Rules for feeding with a mixture at 2 months. Complete nutrition for the artificial

Formula is the best substitute for breast milk. She saves modern parents in a variety of life situations - from a lack of breast milk to the need for a mother to go to work early. However, high-quality milk formula is not cheap. Therefore, young parents, forced to artificially feed their baby, often wonder how nutritious and important it is for a growing infant organism.

Compound

Despite the abundance trade marks, the composition of infant formula, in terms of quality and safety, is approximately the same. After all, the process of registering baby milk and fermented milk mixtures is rather complicated, and the quality criteria are so strict that unscrupulous manufacturers simply do not affect

The composition of the milk mixture:

Powdered milk is the basis of the milk mixture. It is made from whole cow or goat milk. Soy-based blends are also found.
Vitamins and minerals are essential supplements for infant formula. Their number is strictly controlled at the legislative level.
Nucleotides are the builders of cells in the human body.
Prebiotics help the beneficial bacteria grow in the intestines and have a direct effect on the baby's digestion.
Probiotics are beneficial microbes directly.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid are part of a group of substances that affect the development of the brain, vision and immunity.

Thinking about the age to which a child should be fed with a formula, it is worth, first of all, to think about what benefits it can bring to the baby.

Benefit

Strict quality control of formulas forces manufacturers to bring the indicators to the closest possible to the composition of mother's milk. However, the same substances found in formula and in breast milk are absorbed differently in the infant's body. Therefore, it is extremely important, even with minimal production, to strive to ensure that the child receives exactly mother's milk, and not formula. But in the absence of such an opportunity, clearly, replacing breast milk with a mixture is the only reasonable way out.

The question of up to what age you can feed a child with formula is, rather, different. Most often, formula is consumed from a bottle. Therefore, many mothers are worried whether sucking on the nipple will affect the correct development of the child, change in bite or speech? Infant formula is a healthy, balanced product, and if you are afraid of giving your child to drink for a long time from a bottle, just let him drink it from a mug.

Can a baby be fed with cow's or goat's milk?

Milk formulas have appeared relatively recently, and, some 100 years ago, no one could have thought of any substitutes, except for cow's or goat's milk. In this regard, a quite reasonable question arises, up to what age to feed a child with milk formula and when can it be replaced with regular milk?

It is strongly not recommended for feeding babies who are not yet one year old. This is due to the fact that the amount of substances such as phosphorus and calcium is significantly higher than the norm contained in breast milk. Immature infant kidneys cannot cope with the elimination of excess substances from the body, as a result of which, the baby has various symptoms of intoxication.

For these reasons, formula milk is the only safe substitute for human milk. In exceptional cases, when it is impossible to get a mixture, it is permissible to feed animals with milk, but only in a diluted form.

How to choose the right formula?

Since the composition of the mixtures is approximately the same, the choice should be based primarily on financial capabilities. Having decided on the price, pay attention to the labeling. The number "1" indicates that the formula is adapted for a child under 6 months of age. The number "2" marks formulas for babies from 6 months to a year. The three indicates that it can be given to children starting from the second year of life.

The choice of special formulas should be discussed with the pediatrician who oversees your baby's development.

Up to what age should you feed your baby with formula?

Since formula is a substitute for breast milk, feeding up to 6 months is not even negotiable. For feeding a child of this age, any mixture is suitable, including fermented milk, marked with the number "1".

Asking the question up to what age you need to feed a baby with a formula, you should pay attention to the recommendations of pediatricians regarding natural breastfeeding. And they, therefore, say the occasion unequivocally: feeding must be continued up to six months, it is very desirable up to a year, and if possible, it is better up to two. The mixture, although inferior to breast milk in its qualities and composition, nevertheless, is a balanced diet, which contains everything necessary for the proper growth and development of babies.

What does Dr. Komarovsky say about artificial feeding?

At one of the lessons of the School, the question was asked, until what age should the child be fed with formula? Komarovsky gave detailed explanations.

If the mixture is not a supplement to breast milk, but has become the only means of feeding, then it can be replaced with cow or goat milk only after the baby is one year old. However, if the financial capabilities of the family allow, then it is highly desirable to give the child a formula, and not milk, even after a year, because the mixture is healthier and certainly safer than milk.

Lure

Starting to feed the baby, some mothers strive to part with expensive mixtures as soon as possible. How important is the formula at the time and up to what age to feed the baby with the formula if he receives a complete complementary food?

Complementary foods for babies start from six months, but up to a year it should remain just complementary foods, that is, an addition to the mixture. Some believe that the formula is a complete balanced diet, and the introduction of complementary foods into the diet of a child under one year old is not necessary.

However, after six months, the child becomes quite mobile, and for this he needs a lot of energy. No matter how wonderful the composition of the infant formula is, it still remains liquid food, which is not able to provide the required amount of energy reserves to the baby. Therefore, the introduction of complementary foods at this age is mandatory. Your little one will be full and full of energy, and you will save money by reducing the number of expensive formula feeds.

