Finally, your baby has arrived: now, it is essential that he or she receives sufficient and balanced nutrition because the infant’s growth and development depend on it. There are three types of feeding for a baby in the first months of life – breastfeeding, formula feeding, and mixed feeding.
A calm and happy feeding time is an excellent opportunity for you to bond with your baby and build the warm and trusting relationship that is important for your baby’s development.
Breastfeeding
The most natural and preferable type of baby feeding is breastfeeding in the first days and months of life. Pediatricians say that no formula, even the most expensive, is as rich and balanced in vitamins and minerals as breast milk. Breastfeeding strengthens your baby’s immune system and protects him from many diseases.
As for how long a baby can be breastfed, pediatricians have no common opinion. Most agree that up to six months, a child needs neither additional nutrition nor water – he is absolutely sufficient breast milk, which, incidentally, changes its composition as the child gets older, providing him with the necessary vitamins and minerals. In general, breastfeeding is optimal until 1.5-2 years.
Formula feeding
Unfortunately, there are situations when a woman cannot breastfeed:
when there is a lack of milk, or she takes antibiotics, and then the baby is switched to formula feeding. Now the market offers all kinds of formulas: anti-colic, hypoallergenic, anti-reflux, and even the closest composition to breast milk such as Jovie Stage 1 – for every taste and budget.
While you can feed breast milk to your baby on his first demand, you should feed formula on a schedule, strictly observing the dosage of the diluted formula. Otherwise, there is a risk of over or under-feeding the baby. Even high-quality formula can not be suitable for your baby – he/she will have colic or a rash, and in such cases, you should always visit a doctor who will select the best option.
Mixed feeding
When mixed feeding, the baby receives both breast milk and formula. As a rule, mixed feeding is prescribed if the mother has not enough breast milk, the baby has allergies, is underweight, or regurgitates often, and the doctor prescribes him a therapeutic formula. It is important to arrange mixed feeding correctly because the breast milk supply may be lost by reducing the frequency of feedings. It is also worth remembering that you should always consult your pediatrician when choosing a formula, especially a therapeutic one.
When should I start complementary foods for my baby?
A baby is ready to discover new tastes and experiences from about six months of age. It is time to take a spoon in his hand and try new foods. However, this may not be so easy. The taste of milk to the baby is known and pleasant, so the baby may not want anything else. Parents should have patience – if the child refuses to eat new food, still offer to try it. This can happen ten or more times. The child will get used to the new taste and, after a while, will willingly eat new foods.
Best first baby foods
Vegetable purees are the best first snacks for babies. They can be made from cauliflower, zucchini, pumpkin, and broccoli – low-allergenic products. These vegetables are among the ten most nutritious vegetables in a baby’s diet and contain large amounts of healthy proteins, fiber, and vitamins, micronutrients! Fiber helps food movement through the digestive tract and develops beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Pectin substances absorb and remove toxins from the baby’s body. Vegetables positively affect the acid-base balance of the body, creating the conditions for the proper functioning of all organs and systems.
Fruit puree is a certain alternative and supplement to vegetables. It can be made from apples and bananas – by the way, do you know that it is a berry? Sweet varieties of pears. These fruits contain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, including iron, which is extremely necessary for children.
What should I do if my baby has allergies?
If a child suddenly has an allergy, you must first contact your pediatrician and continue complementary feeding with hypoallergenic vegetable purees – zucchini or cauliflower. Then, watch for reactions and introduce new products gradually and little by little. Make sure you keep a food diary – write down the foods your child has tried and his response to them.