How to feed formula at 3 months. All about artificial feeding (IV). Rules for mixed feeding of a newborn

If it turns out that the mother cannot breastfeed the baby, then she has to switch to artificial feeding of the child.

In this regard, she has many questions. How to organize artificial feeding correctly? How to choose a mixture? How often should you feed your artificial baby?

Today we will talk in detail about artificial feeding and try to find answers to the most important questions about how to feed an artificial baby.

Artificial and breastfeeding

As is known, breast-feeding - this is the best that a mother can give a baby - the most healthy and natural food for a child.

But there are situations when breastfeeding is completely impossible or insufficient, so artificial feeding is required.

Artificial feeding - This is a forced way of feeding a child. It is recommended to be used only in cases where all attempts to organize breastfeeding have been futile or it is contraindicated by a doctor.

Marina Shimkova, lactation consultant, lactologist, childbirth preparation instructor at the ABC for Parents family center: “I insist that initially everyone has milk. Therefore, before giving the baby formula, you need to try to establish lactation: contact experienced mothers and breastfeeding specialists. Often there is no such thing as there is simply no milk; everything has its own reasons that can be eliminated if you want. If it so happens that you can’t breastfeed, then you have to give the baby formula or donor breast milk.”

Artificial feeding - this is stress for the child’s body, therefore, if the mother has a little milk and there are no categorical contraindications to breastfeeding, it is necessary to put the baby to the breast and try to feed the baby with breast milk at least several times a day.

If your bottle-fed baby , you shouldn’t take this as a tragedy, there’s nothing wrong with this way of eating. Modern formulas allow children to grow healthy and strong. It is important to properly organize artificial feeding and adhere to the basic recommendations for feeding artificial children.

How to feed a baby with formula?

On demand or not?

Breastfed children are recommended feed on demand , this recommendation is especially relevant in the first months of the baby’s life, when lactation is just establishing. As for bottle-fed children, all doctors previously recommended feed them on schedule - approximately every 3 hours. This recommendation was due to the fact that previously formulas were of lower quality than today; they were much more filling than breast milk and took longer to digest.

Modern formulas are well adapted, which is why partially free feeding is now practiced.

Modern mixtures are well adapted , which is why it is now partially practiced. This method consists in giving the child the amount of food he wishes, but within a certain norm. This method makes it possible to determine how much food the baby actually needs.

If your baby does not eat the recommended amount of formula in one feeding , you should not force him, you can try to offer the child food later, perhaps the baby needs more frequent feeding, but in small portions. Taking into account the individual characteristics of the child, the number of feedings per day may vary, but the total volume of the mixture eaten should not be more than recommended.

Thus, even with artificial feeding, it is recommended to take into account the individual needs of the child.

Artificial feeding and overeating

Baby on artificial feeding It is much easier to overeat than a breastfed baby. Most often, this is due to the fact that you can drink the required amount of milk from a bottle much faster than suck it from the breast, so the artificial baby does not satisfy his needs. Because of this, he may cry after the bottle is taken away from him. Many mothers regard the baby's crying in this situation as a signal that he is not full. Then the mother offers the baby more food. Doctors do not recommend giving a child more than 30 ml. extra food, this can lead to overeating and weight gain excess weight. To help your baby satisfy his sucking reflex, offer him pacifier or a bottle of water.

Should I drink more or not?

As is known, babies in the first month of life who are breastfeeding , it is not recommended to supplement the milk so that the baby demands the breast more often, and the mother’s lactation improves faster. It is recommended to offer bottle-fed babies water from the first days of life. If he doesn’t want to, he doesn’t need to, but he should offer it.

Mixture

In organizing successful artificial feeding, it is very important to choose a suitable formula for the child.

It is very important in organizing successful artificial feeding. This may not work the first time. Now there is a big variety of mixtures , it is recommended to select a mixture together with a pediatrician, taking into account the needs of the child.

When preparing the formula, maintain cleanliness, prepare the formula for one feeding only, and follow the recommendations for preparing the formula indicated on the package.

Mixture quantity for one feeding depends on the age and weight of the child. The recommended amount of formula for one feeding is usually indicated on the formula packaging.

You can determine the amount of formula your child needs by consulting with a pediatrician, as well as by experience. If the baby does not have enough of the formula that you give him, he will definitely “tell” about it.

