baby food is pureed and not chunkier to mix well in the bottle.
When mixing Formula with baby food in a bottle, always use an 8 ounce or smaller size nipple for newborns and under 12 months old and then move on to a 10-12 ounce nipple as they grow older.
Most people say 2 minutes, but there is no hard rule here; make sure it’s mixed until all chunks are gone!
Table of Contents
How to mix baby food with Formula in a bottle
Formula is a great way to nourish your baby, and babies typically love consistency. If you have started on a bottle with your little one, it’s essential to know that mixing Formula in a bottle can be done if needed.
However, there are some things to keep in mind when trying this option. Here are some tips for successful formula feeding:
* Make sure you’re using water at room temperature rather than cold or hot water, as this will make it harder for the milk powder to dissolve. * Stir the mixture until all of the milk powder has dissolved before serving.
You may need to add more water if any remains after stirring. * A reasonable time frame is 1-2 hours between feedings, so avoid giving too much too often.
When should you use this technique
We all know that we are supposed to feed our babies breast milk until they are six months old. The answer may be in a mixed-feeder. A mixed-feeder is someone who provides their infant both breast milk and Formula.
Mixed-feeding has been shown to benefit moms with low supply since it boosts production and gifts for babies because it helps them grow better than if they only drink Formula alone.
Mixed feeding also means less work for moms who are already multitasking and juggling two jobs!
Benefits of using this technique
In today’s world, it is easy to over-schedule ourselves. We have a lot on our plates, and we work hard for ourselves and our families.
This means that many of us are tired and hungry when the time comes to feed the little ones! Here at Mix Baby Food In A Bottle, we want you to know that there is an easier way:
mix baby food with Formula in a bottle! One of the most significant benefits of this process is how quickly you can get your kids fed without having to worry about any mess or cleanup.
It’s as simple as attaching one end of the tube into the container with your prepared mixture and then inserting the other end directly into their mouth!
Disadvantages of using this technique
I have a baby that is 7 months old, and she has been using Formula since day one. My doctor recently told me that there are disadvantages to using this type of tec a Can You Mix Baby Food With Formula In A Bottle, and it causes my daughter to be more constipated than usual.
My daughter’s health depends on her eating the right food, so I will try changing her diet for a few weeks and see if it makes any difference in her bowel movements.
Tips for when mixing the two together
It’s a common misconception that you can mix baby food with Formula in a bottle. However, this is not the case, and combining these two foods together could be harmful to your baby.
For example, adding applesauce to an already full bottle of Formula will cause the milk to overflow or give your child too much sugar for their age group.
If you’re transitioning from breast milk or formula to whole cow’s milk, please consult your pediatrician because there are certain nutrients in breast milk and formulas that aren’t found in regular dairy products.
Can I mix baby formula with food?
This is a question many parents are asking themselves. The answer to this question is not very clear, but some options may work for your situation. There are different ways to do this, and it will depend on the type of food you want to use and the age of your child.
Some people believe that mixing baby formula with foo in a bottle can be dangerous because it could cause an allergic reaction or other complications like bloating or gas when they feed their baby.
You may like: Microwaving Baby Food: Safe Or Dangerous
Can you put baby food in a bottle?
Many parents wonder if adding pureed vegetables or fruits will help their children eat more solid foods.
For some children, it is helpful to do this because they cannot drink from a cup yet and need something other than milk for nutritional balance. We’ll discuss when mixing baby food with Formula is okay and offer tips on making your homemade baby food!
Can I mix applesauce with baby formula?
I know that most people think of applesauce as a food for babies, but I also understand that some parents use it to mix with Formula in bottles.
This is an important question because you don’t want to give your baby too many solid foods before they have teeth, and since the age range for starting solids can vary so much from baby to baby, there’s no way of knowing if this will work well.
You may be wondering if it is okay to mix banana with baby for a baby. The answer is yes! Bananas are suitable for babies, and they can help promote digestion. Babies love bananas and will enjoy this yummy treat.