After a year, the situation changes radically. The child should receive adequate nutrition, and the mixture, in this case, becomes useful addition to food products.

Night feeding

Almost every mother asks a completely reasonable question, until what age should she feed her baby with formula at night? After all, it is night feedings that are associated with inconvenience and discomfort for parents.

Up to 6 months, night feedings are more likely associated with necessity, therefore, at least six months will have to be patient. An older baby can sleep well all night, provided that he is properly fed and eats up during the day. A hungry child will not let his parents sleep peacefully. It should be remembered about this, especially for those who believe that it is not necessary to give complementary foods for up to a year.

The very fact that there are formulas labeled "4" intended for feeding children from one and a half years old suggests that feeding does not end in a year and a half. More precisely, it is advisable to give a mixture, and not whole milk, even after the child reaches one and a half years.

First, as has been said many times, by substances necessary for the growth and development of a child, which cannot be said about milk. Secondly, it is ideal for children prone to allergic reactions, especially if you choose it correctly and take into account all the recommendations of the pediatrician.

By and large, the mixture will not be harmful and will be useful at any age. Therefore, the question of up to what age to feed a child with a formula is of principle only from the point of view of necessity and material possibilities. Since after 3 years the body of any healthy child perfectly assimilates cow's or goat's milk, and a child at this age receives a full-fledged varied diet, the need to buy expensive mixtures disappears by itself.

The most healthy diet for a baby, it is breast milk. But if for some reason it is not enough, they switch to mixed feeding. The baby will receive all the nutrients with mother's milk, and the missing amount will be supplemented with a mixture. This type of feeding has its own characteristics that need to be known and taken into account.

The formula should not overshadow breast milk. It only solves the problem of not having enough food. No adapted formula can replace the set of nutrients found in mother's milk.

Mixed feeding is continued temporarily. From 6 months, when the time comes for the first feeding, the lack of food is replaced with cereals, fruit or vegetable purees.

It is imperative to fight for quality lactation. This is facilitated by the frequent latching of the baby to the breast, night feeding, and an increase in the amount of fluid consumed. You should not replace the baby's search reflex with bottles or nipples. Very often, these measures are enough to stop mixed feeding after a few weeks.

Complementary feeding with formula is a long and difficult process. You need to prepare a bottle for each feeding, dilute the mixture, while it should be warm. Breast milk is always close at hand and also contains antibodies that protect the baby from infections.

When do you need to additionally feed

It is not uncommon for a woman to start feeding her baby with formula, having no real reason to do so, mistaking her soft and empty breasts for lactation problems. In fact, it could be a sign of mature lactation. Milk begins to be produced only at the moment when the baby is applied to the breast.

The volume of expressed milk is also not an indicator of nutritional deficiencies. The baby can suck much more. You can try expressing milk before feeding, pouring it into a bottle and checking how many grams came out. There is one more thing to consider. To the resulting volume, you need to add 20-30 grams.

You can try weighing your baby before and after feeding. The resulting difference in weight will be equal to the volume of milk you drink.
Nor should the child's behavior be regarded as an indicator that nutrition is insufficient. The baby may cry and turn away from the chest if he is too overexcited, upset. Feeling unwell can lead to a similar reaction: abdominal cramps, teething, clogged nose.
It is very important to ensure that the baby is correctly latching on to the breast. In this case, you can avoid swallowing excess air, the appearance of wounds and cracks in the nipple, as well as problems with malnutrition.
Mixed feeding begins only if the baby is not gaining weight and there is an insufficient amount of urination per day. The child should have about 12 urinations per day. You can count if you put diapers instead of diapers.
For medical reasons, mixed feeding is prescribed in the following cases:
decreased lactation;
diseases of the mother, which are accompanied by taking medications;
lack of nutrients in milk with anemia in a woman, malnutrition;
the need to switch to nutrition with medicinal mixtures.

Mixed feeding of the baby can start already in the maternity hospital. There may be several reasons for this: large blood loss during childbirth, multiple pregnancy, premature baby, Rh-conflict.

Supplementary feeding technique
Each package of the mixture indicates detailed instructions about the rules of breeding and the total volume that the baby should eat per day. Here you also need to take into account the age and developmental characteristics of the body. Divide the total recommended amount over five feedings. It is better to start feeding in the morning. You do not need to give the mixture at night.
The best indicator of how many grams of formula to dilute is weighing the baby before and after feeding. The data obtained correspond to the norms, and the shortage is made up by supplementary feeding. But there is one caveat here. The baby can drink different amounts of breast milk in different time... In the morning he can drink a little, and after a few hours he can get enough of another volume of milk.
You need to reconnect the wet diaper counting method. Normally, there should be 12. If the amount of urination is insufficient, additional nutrition should be offered correctly. The following scheme will help with this.