The packaging already contains instructions on how often the mixture can be given, clear recommendations on time, as well as the amount of dry powder and water. But no matter what manufacturer, With all meals, you can adhere to the schedule described below.

Artificial diet

In the first seven days

The child is fed formula 8-10 times, the break is 2.5 hours during the day and at night no more than three hours. If you need to understand the quantity, multiply the number of days (age) by 70 if the baby weighs less than 3200 g.

And if the weight is more than 3200, multiply by 80. This way you will get the volume of mixture required for daily feeding.

One week after birth

In the second week, the number of meals is reduced to 7, the break gradually reaches 3 hours. We are working to ensure that the nightly interval between feedings reaches up to 6 hours. The volume per day is equal to one fifth of the child’s weight; by the end of the first month, on average, one dose will be about 100 ml.

From the second month

We now reduce the number of feedings by one more, so the interval between meals reaches 3.5 hours; the volume per day can be found by dividing the child’s weight by six.

How to give your baby food on a schedule?

The dry formula is already designed for the weight and age of the baby; if you follow the recommendations correctly, the baby cannot be hungry. If for some reason you are still convinced that your child is malnourished, be sure to consult with your doctor before changing the schedule.

REFERENCE! From birth, it is human nature to “patch up” the emotional background with food.

There are no problems with breast milk because it is very easily digestible. The mixture is a completely different matter. Dry formula for newborns is a rather heavy product.. Compared to breast milk, it is very difficult to digest. The mistake young parents make is that they may decide that the child is hungry and give a portion larger than normal.

But if you give your baby an extra portion or increase the size, the child will become capricious, colic and constipation will appear. As a result, excess weight gain is possible.

The child has good mood, weight gains and height increases - this is the main sign that nutrition is suitable for a newborn, according to pediatricians and parents. Wetting a diaper 12-15 times a day is also a good indicator.

Qualitative healthy sleep depends on many different indicators, including the temperature in the room and the baby’s innate level of anxiety. However, if the baby sleeps well and sucks the bottle with pleasure, parents can be absolutely calm - they are doing everything right.

On the other side, bad dream, reluctance to eat at one time or another is a reason to consult a doctor. The probability is very small, but it is possible that your child was born with an increased metabolic rate.

Time interval between meals

On the first nights, the interval between feedings will be 2.5 - 3 hours. By two months, this will increase to six hours of sleep a night. It happens that the baby wakes up during the night, if his weight is normal or below normal, you can put the baby on his side and give him a bottle. This way he will be able to drink his portion even without leaving the sleep phase.

In the morning, afternoon and evening, the intervals between feedings do not change. It is allowed to shift meals only by twenty minutes in one direction or another. In addition, newborn children often confuse night and day, and some babies sleep soundly just in the early morning and before lunch - adjust the schedule in this case to suit your child.

IMPORTANT! If you follow the feeding schedule, healthy child will not refuse food. This situation is not the norm!

Check whether the mixture flows well from the nipple and whether it is correctly selected for the newborn. The holes are too large - the baby will choke and will not suck. Too small - they require a lot of effort from the child, he may simply get tired.

Often, parents unconsciously want to give more food so that the little one does not cry, sleeps better, and does not go hungry. And sometimes the concepts of care, love and food are completely confused. The opinion of relatives also plays a role, as it always seems to them that the child is hungry.

Proper feeding of a newborn in the first days of life is the same important element growth and development, like mother's care, caring for the baby. Perfect option- breast-feeding. If for various reasons it is not possible to breastfeed, high-quality infant formula will help out.

It is important for a young mother to know how to organize the nutrition of a tiny person. Study the material: you will find answers to many questions related to the organization of nutrition for the youngest children. The most important thing is to ensure maximum comfort for mom and baby.

How to feed newborns correctly

At the maternity hospital, staff will talk about the benefits of early breastfeeding and provide conditions for close contact between mother and baby immediately after birth. Now the children are in the same room with their mother, which allows them to feed the baby “on demand.”

If there is a lack of milk, do not despair, try to establish natural feeding. Drink enough fluids, try to calm down, put your baby to your breast more often. Even a minimal amount of milk will be beneficial. Supplement your newborn with formula, monitor behavior, weight, and stool quality. If there is no milk, switch to artificial formula.