Be sure to speak with your pediatrician before introducing any new foods into your baby’s diet. Still, I have not heard of anyone having problems mixing bananas with their Formula or breast milk in a bottle.
Conclusion
Baby food and formula can be mixed in a bottle. If you’re looking for ways to save money, this is an option worth considering. However, there are other reasons why mixing these two products might not work well for your baby’s health or diet.
We recommend consulting with your doctor before doing anything that may affect the quality of their nutrition or growth rate.
proportions, rules for preparation and storage of ready meals
To prepare for the use of liquid and powder mixtures, follow the following sequence of actions. The ready-to-use mixture can be poured directly into a sterile bottle without diluting with water (wash the top of the can thoroughly before opening).
Boil tap water or bottled water for five minutes. We do not recommend using distilled water as it deprives the child of valuable minerals. Let the boiled water cool down.
Place six sterile bottles in a row and fill each with the recommended amount of cooled boiled water. Add the recommended amount of wet or dry mix. For example, if you are using liquid concentrate and 240 ml bottles, pour 120 ml of boiled water and 120 ml of liquid concentrate into each.
Put teats and caps on all bottles, then put them in the refrigerator.
It is preferable to use the refrigerated mixture within twenty-four hours, maximum forty-eight hours.
Correct concentration
Never mix more than the recommended concentration. Always add exactly
Tips for quick and easy sterilization and formula preparation
Use disposable plastic bags for feeding, which are fixed in a plastic holder; they are comfortable and minimize the amount of air swallowed as the bag collapses during feeding.
Use dishwasher to sterilize bottles and teats; also use ready-to-use liquid mixtures. No need to boil water, no need to re-sterilize, no need to measure the ingredients.
as much water as recommended by the mix manufacturer. If you add too little water, the mixture will be too thick for the baby's immature intestines and kidneys, and the baby will become dehydrated. Sometimes your doctor may advise you to further dilute the mixture with water if you vomit or have diarrhea. Over-dilute the formula without the recommendation of a pediatrician is not worth more than a couple of days, because too thin formula will not provide your child with enough calories.
Most children prefer the mixture to be slightly warm; hold the bottle for a few minutes under running warm water. Put some on the inside of your wrist to check your temperature.
To help your baby swallow as little air as possible, tilt the bottle so that the entire nipple is filled with milk and the air rises to the bottom of the bottle.
Hold the baby's head straight in relation to the body. If the child drinks with his head turned to the side or with his head thrown back, it will be difficult for him to swallow.
To make your hand less tired and your baby see you from different angles, change your hand at each feeding.
Watch for signs that the opening in the nipple is too large or too small. If the baby suddenly has a full mouthful of milk, chokes and almost chokes while feeding, the milk may be flowing too fast. Turn the full bottle upside down and do not shake. If the milk squirts out instead of dripping, the hole in the nipple is too big; throw that pacifier away. If you see that the baby is trying his best and gets tired of sucking quickly, and his cheeks sink in during sucking movements due to the resulting vacuum, the hole in the nipple may be too small (as mentioned earlier, milk should drip from the nipple as at least one drop per second).
Know when to back off. Children know when they are full. Fight the temptation to finish the bottle. If by the end of the feeding the baby is deeply asleep, but has not finished the bottle, stop. Often, babies fall into a light nap towards the end of the bottle, but continue to suck intermittently. They are full but indulge in a light "dessert" of sucking for pleasure. Remove the bottle and let your baby suck on the tip of your finger for a few minutes.
The requirements for baby food are high, and the difficult task of choosing the right mixtures for babies falls on the shoulders of mothers.
Of course, pediatricians and other specialists help them in this matter, but young mothers still have questions.
Many people share their experiences on the Internet, discuss common problems in specialized forums, and also turn to experts and nutritionists. Consider the most popular issues that concern women with young children in Russia today.