At the age of 3 months, the child is additionally offered 30 grams for each missing urination, in subsequent months, 10 grams are added. And already at the age of six months, the baby receives an additional 60 grams of complementary foods for each missing wet diaper.
For example, if a child at the age of 4 months urinated 9 times a day, you need to multiply 40 by 3. 120 grams of food are missing, which must be divided into five servings a day.
If the mixture has to be diluted in small quantities, then you should not rush to use the bottle. The baby quickly gets used to light sucking and may not breastfeed after the bottle.
Feeding is recommended to be done with a spoon, syringe, pipette. The spoon should not be made of metal. Collect some of the mixture and pour over the baby's cheek. After he has swallowed a portion, the next one is offered. The pipette with the contents must be placed in the corner of the mouth and poured inside.
If a lot of mixtures for complementary foods are used, then such methods are inconvenient and long to use. Therefore, you need to choose the right nipple for the bottle. It should be tight and have a small hole.

For mixed feeding to be correct and successful, you need to use the following scheme:

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that there is more breast milk in the first half of the day. Therefore, you need to try to feed more often at this time. If milk remains in the breast, it is better to express it and give it to the baby later.
If all these tips are taken into account, the mother will simultaneously fight to establish lactation, and mixed feeding will not go into artificial feeding.

Moms are afraid that mixed feeding can lead to upset stools in the baby and gas in the tummy. If the mixture is diluted correctly, given in small quantities and not all at once, then there will be no problems.
Mixed feeding, as well as completely natural, provides the child's body with the necessary immune bodies. There are no such antibodies in mixtures. Therefore, there is no need to switch to artificial nutrition at the slightest difficulty.

Small children from birth to a certain age are called babies. However, not all of them get their food from their mother's breasts. Many grow up on mixtures and mixed feeding, feel good at the same time and gain weight. The issue of the transition of newborns to artificial feeding with a modern range of adapted formulas and the employment of young mothers is very relevant. Why is this way of eating good and when, according to doctors, is it necessary?

Artificial feeding concept, pros and cons

Mother's milk is natural food for the baby. It contains all the necessary substances for growth, development, and maintenance of immune defense. The baby can get such food ready-made at any time, because the mother is always there. Only 2% of women cannot breastfeed their babies for medical reasons, but refusals from this type of feeding are much more common. Many young mothers explain their lack of milk.

To fix breast-feeding(GW) is not easy. It is subordinated to a certain regime, which women cannot always observe for one reason or another. In any case, the transition to artificial feeding of newborns (IV) should be agreed with the pediatrician. The doctor makes a decision based on the arguments of the young mother, helps in choosing a mixture.

IV is a way of feeding babies up to one year old, in which they do not receive breast milk and are fed with artificial mixtures. Pros:

full replacement of milk in case of problems with hepatitis B: colic in the baby, the mother taking medication, which excludes natural feeding;
a large selection of adapted formulas, taking into account the characteristics of health, age, needs of the baby;
the opportunity to feed the baby when long absence mothers at any time of the day or night;
mixes take longer to digest, and artificial children sleep better;
the ability to know exactly how much the child ate.

Artificial feeding of newborns has disadvantages:

inconvenience when traveling: in addition to baby things, mom needs to prepare bottles, sterilizers and other feeding devices (we recommend reading:);
difficulties with the selection of a mixture: possible allergic reactions, atopic dermatitis;
it is difficult for a baby to digest an unusual product: colic, constipation, and other problems from the digestive system are possible;
high cost of quality food;
children on IV are more likely to get colds, because there are no maternal antibodies in the mixtures.

Features of the choice of mixture

Formulas for formula-fed infants are dry (powder for dilution with water) and liquid. Dry mixes have a long shelf life. Liquids are sold in tetrapacks or glass containers, stored for 2-3 days. Such products are made on the basis of cow and goat milk. Depending on the proximity of their composition to breast milk, adapted, partially adapted and unadapted mixtures are isolated.

In adapted food products, whey proteins are used instead of milk. There are vegetable fats, vitamins, carbohydrates (mainly lactose). In terms of composition, they are as close as possible to mother's milk, ideal as a replacement for babies aged 0-6 months. Partially adapted infant formula foods are also high in protein. However, they are higher in calories, contain more iron, zinc, calcium.

Non-adapted mixtures are prepared on the basis of milk powder, additionally, components similar to those in the adapted ones are introduced. They contain casein, which can be absorbed by the child's body from 6-8 months. Hurry to introduce them into more early period Not recommended.

When choosing, it is important to carefully study the information on the packaging:

"0" - the mixture is designed for premature babies and newborn babies with insufficient weight;
"1" - for children aged 0-6 months;
"2" - intended for babies 6-12 months old;
"3" - suitable for children over a year old.

What formula is best for feeding a baby? Only a pediatrician will answer this question, based on data on the baby's health. According to reviews, the highest quality products are NAN Optipro, Nutrilon, Similac Premium, Celia Expert, Humana Expert, Friso, Semper. When choosing, young parents should consider a number of rules:

obtain permission from a pediatrician to artificially feed a child;
pick up the mixture according to the doctor's recommendations;
when buying, you should check the integrity of the packaging, the expiration date;
for a sample, take one jar of formula for feeding a newborn;
it is advisable to purchase the mixture where there is always an opportunity to quickly buy it;
observe the baby's reaction in the first days and weeks after the start of feeding.

