Infant nutrition is a very responsible process, depending on its correctness, the formation of immunity in the baby will occur. The integral and active components of the immune system (mucous membranes and skin) perform the function of the immune organ in the body. The largest and most important of them is the intestine, which is responsible for maintaining normal microflora (lactobacillus and bifidobacteria) in the newborn. To achieve this, it is necessary to provide the baby with good nutrition. The most useful and affordable product for this purpose is breast milk, which contains nutrients, live bifidobacteria and provides the baby with maximum protection.
WHO (World Health Organization) advises prospective parents to exclusively breast-feed and administer complementary foods after only six months. When transferring a baby to mixed and completely artificial feeding, mothers and father should carefully consider everything and be sure to consult with a pediatrician. It was this organization that banned the advertising of infant formula from birth, thereby promoting a healthy lifestyle and natural feeding of the baby.
Infant formula is a full-fledged food product and a substitute for breast milk, however, do not forget that you can use it to feed a newborn only when the mother does not have breast milk at all or if it is not enough. Many manufacturers today care that the mixes are as similar as possible in composition to breast milk, but replacing this unique baby food product is not so simple. The milk mixture should be made from natural and environmentally friendly components. It can be used as food for children from 4 months, and as a staple food.
Infant formula is not only responsible for the proper growth and development of the baby, it should also help strengthen its immunity. If there is not enough milk in the first year of life, or if it is completely absent, pediatricians advise feeding the baby with adapted milk mixtures, for example, you can use Nestle baby food. Most of these products are made from cow's milk, which is specially processed. Unnecessary minerals and trace elements are removed from it and the necessary ones are added, moreover, milk is optimized, reducing the amount of protein in it. For infants, the milk mixture is considered optimal, in which the amount of protein is close to breast milk in terms of performance. In good mixtures, whey proteins prevail.
Adapted milk mixtures are divided into:
- As close as possible in composition to breast milk with a low protein content.
- Mixtures containing prebiotics or producing a bifidogenic effect that enhance immunity and improve intestinal microflora.
- Sour-milk mixtures that optimize digestion, reduce the risk of infections in the intestines and prevent colic in infants.
- Therapeutic. These include:
- A mixture of “Nenny” based on goat’s milk or the product “Nutrisoy”, “Humana SP” based on soy protein. Assigned to babies who are allergic to cow's milk proteins.
- Low-lactose and lactose-free, prescribed for lactose deficiency, it is a mixture of Nutrilon, Al 110, a lactose-free mixture of NAS. Parents' feedback on these baby foods is always positive.
- With an allergy to milk, a child may suffer from exhaustion, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and malabsorption of nutrients. In this case, pediatricians suggest using a mixture based on protein hydrolyzate ("Hipp GA1", "Hipp GA2", "Alfare", "Humana GA1").
- In case of constant stool disorders, intestinal infections and dysbiosis, you will need a mixture with prebiotics - Agusha Gold 1-2, sour milk NAN or NAN with bifidobacteria.
- In case of functional disorders of the digestive system, one cannot do without mixtures with a thickener - “Enfamil AR”, “Nutrilon AR”.
- In case of phenylketonuria, the baby will be prescribed mixtures without phenylalanine - “Afenilak”, “Aponti PKU 40”, “Lofenalak”.
- If a child has a pancreatic disease, he will need a mixture enriched with medium chain triglycerides, it can be Humana LP + SCT, Portagen or Pepti Junior.
When choosing a mixture for your baby, do not forget that there are no good or bad products, each of them has its pros and cons. The most important criteria in this matter should be the following: appetite, well-being of the baby and the absence of an allergic reaction to the mixture. Consider these factors, and let your baby grow healthy and strong!