It's no secret that breast milk is the best food for a baby. Rarely, what future mother plans to feed the baby with a mixture after childbirth . Unfortunately, many babies by half a year partially or completely switch to artificial feeding. Then quite natural questions arise: “Which mixtures are better? How to choose them right? ” This is what this article is about.
When to introduce the mixture?
There are many reasons when you can’t do without the introduction of the mixture: Rh conflict, cesarean delivery, twins, lack of milk or its complete absence, forced mother to take antibiotics or other potent drugs, and others. If there are no serious problems with lactation in the maternity hospital, before discharge you can consult with doctors about how to support breastfeeding at home and with which mixture it is better to feed the newborn if the milk is still not enough. If artificial feeding is a necessity, then the choice of a mixture must be approached with all responsibility.
Which mixes are better?
On the shelves of pharmacies and shops you can see a huge variety of boxes and jars with artificial nutrition for children. To determine exactly which mixture is best to give the child, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician who will take into account the individual characteristics of the baby. In case the crumbs have problems with the digestive system, mixtures with probiotics are indicated. If the baby is prone to allergies, the doctor will advise lactose-free mixtures. Which is better, the pediatrician will again recommend. Due to the breakdown of protein, such food will be better absorbed without causing digestive problems. If the baby is healthy, the usual age-appropriate diet is suitable.
Attention to the label!
Manufacturers have tried to create a worthy analogue of breast milk specifically for newborns. To answer the question: “Which mixture is better from birth?” and choose a quality food product, you need to carefully study the composition:
Squirrels. This component of the artificial mixture is extremely important. It not only promotes the growth of body tissues, but also participates in the synthesis of amino acids.
Fats. The mixtures are enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are present only in vegetable fats. They are responsible for brain formation and physical development.
Carbohydrates. To adapt the carbohydrate component, dextrinmaltose or lactose is added to the mixture. Thanks to them, the absorption of minerals and the intestines work.
Oligosaccharides are prebiotic fibers that stimulate the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the baby’s intestines. It protects against infections, allergies, dysbiosis and digestive problems.
Amino acids. Carnitine and taurine are important for a healthy baby. They must be present in the mixtures.
Varieties of artificial mixtures
There is no single answer to the question: “Which mixture is better?” Reviews girlfriends or acquaintances should not be an occasion to purchase this or that baby food. Everything here is individual and depends on the state of the child’s health and the financial capabilities of the family. The latter is quite important. Since pediatricians strongly advise against changing the mixture often, except in cases where it did not fit the child, you need to really assess your financial capabilities and choose the one that you can buy for a long time. All artificial mixtures can be divided into three large groups:
1. Unadapted.
More recently, children were fed normal milk or liquid decoction of cereals. Naturally, such nutrition does not take into account the needs of the child's body. Today, such mixtures are called non-adapted. They are prepared from cereal broths and cow's milk with the addition of sugar. As a rule, buckwheat, oat and rice cereals are used. Rice broth helps to fix the stool, and oat broth , on the contrary, has a laxative effect. This makes it possible to select a mixture taking into account the individual characteristics of the child's digestion.
2. Adapted.
The presence on the packaging of the inscription “adapted nutrition” indicates that the product was manufactured taking into account the physiological characteristics of a child of a certain age. When making baby food, manufacturers seek to maximize the composition of the mixture to breast milk. By special treatment of cow or goat milk, they reduce the content of salts and protein in the product, but at the same time increase the amount of important vitamins and minerals. The mixture, which is intended for babies from 0 to 6 months, is called highly adapted. For children after 6 months and up to a year, partially adapted ones are suitable.
3. Therapeutic.
Such mixtures are usually prescribed by a doctor. They have special properties that can help a particular child cope with a particular problem. Milk-based mixtures will help with regurgitation, diseases of the pancreas, biliary tract, liver. Nutrition based on protein hydrolysates is recommended for degree II-III malnutrition, digestive disorders, allergic reactions. Mixtures with pro- and prebiotics (based on goat milk and soy) are prescribed for intestinal infections, allergies to cow's milk protein and other diseases of the digestive system. With lactose deficiency , low- and lactose-free mixtures are indicated.
Which is better manufacturer, the answer is definitely impossible. All bona fide manufacturers strive to make artificial nutrition high-quality, so the choice of a suitable mixture depends on the individual characteristics of each particular child.
We choose high-quality dishes for feeding
It is very important to choose the right bottle for feeding. It is better to give preference to anti-colic, the nipple should have a small hole and fit snugly. During the meal, the baby will make certain efforts, which means that he will satisfy his sucking reflex. Thanks to the anti-colic valve, such a bottle will insure the baby from pain in the tummy. In certain cases, it can protect even from reflux (regurgitation). After all, its cause is often excess air, which the baby swallows with food.
Preparing a mixture
So, you have decided which mixtures are better and bought a quality anti-colic bottle. Now you need to cook the baby food in compliance with all the rules. You should know that the taste of the mixture and its quality is affected by the water that is used for cooking. It is recommended to buy a special nursery. Before cooking, water must be brought to a temperature of 40 º, then pour the necessary amount of the mixture into it (the proportions are indicated on the package, they must be strictly observed) and shake the bottle well to dissolve the powder.
Give a bottle
Even if the baby cries from hunger, you should not immediately offer him a mixture. First you need to make sure that it is the right temperature, and only then feed the baby. It is advisable to cook food a little earlier, about 10 minutes before feeding, so the baby will not languish in anticipation, and the mixture will have time to cool down a bit.
We feed with tenderness
It is very important that only the mother feeds the baby in the first months. The tiny artificer needs her communication and warmth especially. The baby must be fed on hands, give the bottle from the side of the chest. It is necessary to try to establish eye contact with the child, and even better - contact “skin to skin”. When feeding, you can gently sway and stroke the baby. At such moments, the baby will feel the same as the children who eat their mother’s milk.
Remember that the health and development of your child depends on the quality of food. Therefore, you must determine with your pediatrician which mixtures are best for your baby, and make the right choice.