- If you dilute the ready-made mixture and it remains in the bottle, you can store it for no more than two hours.
- Be sure to put it in the refrigerator, otherwise the product will quickly turn sour.
If diluted product is left in the bottle after feeding, it should be discarded and not left for later. And even if the child asked to eat in an hour, he will be unusable, and you risk poisoning the baby.
When the product is stored at room temperature, active reproduction of bacteria begins, causing intestinal disorders, colic, bloating.
Doctors also forbid heating food in the microwave, which heats the contents unevenly.
Many mothers have a question - what water can be diluted with infant formula? There are several options: someone uses ordinary tap water after boiling, someone buys artesian, someone - baby water, presented in pharmacies and stores.
Special children's water is not the worst option, since it does not differ in taste from ordinary water, but higher requirements are imposed on its quality. Manufacturers are required to reduce the degree of mineralization to a certain level, as well as to pass water through a carbon or quartz filter.
The water is carefully tested before it reaches the stores, so it can be used for breeding baby food.
The question is also popular, is it possible to dilute the mixture with boiling water . When diluting the powder product, the optimum temperature is 37C. Some manufacturers recommend using hotter water, you will read about this on the product packaging.
To achieve the desired temperature, after boiling, add cool water to boiling water, but also pre-boiled.
Experts answer unequivocally - you cannot mix regular formula and breast milk. But you can organize mixed feeding. It is available in two versions:
- Give an artificial product after breastfeeding if the baby is restless, reaches for the breast, smacks his lips. This means that he did not have enough breast milk, and he remained hungry.
- Alternating formula and breast milk. For example, for the first time the child is provided with natural feeding, and in the second - only artificial.
The first method is recommended if the mother has a slight shortage of milk. In this case, the feeding regimen remains unchanged, namely, at the request of the baby. The only difference is that after breastfeeding, if necessary, the child is given additional artificial nutrition.
The second method is used if lactation is significantly reduced. Then in the morning it is recommended to feed with a mixture, in the afternoon twice - first with a breast, then with a mixture, in the evening with a breast, at night with a mixture, and then in the morning again with a breast.
The amount of artificial product required for supplementary feeding is selected based on the weight and age of the child.
It is also important to remember the rules of mixed feeding:
- a bottle with a hard nipple with small holes should be used for supplementary feeding, so that the baby does not refuse the breast at all,
- complementary foods should be introduced gradually and observe how the child’s body perceives it,
- Complementary foods are allowed to be introduced no earlier than 4-5 months,
- should infant formula be diluted with milk - experts answer this question unequivocally - it is impossible, since the mixtures are diluted only with water.
Young mothers face the problem of mixed feeding very often, and due to the lack of specialized literature, they cannot properly organize the child's diet. In such a situation, breastfeeding specialists will come to the rescue.
There is no better nutrition for newborns than mother's milk. However, not always and not all mothers have the opportunity to breastfeed their baby. There are situations when the transfer to artificial feeding is inevitable. Sometimes a woman who has given birth simply does not have breast milk or there is too little of it. Sometimes (for reasons beyond her control) a mother cannot breastfeed her baby. We want to note right away that before transferring a newborn to IV (artificial feeding), consultation with a pediatrician is a prerequisite. IV is a new diet that requires the most serious approach. Today we will try to answer the most pressing questions that parents have when transferring their child to IV.
When a child needs to be artificially fed — who and when decides on the child's IV?
Even the highest quality formulas cannot replace breast milk. Therefore, the transfer to IV must be justified! It is necessary to solve the issue of transferring the child to IV together with the pediatrician.
Pediatricians consider the transfer of a baby to artificial feeding reasonable if:
- The birth was very difficult and the mother just needs to regain her lost strength.
- The mother has a history of infectious diseases.
- A woman in labor is forced to take life-saving drugs.
- Presence of chronic diseases.