Breast-feeding

The benefits of early breastfeeding have been proven by neonatologists and pediatricians, confirmed by satisfied mothers and well-fed, peacefully snoring babies. Close emotional contact is one of the advantages of natural feeding.

Breast milk benefits:

• baby (the child receives fully digestible food, develops well, and gets sick less often);
• mother (the uterus contracts more actively under the influence of the baby’s sucking movements, the body recovers more quickly after childbirth).

First stage

In the first hours after childbirth, the mammary glands produce a valuable product - colostrum. The volume of useful substance is small, but the rich composition and high fat content satisfy the baby’s need for food. An important detail - colostrum saturates the small body biologically active substances, strengthens the immune system.

Most maternity hospitals practice early breastfeeding. An exciting moment for mother and baby entering an unfamiliar world. The warmth of the breast and the smell of milk calm the newborn and allow him to feel protected. The more colostrum a child can receive, the better for his immunity.

Homecoming

Many young mothers get lost and panic when they find themselves at home with a newborn. There is a caring dad nearby, a familiar environment, but there is still excitement. If a woman listened to the recommendations of the maternity hospital staff, there will be fewer difficulties with breastfeeding.

Features of feeding newborns with breast milk:

• The diet in the first week takes more into account the interests of the newborn. The mother will have to adapt to the baby’s needs;
• It is useful to observe when the baby is really hungry, to note the interval between feedings that the child can withstand. The best option– 3 hours, but in the first week babies often demand milk with loud crying after 1.5–2 hours;
• Pediatricians advise: feed your baby “on demand” when he greedily seeks the breast with his mouth. Gradually, the child will get stronger, will be able to drink more valuable liquid at a time, and will remain full longer. Active breastfeeding will increase lactation, the baby's nutritional needs and the mother's capabilities will gradually coincide;
• After a couple of weeks, accustom your baby to the diet. If in the first days you fed your baby every one and a half to two hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night, gradually switch to feeding seven times a day. The regimen improves the functioning of the tiny intestines and gives the mother rest.

Suitable poses

Choose a specific position that suits you best. Remember: Each feeding in the first weeks of a newborn’s life lasts a long time.

Please note that you are unlikely to be able to sit for half an hour or more beautifully, bending over the baby (as nursing mothers pose for photos in magazines), especially after a difficult birth. If it is uncomfortable or difficult for a mother to hold her baby, she is unlikely to have pleasant thoughts or tender feelings.

Try several poses, choose the optimal one, taking into account the condition of the breast, weight, and age of the baby. As the baby grows, an uncomfortable position may become suitable and vice versa.

Basic positions for feeding newborns:

• supine position. The baby leans against mommy with her arms, legs, and head. A woman's shoulders and head are raised with a pillow. The position is suitable for copious milk production;
• lying on your side. This convenient option is chosen by many mothers, especially for evening and night feedings. Be sure to alternate lying on each side so that both breasts are emptied;
• classic sitting position for feeding. Mom holds the child in her arms. Pillows under the back, on the knees and under the elbow will help reduce arm fatigue and “reduce” the baby’s weight;
• hanging pose. Recommended for poor milk flow. The newborn lies on his back, the mother feeds him from above, leaning over the baby. Not very comfortable for the back, but effective for emptying the chest;
• posture after caesarean section, when nursing twins. The woman sits, the baby lies so that the legs are behind the mother’s back, the head looks out from under the mother’s hand. This pose relieves the manifestations of lactostasis - stagnation of breast milk, accompanied by soreness and pronounced thickening of the lobules of the mammary gland.

Infant formula milk

Artificial feeding is a necessary measure, but in the absence of breast milk you will have to adapt. Properly organize the newborn’s nutrition and listen to the recommendations of pediatricians.