How to prepare baby formula correctly?

The well-being of a child on IV directly depends on how adults correctly follow the instructions for preparing the mixture. Liquid food is already packaged in bottles and prepared in compliance with all standards. Before serving, the mixture should be heated in a water bath to the temperature indicated on the package. Then you need to pour it into a clean bottle and feed the baby carefully.

When diluting food in powder, it is important to adhere to the following instructions:

It is better to dilute the product in special water for children, since during boiling many useful substances of water are lost. If there is no such water, it is recommended to use filtered, pre-boiled and cooled water.
Strictly calculate the age dosage, do not pour a spoon with a slide. An excess amount of the mixture will make the food thick, lead to dyspeptic disorders, overfeeding. With a lack of mixture, the baby will remain hungry and it will be difficult to gain weight. If the calculation of the powder is incorrect, it eats up the norm, but does not gorge itself.
When diluting, the bottle should be shaken thoroughly so that the dry substance is completely dissolved. Before giving the product to a child, its temperature should be checked. It should be around 36-37 degrees.
A new mixture should be prepared each time. If the newborn does not eat the prescribed amount, do not store the leftovers in the refrigerator or leave them overnight.

Formula feeding technique for newborns and babies

The success of IVs depends on the correct bottle and teat. For babies up to 3 months, you do not need to purchase a bottle with a volume of more than 150 ml. Single portions increase gradually, and it is more difficult to feed a baby from a large bottle. It is better to choose an anti-colic, anatomical pacifier. The hole should be such that the baby can make efforts to suck. If the food is easy to get, he will completely refuse mom's breast and his stomach will stretch quickly.

Basic feeding rules:

It is important for mom to find a comfortable position for herself and the child. You need to hold it in almost the same way as with GV, and make sure that it does not choke.
It is important that the nipple completely fills the nipple and the air is in the bottom of the bottle. It should be kept at a slight slope.
A month-old baby should be held in a column (upright) after feeding. This will prevent regurgitation.
Do not store leftover mixture in the refrigerator. The kid does not always eat the norm, the remaining food must be poured out.

How much formula should I give my child?

The amount of food that babies receive on IV should be monitored. The daily amount of the diluted mixture is determined as follows:

the first 2 months - 1/5 of the weight of the baby;
at 2-4 months - 1/6 of the body weight;
at 4-6 months - 1/9;
over six months - 1/9.

Calculations are easy. For example, if a two-month-old toddler weighs 4500 g, then he needs 4500/5 = 900 g of the mixture per day. The serving size is calculated based on the number of feedings. The babies are fed every 3.5-4 hours, that is, there are 6 feedings per day. According to the calculation, a single serving of food at 2 months for a child weighing 4.5 kg - 150 g. After the introduction of the first complementary foods, you can switch to five meals a day. It is better to calculate the mixture rate for a newborn in this way, and not check with the table by week.

Mixed feeding and its features

Artificial feeding is convenient for a busy woman, but mixed feeding is more beneficial for a baby. In case of problems with lactation, pediatricians recommend putting the newborn to the breast more often and supplementing it with a mixture if he is hungry after that. When organizing mixed feeding, the following points should be taken into account:

the formula should be supplemented in order to solve the problem of lack of breast milk;
it is important to try to establish lactation, stop feeding the mixture at night and completely transfer the baby to HB;
limit the use of pacifiers and nipples, try to breastfeed the baby more often;
mom should eat right, drink tea to stimulate lactation, do breast massage;
from 6 months, missing breast milk must be compensated for by complementary foods, not formula.

Is it worth giving additional water to a child who is on IV?

The question of whether to add water to an artificial baby is decided individually. In the heat, with ARVI, high temperature or constipation, the child may need more fluids. In this case, you can add water. This should be done with a spoon and only after feeding. Bottled water for children is ideal for drinking. You can take boiled water.

The introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding

An artificial baby can try complementary foods from 4-5 months after a preliminary consultation with a pediatrician. You should start with dairy-free cereals (buckwheat, rice) and vegetables (unsalted zucchini puree, cauliflower, young potatoes). Rules for introducing products into the diet:

the child should try a new dish in morning hours, in a good mood;
It is important to give complementary foods before the baby takes the bottle;
the first time you should give 1 tsp. and monitor the baby's reaction throughout the day;
gradually the volume of the dish should be increased to the appropriate age.

Subsequently, the baby can be offered fruit juices from a jar, puree from vegetables and fruits. According to the complementary feeding table, the following will be cottage cheese, dairy products, meat, fish meatballs. On days when the baby is sick or receiving a vaccination, new meals should not be offered.

Komarovsky's opinion on IW

Opinion pediatrician EO Komarovsky is decisive for many mothers who choose between artificial feeding and GV. The doctor is convinced that breastfeeding costs as much as a young mother can. No modern adapted formula can replace breast milk. In artificial products there are no antibodies, hormonal substances, enzymes - the baby can get them only from the mother.