- The mother (for a number of reasons) does not have breast milk or it is not enough, and all attempts to restore or increase lactation have not led to a positive result.
- Temporary prolonged absence of the mother. In the absence of it for a short time, breast milk is expressed and stored in the refrigerator.
How to choose infant formula for a newborn?
Wholesome nutrition of a child at an early age is a kind of guarantee of his future health. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the choice of the mixture as responsibly and deliberately as possible. The market for infant formula is quite extensive. To say that any baby food must meet all the requirements of GOST and be tested by the Institute of Nutrition, we think is unnecessary. All mothers understand that not only health, but also the life of their children depends on the quality of baby food. ? This question very often worries parents of children on IV.
Mixtures are usually divided into dry and liquid:
- We want to note right away that in our market about 90% of baby food is presented in the form of dry mixes. This is a powdery mixture that requires dilution with boiled water. In the instructions attached to a particular mixture, there is a clear explanation of how to prepare it.
- Liquid mixes account for only 10%. Which, in fact, is quite natural. After all, they only last a few days. Liquid mixtures are produced in tetrapack packages. They do not require dilution, they only need to be heated before use. Their shelf life in the refrigerator is a maximum of 24-48 hours.
As a rule, all mixtures are made from cow's or goat's milk. They are usually divided into:
- adapted;
- partially adapted;
- not adapted;
- subsequent and specialized.
Adapted mixtures is a food that, in its composition, is as close as possible to mother's milk. These mixtures are intended for newborns. They are easily absorbed by the child's body. They include: demineralized whey, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, nucleotides.
The most popular mixtures in this group include: Nestle NAN, Nutricia Nutrilon, Semper. For kids who cannot tolerate cow protein, the Bibikol Nanny mixture based on goat milk is perfect. Liquid adapted ready-made mixes Agusha, NAN are considered affordable in the price category.
How do I choose the right formula for my baby's age?
Naturally, the composition of baby food directly depends on the age of the baby. The mixture formula number is an indicator that indicates what age category this mixture is designed for.
"0" - a mixture for newborns with small weight and for premature babies.
"1" - for children from 0 to 6 months.
"2" - from 6 months to a year.
"3" - for children older than one year.
Specialty blends are subdivided into:
- sour-milk mixtures - for children with digestive problems: Nutrilac and NAN Sour-milk.
- iron rich formulas - for children with iron deficiency anemia: Similac Premium.
Also available: hypoallergenic formulas, lactose-free formulas, anti-reflux formulas.
The final choice of mixture should be made only after a detailed consultation with a doctor.
What do I need to buy for the IV?
The following items and accessories will be needed for the IV:
- Feeding bottles.
- Bottle brush.
- Bottle warmer.
- Mix container. If you purchase a container with three compartments, then you can take it on trips. Each compartment of the container is designed for one dose of the mixture.
- Thermal bag available. Moms praise the Philips AVENT thermal bag, it keeps heat up to 4 hours. It comes with four mixing containers. It is compact and lightweight.
- Bottle sterilizer. Some moms use a microwave sterilizer, some use an electric one. Disputes about the dangers of a microwave are ongoing to this day, so maybe it’s not worth the risk ?!
When should the mixture be changed?
An unjustified change of milk formula may cause indigestion in the child. Therefore, the mixture should only be changed on the recommendation of a doctor and under the following circumstances:
- If the baby loses weight.
- If he shows signs of anemia.
- For a long time, the baby has a gastrointestinal disorder.
- If the child spit up too much after eating.
- For lactase deficiency.
- If a child is very tormented by gases, his tummy will often swell.
- If the baby refuses to eat.
- For allergic reactions to the mixture.
- If necessary, the introduction of therapeutic nutrition.
- After the child reaches a certain age, a planned change in nutrition is necessary.
- The transition to a new mixture must be carried out gradually. The dose of the new mixture gradually increases. Many pediatricians believe that the transition from one mixture to another is a real stress for a child. And to do this simply because you did not find the right mixture in the nearest store is impossible!
