Breastfeeding is best for your baby, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness. Speak to your public healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. If you do choose to breastfeed, it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so.
Formula milk is of a very good quality and a great deal of research has gone into making them high in nutritional value.
There are a number of brands and different types of formulas, easy to digest, hungry baby food, formula with added prebiotics, soya formula for babies who are allergic to cow’s milk protein and special formula that has a thickening agent for babies who suffer from reflux/silent reflux and constipation. As your baby grows into a toddler, you can also buy follow-on milk. However, it is recommended your child get at least 2.5 cups of milk per day. Cow’s milk should only be given to children older than 18 months.
When making up bottles, always follow the instructions on the packet carefully. They can vary from brand to brand so double check to be sure. Use tap water and only boil it once. Frequent boiling can affect the sodium content. If your baby is drinking different amounts to what the packet tells you don’t be alarmed. All babies are different and their appetites can vary. If your baby is putting on weight and thriving, then keep doing what you’re doing.
All babies are different and their appetites vary. Don’t add extra formula to make it more calorific for him, this can harm baby’s health. Sometimes, your baby will finish his bottle quickly, other days he may drink it slower or not want it at all. Feeding baby, whether breast or bottle, is a bonding experience for both Mum and baby. It’s important not to force your baby to feed. Some will take a little more, some a little less. As you begin to introduce solids the milk will gradually decrease but he should still be drinking around 2.5 cups (500mls) of milk per day. Some of this can be counted as dairy in his diet, yoghurt, cheese, milk in his food, etc.
Popular Brands
| Aptamil | -First Infant Milk
-Hungry Infant Milk -Comfort Milk -Lactose Free Milk -Anti-Reflux -Pepti 1 Milk -Pepti 2 Milk -Follow-on Milk Growing up Milk (1-2yrs) |
| SMA | -First Infant Milk
-Hypoallergenic Infant Milk -Comfort Milk -Extra Hungry Milk -Follow-on Milk -Toddler Milk -Soya Milk -Stay-down Milk -Lactose Milk -High Energy Milk |
| Cow & Gate | -First Infant Milk
-Hungry Baby -Follow on Milk -Comfort -Pepti Junior -Infasoy -Carobel -Anti-reflux -Infasoy Junior -Nutriprem 1 and 2 |
| Hipp Organic | -Infant Milk
-Hungry Baby Milk -Follow-on Milk -Goodnight Milk -Combiotic Growing Up Milk |
© Teresa Boardman, Nanny Options.
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