Powdered milk is essential food when mothers do not have enough milk for their babies or are unable to breastfeed their babies because of illness or work. Mastering the scientific and appropriate formula for infants is essential for all parents.
Mother do not feel too tortured when it comes to giving babies formula
Breast milk is of course the best source of food for babies. Your baby is born to receive nutrition with irreplaceable antibodies from breast milk.
However, for some mothers this is not really easy. Because of many reasons such as the mother's position, the mother does not have enough milk for her baby . Sometimes the mother has such illnesses in her body that she cannot breastfeed her baby. At this point, the source of nutrients that can support mothers in raising their babies is formula milk.
Basically, powdered milk is synthesized and processed from cow's milk so that it is suitable for the digestive system of babies. The nutritional content is therefore also full of basic substances for the development and growth of the baby to be closest to breast milk, regardless of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. .
There are a lot of formulas with different flavors on the market today, but the ingredients are basically not much different because all types of milk today strive to taste and taste. portion that is closest to breast milk.
Therefore, if the mother really does not have enough milk for her baby or is forced to let her loved one feed her baby while she is at work, then it is necessary for caregivers to know how to feed babies properly formula. ensure nutrition as well as scientific standards under the guidance of the pediatrician.
Mothers need to know how to prepare milk properly before learning how to feed baby formula
Basically, the preparation of baby's milk needs to follow the instructions written on the milk box through 6 basic steps as follows:
1. Measure the amount of milk your baby needs to eat and put it in the bottle
Use the milk measuring spoon that comes with the milk carton. Wipe the milk with the spoon's mouth. Pour the milk powder into clean sterilized milk bottles.
2. Pour hot water 1/3 of the amount the baby milk will eat
Pre-boil hot water at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius about 1/3 of the amount of milk your baby will eat.
3. Shake the milk to dissolve and pour the rest of the hot water
Shake the milk gently so that it dissolves then continue to add hot boiled water at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius to the point where the baby will eat.
4. Shake the bottle well until the milk dissolves
Close the bottle tightly, then shake the bottle well again so that the milk dissolves evenly in the water.
5. Cool the bottle at body temperature
The right temperature for a baby formula is "body temperature". Mom can cool milk by soaking the bottle in a bowl of water or rinsing it under cold running water.
6. Check the temperature of the milk before feeding the baby
To ensure the right temperature when your baby is feeding, mothers need to try pouring milk on the inside of the wrist. If the milk is not too hot or too cold, the baby can eat it.
How to give a baby step-by-step formula
After preparing milk , mothers need to pay attention to how to hold the baby when feeding the baby. Usually the best holding position for a newborn is the supine position like when the baby is breastfed. It is also important that, whether the person feeding the baby is a mother or a family member, you should make eye contact and be able to talk gently with your baby while eating.
Babies need to latch on to the nipples of the bottle like when a baby latched on to their areola. In addition, mothers can adjust the nipple hole size to suit each month's age or level of sucking.
With formula feeding babies, burping is essential to expel the gas trapped in the stomach. Bottle-fed babies tend to swallow more air than breastfed babies. Therefore, an effective way to give babies formula milk is that mothers should burp their babies in the middle of the meal to make their babies feel comfortable, eat more and prevent vomiting effectively.
How to wash the bottle clean after the baby is finished feeding
Bottle cleaning and bottle sterilization are one of the most important steps in giving infant formula . In addition to formula feeding, proper cleaning of the bottle will help your baby avoid digestive disorders.
- First need to use a washing brush to match the material of the bottle. For example, if it is a glass jar, you should use a washing brush, but if it's a plastic jar, you just need to use cotton to wash it.
- Next, wash the teat of the bottle. This is the part that easily accumulates dirt. So mothers should use a small brush to scrub the nipples for a very clean.
- Rinse the bottle and teat again with clean water. Ordinary soapy water easily collects at the bottom of the bottle. Therefore, care should be taken to wash this part.
- Finally, dry the bottle and the nipple so that it is very dry. Should be dried at the price upside down. With newborn babies 0-1 months old, mothers need to dry the bottle and sterilize it.
Common questions when giving formula to babies
Question 1: Although the amount of breast milk is too prescribed, should I breastfeed as much as you want?
Answer: If your child's weight exceeds the standard much, moms try to play with the baby and observe the baby's performance. It is possible to breastfeed above the prescribed level, but pay attention to the child's age, physical and physical characteristics as well as the level of hunger.
But if the baby gains too much weight, the mother should try playing with her, distracting her when she wants to ask for more food, helping her to feel happy without asking for more milk.
Question 2: What should I do to mix the amount of milk according to the baby's age regulation?
Answer: First, mother should check if the baby is gaining weight according to the standards. If mothers breastfeed extra formula because breastmilk is not enough, the first thing to check is whether the baby is gaining weight according to the necessary level. If the baby's weight is normal, this means that the mother can have more milk and enough milk for the baby.
As for babies who are exclusively formula-fed, if their weight still increases steadily, even if the baby does not finish that amount, the mother should not worry too much.
Question 3: How to feed an infant formula when he or she refuses to bottle- feed ?
Answer: The way to breastfeed your baby is to try and buy another type of nipple. Many newborn babies are completely uncomfortable with the material of the nipple. When the nipple is replaced properly, the baby will be pacified. In addition, mothers can change positions when their baby is bottle-feeding or change the type of milk (babies may not like the taste of certain types of milk) and even try to change the temperature of the formula.
Question 4: Do you have a habit of eating while playing, and the amount of milk each time you eat is not equal?
Answer: Both of these problems can occur with any formula- fed infant . If the child's weight increases steadily, the mother does not need to worry too much. When babies are 3 months old or older, they often begin to know the feeling of fullness as well as more interested in the world around them. This explains why babies are easily distracted while eating milk. Baby can drink a little, much depending on the feeling of fullness.
Question 5: When do I need to sterilize a bottle when feeding an infant?
Answer: You should sterilize your baby's bottles at least during the first month after your baby is born. Babies born 0-1 months old often have poor immune systems. Sterilizing the bottles at this age will help avoid any risk of illness. When children start to suck their fingers, mothers just need to wash the bottle clean without needing to sterilize.
Question 6: Is fully formula-fed infants okay?
Answer: Although breastmilk is best for babies, when conditions do not allow a mother to exclusively breastfeed her baby, she can use infant formula to ensure a full nutritional source. enough, especially in the early years. It is therefore perfectly normal for infants to be fed formula.
According to the Parenting Guide (Child care handbook 0-3 years old by Dr. Takashi Igarashi - Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Development Japan)
Some of the children's reactions to infant formula:
Infants who drink formula milk pass out
This is the case when babies are susceptible to changing nutritional sources. The main cause of this phenomenon is the use of lactose-containing dairy products. The second cause is damage to the small intestine after viral gastroenteritis (Rotavirus). To deal with infant formula that is passed out , there are a number of things that mothers can do:
No need to fast for children
Avoid antibiotics
Use specially formulated milk (lactofree)
Infants who drink formula have constipation
The cause of this condition is different protein content in milk. Therefore, babies who use milk and large amounts go outside often have green and hard stools. If the baby is not suitable for formula, mothers should change to another formula. In the case of infants who drink formula milk with prolonged constipation, mothers talk to their doctor to find a product that is more suitable for the baby.
See more:
How to prepare infant formula helps the baby to fully absorb nutrients
Experience combining breast milk and formula for low-milk or working mothers
The 5 best formula for babies aged 0-6 months