In the wonderful time of her pregnancy, almost any future mom is sure that she will breastfeed her baby. But, unfortunately, situations sometimes occur in which breastfeeding for various reasons is impossible.
Undoubtedly, a young woman needs to try to save her milk and for this, by all means, stimulate his tides, but if you can’t do this, then you should not get upset. Many children grew up completely healthy and on artificial feeding. It is just necessary to familiarize yourself with the necessary information in advance and know how old the child should eat the mixture.
The benefits of artificial feeding
There is a widespread belief that cow's milk is a product that children should not give at a certain age, since it contains much more phosphorus than in mothers. Therefore, such an excessive concentration of this trace element can have an extra effect on the kidneys, which subsequently leads to poor absorption of vitamins and calcium by the baby's body.
For this reason, many advocate for artificial feeding. Parents who do not want to include animal products in their baby’s food in the early years of their life have their own opinions about how old they should be fed a mixture of children. Using mixtures in the diet, you can see those who are going to give all the necessary nutrients in this way to their baby until they are three years old.
Another advantage of artificial feeding is that the mother knows exactly how much her baby ate, unlike the one who breast-feeds and cannot understand whether her child receives the right amount of milk. The mummy of the artificer only surely needs to know how old the child should eat the mixture in order to understand when to properly include this or that product in his diet.
disadvantages
Of course, there is no such person who would not understand that infant formula for babies is a necessary measure. There are those whose composition meets all the needs of the baby. But then, at what age should I feed the baby with an adapted mixture? Many people ask, but is it worth it to use when the baby already eats everything from the general table? Why, in this case, dilute the mixture from the pack if it can be given real products?
Therefore, supporters of this theory are sure that they know exactly how old to feed a mixture of children. Arguments against the use of this food for a child are based on the experience of our grandmothers, since cow's milk, and not a mixture, has always been considered the food of children over one year old. After all, even the generation of modern mothers was fed only on natural dairy products and semolina. Therefore, many do not believe in the fact that it can harm the children's body, but rather consider it proper nutrition for their children, as opposed to artificial feeding. But even despite any disadvantages of infant formula, it is better to give preference to them, since they are hypoallergenic, which can not be said about cow's milk.
How to find the right solution?
There will never be the same opinions, and there will always be those who decide to argue at what age to feed the baby with the mixture. We are looking for a middle ground in this matter. For example, the famous pediatrician Komarovsky Oleg Evgenievich claims that the harm from cow's milk for a baby older than one year was greatly exaggerated. At the same time, he does not speak out at all against feeding infant formula and believes that it is possible in this way to feed children up to three years. Many experts also do not see anything criminal in giving a toddler a milk product or kefir.
But you need to take into account the tolerance of protein by the baby and then make a conclusion about how far to feed a mixture of children and when they can be converted to natural products. Mom will have to decide this question herself, of course, with the assistance of a competent pediatrician.
Doctors reviews
Specialists also have their own opinion on the age at which to feed a mixture of children. Their advice on this issue is as follows: you need to clearly follow the recommendations on the product boxes and carefully monitor the state of your child (how he reacts to this or that complementary foods).
If the mixture is selected correctly and the baby is gaining weight, then in this way it can be fed up to about two years, gradually removing nighttime snacks. But you should adhere to one chosen brand and not jump from one mixture to another in order to avoid its poor absorption and not cause allergies. The advice of doctors about how old to feed a mixture of children can be different, so you should always watch your child and in no case overfeed him.
The opinions of nutritionists
If you ask experts the question of how old to feed the mixture of children, their arguments will be such that when choosing the right formula for the product, you can give adapted infant formula to babies before they reach the age of three.
They are simply necessary, according to nutritionists, for the full development of the child, especially for those who live in cold regions of the country. Mixtures can be given both in pure form or added, for example, to tea or porridge. These products create a small burden on the children's body as a whole, so there will be no harm from them, but only benefit.
WHO recommendations
The World Health Organization has its own opinion about how old children should be fed milk formula. These experts believe that infants with low weight, unable to receive mother or donor milk, should be breast-fed after discharge from the hospital and until they reach six months. They also argue that for such babies you need to purchase not a standard mixture, but enriched with nutrients.
Healthy artificial children, according to WHO, can include this product in their diet for up to two years.