How do I prepare formula for my baby?
How to dilute the dry mix is indicated in the instructions. Parents should not try to set proportions on their own. If the baby cannot eat, you should increase the quantitative volume of food, and not the amount of dry mixture in one serving.
Check the expiration date before purchasing the mixture. Wash your hands thoroughly before starting cooking. Always prepare sterile bottles in advance. To do this, it is advisable to purchase a sterilizer. Sterile dishes must be kept covered. You can use a clean towel for this.
How to prepare a mixture: an algorithm of actions
- Read the instructions carefully again.
- Pour water at the correct temperature into a sterile bottle. Water can be heated directly in the bottle using a device such as a heater.
- Use a measuring spoon to measure out the required amount of dry formula and pour it into the bottle. The amount of the mixture in the measuring spoon should be without a "slide".
- Close the bottle tightly and shake it for one minute. Check if there are any lumps left in the bottle and if the mixture is at the right temperature.
- Strictly follow all manufacturer's instructions, do not do it yourself!
Can the reconstituted mixture be stored?
Mixture already diluted should not be stored, even for 1 hour. The mixture is very nutritious and all kinds of harmful microorganisms reproduce with great pleasure in it.
The mixture must be prepared at one time. If the baby has not eaten the portion offered to him to the end, mommy should pour out the rest without the slightest regret.
Can leftover infant formula be reheated?
Some mothers who are especially frugal try to boil the rest of the mixture and feed it to the baby later. Undoubtedly, harmful bacteria can be killed in this way, but along with them, beneficial ones will also die during boiling. There will be no benefit from such food.
How to store powdered infant formula?
- Unopened mixture should be stored between 12 and 24 degrees.
- Do not store mixtures in direct sunlight.
- Mixtures that have already been started are stored tightly closed in a dry, cool place.
- No refrigeration!
Do you need to supplement your child with IV?
A must! Otherwise, constipation cannot be avoided. Pediatricians warn mothers that a child on IV should drink one feeding of water per day.
What kind of water should I use for formula preparation?
- Use child-safe water that has been inspected by the health department.
- You can sterilize the water yourself. To do this, it must be boiled for at least 10 minutes.
- I would like to note that bottled and filtered water is not always of high quality, since filters need to be changed regularly, and this is not always done.
- Moms should remember that boiled water can re-emerge after 24 hours. Therefore, it should not be stored for a long time. In addition, with prolonged boiling in water, not only harmful bacteria and microbes die, but also beneficial ones.
- So, it is preferable to dilute infant formula with special "baby" bottled water, which is sold in the store. According to experts, baby bottled water "Malyshka" is considered the best brand. In Frutonyan, beloved by many, experts found an increased rate of mercury. And in "Hipp" and "Agusha" there is not enough fluorine.
Constipation in a newborn with artificial feeding: what to do?
The frequency of stools in a newborn baby can reach up to 10-12 times a day. In children who are on IV, constipation can be said if an independent stool has not been observed within 1 day.
- Most pediatricians recommend using microenemas in this case. For example: microclyster “Proctum. The composition of microclysters includes a special gel that acts only locally, without any side effects. The child does not experience pain during the introduction of microclysters. But you should not get involved in enemas, as you can disrupt the microflora in the digestive tract.
- Also for babies, doctors recommend laxatives: Dufalac or Lactusan. The composition of these drugs includes lactulose syrup.
- Some pediatricians prefer to prescribe glycerin rectal suppositories for constipation.
All of the above drugs, suppositories or enemas must be prescribed by a doctor! What can mom do?
- Remember to give your baby water between feedings.
- Massage his tummy.
- Do gymnastic exercises with the baby. For example, "Bicycle".
- Place the baby on the tummy more often.
The child is allergic to formula: how to understand and what to do?