There is no need to talk about the benefits of pure cow and goat milk in the first year of life. This is a heavy food for a baby that will not be digested and will cause health problems. Animal milk contains a high content of phosphorus and calcium, which can lead to pathologies of the kidneys, musculoskeletal system. In addition, natural milk proteins can cause food allergies.

Komarovsky for natural feeding. If, for health reasons, the mother cannot breastfeed, the doctor advises to take a responsible attitude to the choice of the mixture and monitor how the child's body reacts to artificial feeding.

Breastfeeding of newborns is a very valuable gift from nature. Experts assure that every woman can breastfeed. But sometimes desire alone is not enough. Difficulties appear. If for some reason a woman cannot breastfeed, the choice of the mixture must be approached carefully. After all, the health and development of the baby depends on this. How to choose the right mixture? What mixtures are there? How to prepare the mixture correctly? Let's talk in the article.

What kind important points is it worth considering when switching to artificial feeding of newborn babies? Check with your doctor first. He can suggest formulas that are as close to breast milk as possible. They must be of high quality and purchased in specialty stores or departments. baby food.

Do not buy mixes of different brands and in multiples. Purchase one pack. After all, you do not know if it is suitable for the baby. Study the composition and expiration date carefully. When switching to a new mixture, the crumbs may experience constipation or loose stools. Don't worry. Thus, the child's body adapts to the new food.

You should not buy the mixture from your hands, even if it is at a price significantly lower than the store price. Even if it has intact packaging and a normal shelf life, there is no guarantee that it was stored under the required temperature conditions and acceptable humidity. So, it can be spoiled.

What formulas for artificial feeding of newborns exist

Baby food manufacturers offer a wide variety of different formulas. Sometimes parents are confused about which one to choose. Every child is different. Basically, infant formula is made from high quality cow or goat milk. The protein is processed.

1. Adapted. As close as possible in composition to mother's milk. It is possible to feed a newborn from the first days of life with an artificial formula with maximum adaptation. The kid quickly gets used to the mixture, as it is nutritious and quickly absorbed by the body. It is based on demineralized milk whey, the correct balance of vitamins, fats and carbohydrates. These mixtures include, for example, "Nan", "Nutrilon", "Humana 1".

2. Partially adapted. Does not contain demineralized whey. The partially adapted formula mimics the composition of breast milk. It is also nutritious and healthy. This is "Unstogen", "Baby". They can be given from birth, but this food is more likely to cause negative reactions in the child than the above. But the price is cheaper.

3. Unadapted. Includes casein, nutrients such as lactose, amino acids, vitamins and semi-saturated fatty acids (PUFA). At the heart of raw cow's milk. Recommended for children over six months of age.

4. Fermented milk. They are saturated with bifidobacteria. If the stool of a bottle-fed newborn is often hard, irregular, there are problems with the digestive tract, these mixtures the best choice... The opinions of doctors as to whether the fermented milk mixture can be the main food of the child differ. Some advise giving the fermented milk mixture no more than 1 time per day. Others say that it is possible to feed children exclusively to her, because this is not kefir, but a mixture, albeit with the addition of bifidobacteria.

5. Medicinal. They have unique properties. They not only nourish the baby, but also have a healing function. For infants diagnosed with anemia, mixtures with high iron levels are suitable; with disruption of the gastrointestinal tract - baby food based on soy milk; allergy-prone - hypoallergenic mixtures. Nutritional therapy is prescribed for children born ahead of time... They contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, protein and protein.

The mixtures are sold as dry powder and ready-made. The first option is more popular. It is economical and affordable for most families. It is not difficult to prepare the mixture. The instructions are on the packaging.

Remember the main thing Golden Rule: the new mixture should be introduced gradually. First 30 ml, the next day - 60 ml, etc. The mixture with a thickener is intended for children who have profuse regurgitation. It is introduced a little at every feeding. The dense consistency of food does not allow it to be easily pushed out of the stomach.

Why choose a quality blend?

International standards have been developed on the basis of biochemical research. They are responsible for the quality of breast milk substitutes. The emergence of such mixtures is the most important technological achievement of mankind. Previously, children were fed cow's milk, and almost all of them had problems with the kidneys, intestines, and allergic reactions. Now, natural and artificial feeding are practically on the same level.

What are the features of the adapted mixture? What's in it?

1. Decreased protein levels. An excess of aggressive cow protein leads to negative reactions in the child's body. The digestive system cannot digest proteins due to a lack of enzymes. Abuse can lead to allergic reactions, metabolic disorders, digestive problems and weight gain.

2. Proteins are very similar in composition to mother's milk. Such mixtures contain amino acids. They are essential for building cells.

3. The presence of taurine. It is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is not found in proteins. Essential for children, especially in the first year of life. In older children, taurine is produced through the synthesis of cysteine and serine. Responsible for correct work brain, cell building, absorption of fats and other components.