Reviews of experienced moms
In many forums of newly-minted parents, one often encounters the question: in general, at what age should the mixture be given? But it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer, since each mother proceeds from her personal experience and is guided by how her baby transferred this or that mixture.
Many say that this complementary foods can be given to children up to three years, others - that after one and a half years the mixture must be gradually replaced with kefir and natural milk. Therefore, it is better not to rely on the advice of even experienced mothers, but to monitor the well-being of your child and periodically do not forget to consult with specialists in these matters.
When can I end night feedings?
This question is solved as individually as the one in which it is asked to what age to feed a mixture of children. Reviews on this subject by experts suggest that you should not wean your baby from night snacks at all costs. All children are different, and some crumbs can oversleep all night after six months, while others continue to use milk formula for up to three years.
But there is no need to worry about this: a healthy child will gradually refuse night feedings and mixtures altogether when his time comes. When the baby switches to four meals a day, then in the dark, dairy products can be replaced simply with some water.
How to choose the right mixture?
In order not to be afraid to give your baby this kind of complementary foods and know exactly how old to feed the infant formula, when buying it, you need to follow the main recommendation from leading nutritionists and pediatricians.
When purchasing artificial nutrition, you must carefully read its composition. Starch and sucrose should not be present in it. Mandatory components of this product should be Omega-3 and probiotics, which the child needs at an early stage of development. Therefore, it is recommended by many experts to include mixtures in the diet of children up to the age of three.
As the child grows, his need for the use of fluids and various nutrients becomes different, and this is the reason that the compositions of the mixtures are different and correspond to a particular age.
What are baby formulas?
Several types of this baby product have been developed, and they all have different purposes:
- Standard are recommended for babies who do not experience any problems with eating and digesting food.
- Lactose-free product is prescribed for children who do not tolerate lactose.
- Hydrolyzed ones are used to feed a baby who is allergic to cow protein.
- Probiotic products - for babies with impaired bowel function.
- Powder mixtures, which include goat milk.
- Antireflux - suitable for a child suffering from frequent spitting up.
- Soy products are for children who cannot tolerate animal milk at all.
- A product for premature babies, which includes properly balanced ingredients that help you gain weight quickly.
Naturally, nothing can replace mom’s milk, but if the circumstances are such that the child will grow on artificial feeding, then the choice of mixture must be approached in a thorough way.
Cooking rules
Before using this product in baby food, you must adhere to the following rules:
- The temperature of the liquid in the bottle should be approximately +37 degrees Celsius.
- It is necessary to carefully adhere to the rules of personal hygiene during the dilution of the mixture, and also use only boiled filtered water.
- Clearly observe the necessary proportions that are indicated on the jar, as improper preparation can cause problems with the digestion of the child.
- Pay attention to the expiration date after opening the package.
- Never mix mixtures from different manufacturers.
- Do not heat the bottle in the microwave, and after shaking, make sure that there is no air left in the form of bubbles, which can lead to colic and burping.
- Give the child only a freshly prepared product.
Myths about Artificial Feeding
Many people think that if you add more powder to the water during the preparation of the mixture, then in the end it will turn out to be a calorie - this is not true. Such food will be longer digested, as well as overload the buds of the crumbs.
All mothers are trying to give their child as much milk as indicated in the table on the pack, as they are sure that the child should eat just such a serving - this is a myth. Each baby has individual needs, so for each crumbs, his portion should be selected. If suddenly it may seem that the child eats little, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician.
It’s good for every mom to know
Newly made parents try to listen to the advice of each specialist, but they can be different. Therefore, you just need to know a few generally accepted rules:
- You never need to feed your baby through power and through sleep, as it can swallow too much air, which will subsequently lead to colic.
- In the first months of his life, a child who is breast-fed should be fed on demand, as well as one that is fed with breast milk.
- When the baby has caught a cold or is sick and refuses to eat for these reasons, it is not necessary to force him. But he must drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
- When the baby eats, you should always tilt the bottle correctly, and if he swallows too quickly, buy a smaller pacifier.
There are no definitive answers about the age at which to stop artificial feeding. Just parents need to listen to the needs of their crumbs, which he decides when he no longer needs the mixture. Only one thing is known that this product, with its correct choice and use, can not harm the baby's body.