As soon as a baby develops a rash on his body, he should be seen by a doctor immediately. The doctor must exclude other possible options for the occurrence of a rash. As medical statistics show, children most often react to the proteins found in cow's milk.
The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to the formula are:
- Frequent loose stools.
- Colic and constipation.
- Profuse regurgitation.
- Vomit.
- Shortness of breath.
- Rash.
What to do?
- Of course, first of all, eliminate the allergen. As we have already said, the allergen, as a rule, becomes cow's milk protein. Therefore, the newborn must be transferred to.
- If the allergy is severe, allergists prescribe an elemental mixture of Nutrilon Amino Acids. Transfer to a new mixture must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor!
Manual
Before you mix , prepare the utensils and utensils to be used during the cooking process. These are various, cups, spoons and even small bowls, specially adapted for baby feeding. Wash them thoroughly in boiled warm water, you can use baking soda, as it can destroy harmful bacteria. For cleaning hard-to-reach places, such as the bottom of a bottle, use special brushes.
Next, you need to sterilize the containers intended for feeding the baby. Boil children's utensils: bottles, fasteners, caps, spoons and special syringes. Sterilize containers and accessories in the same container, do not use it for other purposes.
After carefully preparing the container for milk, you can safely proceed to its preparation. Be sure to read the product label about the composition, method of preparation and the proportional amount of the mixture. It is necessary to breed it, strictly observing the instructions of the manufacturer of this product, as well as the rules of hygiene. After all, the health of the baby is above all.
There are mixtures with different cooking modes. Some are simply diluted with warm boiled water, others need to be steamed with boiling water. The optimal milk formula, ready for use, should not exceed the temperature of the human body, that is, 36 degrees. According to the folk method, checking the temperature of any baby food is done in a very simple way - put a few drops on the back of your hand, thereby determining whether it is possible to cool the child with it or to cool it a little more.
Store already diluted mixture if it has not been used in full, but not more than a day. It can still survive and multiply harmful bacteria. At room temperature, experts advise storing the diluted mixture no more than two hours. However, the best option is to dilute the formula immediately before the process of feeding the baby. In this case, you will prevent the growth of bacteria in the diet and protect your baby.
Please note
Carefully study the method of preparation of each individual type of mixture, as it may differ.
Infant formula contains all the necessary ingredients for feeding infants. Most often these are dry powders. Almost all of them are developed on the basis of high-quality cow's milk, which is subjected to special processing methods during the production process, enriched with vitamins, amino acids and microelements. This is done so that the final product is closer in composition to breast milk and corresponds to the peculiarities of the digestion of babies.
Instruction
Feeding formula must be selected strictly according to the age and health of the child. To do this, you need to consult with your pediatrician in advance, he will help you choose the one that is best for your baby.
How to dilute infant formula - Articles about baby food from pediatricians and MAMAKO experts
- How to dilute infant formula?
- Clean hands, strictly in the recommended proportions, in sterile dishes. This is basic!
- Can infant formula be diluted with anything other than water? Can expressed breast milk be used to dilute it?
- Infant formula is diluted only with water, otherwise we will not be able to calculate calories correctly. And there is no point in breeding it with breast milk - the food itself is tasty and of high quality, if we are talking about an adapted milk formula.
- Is it necessary to dilute infant formula with boiled water?
- Ideally, use special bottled water for children. More stringent requirements are imposed on its quality, so it undergoes additional cleaning. In addition, in the production of such water, unlike an adult product, silver and carbon dioxide are not used, and the level of micro- and macroelements is carefully regulated.
As for dilution, I still recommend using boiled water.
- Why is whole cow's milk not used to dilute the mixture?
- Nutrition contains EVERYTHING that the baby needs. Nothing else is required. In addition, whole milk is highly not recommended for children under one year old, and preferably up to three!
- What should be added to the container first: mixture or water?