4. Semi-saturated fatty acids (PUFA) are responsible for the development of the child's brain. The body produces hormone-like substances based on PUFA. Their main task is to regulate metabolic processes at the cellular level, to provide anti-inflammatory actions and an immune response.

5. Carbohydrates. There are significantly more of them in breast milk than in cow's milk. The main one is lactose (85% of the carbohydrate composition). It consists of galactose and glucose and belongs to the group of disaccharides. The remaining 15% are oligosaccharides. They contain several molecules simple sugars... Their main task is to maintain the intestinal microflora and protect them from harmful bacteria. Oligosaccharides are replaced with low molecular weight glucose polymer in mixtures. It normalizes the intestinal microflora, is responsible for the absorption of fats and their entry into the blood. Thanks to this, the baby does not feel hungry.

How to prepare milk mixture?

Not everyone knows how to properly prepare the mixture. It would seem that this is as easy as shelling pears. But sometimes there are nuances that lead parents to a stupor.

None, even the most expensive, adapted formula can replace breast milk. The transfer of the child to the mixture should be carried out gradually, if there are reasons for this.

First of all, carefully read the instructions on the package. Pay attention to these points.

1. What temperature of the water should be.

2. What are the correct mixing proportions.

3. Is there a measuring spoon in the package?

5. How long can the mixture be stored and under what conditions.

Sterility is the main condition for the preparation of the mixture. The main task of parents is to protect the child from microbes by all means, to help adapt to the conditions environment... Extra microbes are useless. Intestinal infections are very dangerous for a child of the first year of life. You need to prepare the milk mixture before each feeding. It is imperative for the newborn to boil the bottle and teat.

When everything is ready, let's start preparing the mixture. We determine the required ratio of water and measuring spoons of the mixture. Pour boiled water into a bottle and let it cool to the required temperature. We pour required amount mixtures (no slide).

Do not use a different spoon, only the one supplied. Cap the bottle and shake. Make sure there are no lumps. Do not shake the bottle too vigorously so as not to saturate the milk drink with air bubbles.

Checking the temperature. Put some of the mixture on your elbow. If the temperature is normal, you can give the baby.

It is important to maintain the correct ratio of water to mixture. Some mummies add more measuring spoons to the water in order to feed the baby. You don't need to do this. For the first three months, the baby already suffers from colic.

Prepare only as much formula as your child will eat. Do not store the unfinished mixture or add a new batch to it. The longer the mixture is stored, the higher the risk of bacteria growth in it. If you are going on the road, take a thermos with boiled hot water... It will be needed to prepare a fresh mixture for the crumbs.

You should not exceed the feeding norms for artificially fed newborns, which were announced to you by the pediatrician. Usually they are also written on the package of the mixture. If your baby, after feeding the recommended dosage, still feels like sucking on the bottle, then this is not a signal to suggest more formula. Most likely, the signal of satiety from his stomach has not yet had time to reach his brain. Give your baby a pacifier if he sucks on it. And in the future, do not try to quickly feed the child. Let him suck slowly. To do this, purchase a Slow Flow bottle teat. By the way, a small hole in the nipple will protect the baby from swallowing large amounts of air, which means intestinal colic, belching and hiccups.

Give your child a mixture at a temperature of 36-38 degrees, like body temperature. So it will be absorbed better.

Do I need to give water when artificial feeding

Additional fluid is necessary for children who receive infant formula as their main food. To what extent and how to properly feed babies? First you need to decide what you will give to drink. There are several options for what kind of water to give a newborn, and they can be combined with each other:

special children's water;
boiled water;
clean spring water from an artesian well;
infusion of fennel fruits or other children's "tea" (usually recommended for colic);
infusion or decoction of raisins, prunes, dried apricots (with their help, constipation in newborns with artificial feeding is also treated).

As for the quantity, be guided by the following calculations: 30 grams of water multiplied by 1 kg of the child's weight. That is, a child weighing 7 kg needs about 210 grams of fluid per day. But how much water to give a newborn on IV is very average recommendations. Children who have a high body temperature need more fluid. And a baby in a humid room with a comfortable air temperature will drink less. All this should not bother you.

If supplementation with artificial feeding is not carried out enough, the child will most likely have problems with stool. Usually, literally trying to shove liquid into a child, parents resort to tricks. For example, they begin to sweeten it. In principle, this is not harmful. If done in moderation. However, after such desserts, many children do not drink ordinary water well in the future. It is more useful in this case to try to water the child from a syringe without a needle, if he does not drink water from a bottle, pour water over his cheek. Or give from a spoon.

The first complementary foods with artificial feeding

It used to be thought that formula-fed infants should begin to receive complementary fruit juice supplements as early as 4 months of age. Now, when many adapted mixtures are sold in stores affordable prices, the introduction of such early complementary foods is not at all necessary.

That is, it is recommended that artificial people start complementary feeding at the same age as babies who eat mother's milk at 6 months. And not from fruit juices or fruit purees, but from vegetable purees or dairy-free cereals. This complementary food is given at 6-7 months. At 8 months it is meat time. After - cottage cheese, fish and kefir.