- Just water! And carefully look at the risks on the bottle so that the volume is correct. If you pour the mixture first, then it will be impossible to correctly calculate the volume of water. But the volume of the mixture is under control thanks to measuring spoons.
- How much mixture is required to dilute one serving?
- There are several formulas, or ways, to calculate the amount of mixture needed for a baby. You can use this plate or look at the bank: the manufacturer also gives his instructions. It is important to understand one thing - all these figures are advisory in nature. Each child is individual, he can eat more or, conversely, less than the recommended amount. And that's okay.
- How to correctly calculate how much formula a child should eat? What are the best calculation methods to use?
- You can calculate according to the Reich formula - the weight of the child (g) is divided by his height (cm), after which we multiply by seven. Thus, we get the daily volume of the mixture, after which we distribute it according to the number of meals.
There is another calculation option - Shkarin's formula: a child at 2 months old eats 800 ml of milk per day. For each week missing before this age, we subtract 50 ml, and for each month older, we add 50 ml.
where n is the number of weeks of life (for babies under 2 months) and the number of months (for children over 2 months)
- Is there a universal step-by-step algorithm for preparing infant formula?
Let's take a look at this sequence:
- Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water first.
- The bottle, nipple and stirrer should already be sterilized beforehand.
- Heat bottled water - ideally use a separate saucepan or kettle for this.
- Pour the desired amount of warm water into the bottle.
- Pour the required number of measuring spoons of the mixture into it.
- Mix thoroughly. I usually recommend using a silicone spoon for this, which will then need to be rinsed and sterilized for the next lunch or dinner.
- Check the temperature of food in a simple grandmother's way - put a couple of drops on your wrist. If all is well, feed the baby.
- Olesya Vladimirovna, what about night feedings?
- I know very well how tired mothers are and how you want to sleep at night, but still I recommend getting up and preparing food as needed, and not in advance. Older children can dilute the mixture in the evening and store it in a thermos. Then the whole task in the middle of the night will only be to pour food into a bottle and feed the awakened baby.
- What temperature should reconstituted infant formula be?
- Approximately like body temperature, 36-37 degrees is the best and most comfortable option.
- How do you know if the formula is too cold or too hot for the baby?
- Of course, there are special thermometers, but, as a rule, we use a simple method - we drip the mixture on the wrist or try it. In the second case, it is important to understand that we are tasting with a clean spoon. You can’t drink from a bottle or pacifier, it’s extremely unhygienic.
- How to warm up infant formula?
- If you dilute the mixture and it is not warm enough, put the bottle in a container of hot water for a few minutes, then give it a good shake and check the temperature on your wrist.
Do not use a microwave to heat the mixture - food warms up unevenly in it, and there is a risk of burning the baby.
- Can special thermoses be used to store reconstituted infant formula?
There are also baby food warmers. You can use them, and thermoses. But I would still recommend doing this in extreme cases, only when absolutely necessary.
- How long can infant formula be stored at room temperature after reconstitution?
As a pediatrician, I cannot recommend this. There is a risk! In addition, if you dilute the mixture in advance, then what about later? Warm up? And where is the guarantee that it has not sour? The initial souring processes can not always be caught even by taste, however, such a mixture can already cause an upset stomach.
- Can previously diluted mixture be mixed with a new portion of food?
— No, this is unacceptable. And why?
- How long can infant formula be kept in the refrigerator? Is it possible to give the child a mixture from the refrigerator, which he did not finish?
- The diluted "clean" mixture, that is, the one that the child has not yet eaten, can be stored in the refrigerator for about a day. I do not see the point and need in this, but it is not prohibited. But you can’t store food that the baby hasn’t eaten!
- How should I store reconstituted infant formula in the refrigerator?
- In a sterile container: most often this is done in the same bottle, from which they then plan to feed the child.
- Can reconstituted infant formula be frozen?
- Purely theoretically, this can be done, but I do not see the benefit and need for freezing at all.
There is nothing difficult in the organization of artificial feeding.