The main foods that should be introduced to a child's diet by the age of 1 year:

vegetables;
fruit;
porridge;
meat;
fermented milk (kefir, cottage cheese - if the child does not have an allergic reaction to them).

Egg yolk and fish - if the child tolerates them well.

The introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding can be carried out in accordance with the table on our website.

table... Scheme for the introduction of complementary foods for artificial feeding of children from 0 to a year by months.

Name of foods and meals	Child's age, months
Name of foods and meals	0-1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9-12
Adapted milk formula or "subsequent" milk mixtures, ml	700-800	800-900	800-900	800-900	700	400	300-400	350	200-400	200-400
Fruit juices, ml				5-30	40-50	50-60	60	70	80	80-100
Fruit puree, g				5-30	40-50	50-60	60	70	80	80-100
Curd, g						40	40	40	40	40-50
Yolk, pcs							0,25	0,5	0,5	0,5
Vegetable puree, g					10-100	150	150	170	180	180-200
Milk porridge, g						50-100	150	170	180	180-200
Meat puree, g							5-30	50	50	60-70
Fish puree, g									5-30	30-60
Kefir and other fermented milk products or "subsequent" mixtures, ml								200	200-400	200-400
Bread (wheat, top quality), g								5	5	10
Rusks, biscuits, g							3-5	5	5	10-15
Vegetable oil (sunflower, corn)					1-3	3	3	5	5	6
Butter						1-4	4	4	5	6
Whole milk					100	200	200	200	200	200

Mixed infant feeding is a reasonable alternative when breast milk is scarce. It allows you to maintain lactation and provide the baby with at least partially natural nutrition. If you feed the baby correctly, mixed feeding will only benefit him. Many women eventually manage to fully restore lactation and transfer the baby to breast milk.

Mixed feeding is a feeding method in which infant receives infant formula at the same time as breast milk. The amount of additional food should not exceed 50% of the daily portion of the infant's food. If infant formula makes up the majority of the diet, feeding is considered artificial.

Properly organized mixed feeding of a newborn helps to maintain breastfeeding and increase milk production. Baby food cannot completely replace breast milk. It contains many valuable substances that are not found in artificial analogues. Natural food is ideal for the development of the baby and protects it from disease. Of no small importance is the psychological contact between mother and child, which is established during breastfeeding. The process of sucking breast milk soothes the newborn, gives him a feeling of safety and comfort.

The baby's diet should be dictated only by objective necessity. As barriers to breastfeeding are removed, supplementary feeding should be reduced.

Mixed food is prescribed for newborn children who, due to their health or the health of their mother, did not receive breast milk immediately after birth. After breastfeeding is possible, the baby is gradually transferred to breast milk.

Feeding your child is necessary for women suffering from hypogalactia. Hypogalactia is a failure of the mammary glands in which too little milk is produced. Not receiving the required amount of food, the baby is starving.

A baby may be malnourished when his mother's milk is not nutritious enough, although it is produced in excess.

Women who work or study and cannot provide him with the necessary amount of expressed breast milk are forced to transfer the baby to a mixed diet.

On mixed feeding are babies who, for health reasons, have been prescribed medicinal or special mixtures by a pediatrician.

How to Determine What Mixed Meals Are Needed

Many women are afraid that they will not cope with the role of mother and will not be able to breastfeed their baby. In the vast majority of cases, their fears are unfounded. Female body regulates the amount and composition of milk produced, focusing on the requirements of the newborn. Therefore, the growing up baby is saturated with breast milk and receives all the nutrients necessary for development.

Transfer the baby to mixed feeding, guided by appearance breast or milk, you can't. If the mammary glands are poorly filled, and the milk looks watery, this does not mean that the baby is not eating enough.

The decision to introduce additional nutrition should be made by the pediatrician. Without his permission, it is impossible to feed a newborn with infant formula.

With unjustified feeding, the baby will overeat. Excess food can upset the digestive system and lead to gain excess weight... Systematic overeating in childhood is often the cause of obesity in adulthood.

If mixed feeding is not organized correctly, infant formula can displace breast milk, and the baby will lose natural food.

Signs of malnutrition in a newborn

To determine, you need to observe it and evaluate the dynamics of its development.

Lack of breast milk is indicated by rare urination. If a newborn's diaper gets wet less often 6-8 times a day, he gets little food. Tracking urination is not difficult with gauze diapers. On a tissue surface, it is easier to assess the type of urine. If she has dark color and smells bad, it's a sign of dehydration. It occurs in a newborn with intense vomiting, diarrhea, or prolonged malnutrition.

An important indicator of a good nutrition for a child during the nursing period is its weight. The newborn should regain its birth weight within 2 weeks of delivery. For the first 6 months of life, a well-nourished baby increases its weight by at least 500 g per month. You don't need to weigh your baby daily. It is enough to evaluate his weight every 2 weeks. If in doubt that the baby is malnourished, you can do control weighings before and immediately after feeding. This will determine how much milk the baby has drunk. A month-old baby sucks out about 90-100 g of milk in one feeding. A baby at the age of 3-4 months drinks 150 g of milk, and a six-month-old baby - 180 -210 g. The daily volume of food eaten should be 1/5 of the baby's weight. If, after check weighing, the baby's weight changes slightly, he does not have enough food.

A malnourished baby cannot survive 1.5-2 hours between feedings. He begins to cry heavily an hour after eating and greedily sucks on the breast.

A sign of a child's starvation is a change in the nature of bowel movements. The baby's stool darkens and becomes denser, has a greenish or brown color.

How to properly organize mixed feeding

When a decision is made to switch to mixed feeding, it is necessary to consult with a pediatrician about how to properly feed the baby:

You need to start eating with breast milk. The infant should be allowed to empty both breasts and only then offered infant formula. Allowing your baby to suck all the milk out of the breast can significantly increase milk production. Before breastfeeding, the baby can only be offered some therapeutic mixtures prescribed by a pediatrician.
You should not offer your baby food in a bottle with a teat. Satisfying his need for sucking, the baby may lose interest in breast milk. If you have a large hole in the nipple of the bottle, it will be much easier to suck than the breast. In this case, the baby may completely refuse to suck breast milk. It is best to feed the baby with a spoonful of infant formula. This method is the most inconvenient for babies. Therefore, he will tend to suck more at the breast.
To maintain lactation and increase the amount of milk produced, it is imperative to breastfeed the baby at night. During this period, the largest number the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for lactation.
Only infant formula can be given in one of the feedings. Such a scheme is convenient for women who need to be absent for several hours daily.
Breastfeeding is recommended on demand. You can offer breast milk when the baby is upset, cannot sleep, or is not feeling well. The more the newborn suckles at the breast, the more milk the mammary glands will produce.
If you follow all the recommendations carefully, the amount of milk will gradually increase. As lactation increases, it is necessary to reduce the volume of infant formula. Thus, it is possible to transfer the child to full breastfeeding.

How to calculate the amount of infant formula you need

The amount of additional food is calculated depending on the child's body weight deficit. If a newborn at 3 weeks weighs 3100 g (birth weight 3000 g) and has all the signs of malnutrition, he needs additional nutrition. The body weight deficit is 3400 g - 3100 g = 300 g. To calculate the required daily food volume, 3100 g is needed: 5 = 620 ml. With seven meals a day, the baby should eat about 90 ml of milk for one feeding.

Control weighing allows you to determine the amount of milk that the baby sucks from the mother during one feeding. If its amount fluctuates between 60-70 ml, it is necessary to prepare a one-time portion of baby food 40-30 ml.

If one feeding is completely replaced with infant formula, the serving size should be increased to 90 ml.

The pediatrician will help you calculate the optimal amount of infant formula. He will take into account the individual characteristics of the child, his state of health and the maturity of the digestive system.

What mixtures can be used for supplementary feeding?

With mixed feeding, the doctor will tell you how to choose the right formula. If the baby is completely healthy and has no disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, you can give him Nutrilon, Humana, Nan, Hipp.

When a baby suffers from constipation, regurgitation and colic, it is better to include in his diet fermented milk infant formula Nan, Nutrilon, Nutrilak or Agusha. They contain lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, which help restore a healthy balance of microflora in the baby's intestines.

If the crumbs have an intolerance cow's milk, you can feed him an infant formula based on goat milk (Cabrita, Nanny) or soy (Nan-soy, Frisosa, Enfamil-soy, Similak isomil). In most cases, these products are well tolerated by children.

For babies with protein intolerance, foods are made with split proteins. These formulas do not cause a negative reaction in the child, but they have an unpleasant taste and low nutritional value. They can only be used as directed by a doctor.

If the infant is mixed feeding, there is no need to strive to feed him the entire prepared portion of the infant formula at any cost. If he refuses to eat, the feeding should be stopped.

For the next meal, you do not need to prepare an increased portion of the formula, trying to replace the volume that the baby refused during the previous feed. Always prepare your doctor's recommended dose of baby food.

After the baby has eaten the proposed mixture, you can offer him the breast again. If the baby is not full, he will suckle with pleasure.

Infant formula is absorbed longer than breast milk. The number of feedings with mixed feeding will be 1 less than with breastfeeding.

To prevent the baby from weaning from the breast, you can use a special device for feeding newborns. It is a container for baby food with a tube attached to it. The tube is attached to the mother's nipple. The child captures it along with the nipple and receives additional nutrition in the most favorable conditions for him.

Babies who are on mixed feeding need to introduce the first complementary foods 2-3 weeks earlier than those who are on the breast diet.

There is no need to be upset about the fact that you have to feed your child with infant formula. Critical periods occur in all breastfeeding women. With the growth of the baby, his needs for food also increase. The mammary glands need time to provide the baby's increased appetite. For some women, adaptation takes a little longer.

We need to think about how to properly organize mixed feeding and quickly restore lactation. You need to drink more fluids, eat well, get enough rest, get enough sleep and regularly be in the fresh air.

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