Features of feeding newborns with formula:

• Unlike breastfeeding When the baby is full and falls asleep, the nutritional mixture has a certain dosage. It is important to know how much breast milk substitute to give to an “artificial” baby per day;
• From the first days, feed the baby 7 times, every 3 hours. Later, you can switch to six meals a day with an interval of 3.5 hours;
• choose a high-quality mixture that provides satiety and maximum nutrients. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to feed the baby on demand: the formula cannot be given “whenever you want”, it is important to maintain a certain interval;
• occasionally it is allowed to shift the time of the next appointment healthy mixture, but not by much. Violation of the rules causes stomach/intestinal problems in the baby;
• choose infant formula from well-known manufacturers, without palm oil, sugar, maltodextrin. As a last resort, there should be a minimum amount of components that support a feeling of fullness;
• If there is little breast milk, you have to constantly feed the baby. First offer the breast, then baby food in a spoon. Avoid bottles: it’s easier to get milk from the nipple; after a while, the baby will probably refuse the breast;
• Be sure to give your “artificial” newborn boiled water. The volume of fluid depends on age;
• artificial feeding will help produce healthy twins or triplets. The mother does not have enough milk for two/three children; she has to give a nutritional formula. As babies grow, breast milk is replaced with formula milk.

How much should a child eat?

How much should a newborn eat at one feeding? When breastfeeding, the baby himself feels when the ventricle is full. The baby stops suckling and calmly falls asleep.

To feed the “artificial baby,” the mother must pour a certain amount of formula into the bottle so that the newborn does not remain hungry. Pediatricians have developed a formula for calculating the amount of baby food for each day.

The calculations are simple:

• the newborn weighs less than 3200 grams. Multiply the number of days lived by 70. For example, on the third day the baby should receive 3 x 70 = 210 g of formula;
• the newborn weighs more than 3200 grams. The calculation is similar, only multiply the number of days by 80. For example, on the third day a large child should receive a large portion - 3 x 80 = 240 g of baby food.

Note! The calculations are suitable for the little ones. From the 10th day of life the norms are different. You will find a detailed calculation of the amount of formula for feeding “artificial” babies in the article, which describes the selection rules and features of the use of popular infant formulas from 0 to 6 months.

Nutrition table by hour

It’s easier for young mothers to navigate if they have a clear idea of ​​the baby’s diet. During the first month, the newborn will sleep most of the time (up to 18 hours a day), and be awake for the rest of the day.

Remember: When the baby is not sleeping, half the time he sucks on his mother’s breast or receives infant formula instead of breast milk. Pay attention to the newborn feeding chart. It schedules feeding hours for babies of normal weight.

• If the newborn spits up after feeding, a simple trick will help: carry the fed baby in a column for 10–15 minutes;
• The neck of a newborn is still very weak, how to act so as not to damage the bones or stretch the muscles? Place your head on your shoulder, hold the baby upright, lightly press him towards you, supporting him by the back and butt. This position will ensure the release of excess air, reduce the frequency and volume of regurgitation;
• After eating, you should not disturb the baby; it is not advisable to put him in the crib. Active games, tickling, and shaking are prohibited. Change the newborn's clothes also after 10–15 minutes, when the air leaves the ventricle;
• If your newborn hiccups after feeding, he may have overfed or is cold. Stroke the tummy, warm the baby, let the excess air escape (hold it in a column). When too large volume and the pressure of breast milk, feed the baby intermittently so that the previous portion has time to get into the tiny stomach.

How to maintain the emotional and physical health of a nursing mother

Helpful Tips:

• upon returning home after the maternity hospital, a woman should also get at least a little sleep, devote time to other family members and herself, otherwise psychological problems, a crisis in the relationship with your husband cannot be avoided;
• constant fatigue accumulates, mommy gets irritated for any reason and gets nervous. The result is a decrease in milk production, an eternally hungry, crying baby, again nerves and new worries. The circle closes. That is why it is important to take care not only of the baby, but also to maintain the health and psychological balance of a woman who has undergone a natural birth or a cesarean section;
• The realization that with the birth of a baby, a successful businesswoman has turned into a “milk-producing machine” depresses many young mothers. The closest people should help here. Praise and pride for the person who gave the gift of a son (daughter)/grandson (granddaughter) must be expressed in warm words. A woman feels much more confident if she feels supported;
• An important point is assistance in caring for the baby. It’s good if the husband, grandmothers and young mother share the chores around the house. A woman needs to rest, often feed her newborn, and restore her strength. In the first two to three weeks, the lack of real help negatively affects the physical and psychological state of the nursing mother;
• unfortunately, it often happens that the husband stays late at work (not to mention how difficult it is to “get” vacation after the birth of a baby), and grandmothers, due to various circumstances, cannot help with household chores. It is important to preserve breast milk and not fall off your feet from fatigue;
• what to do? You will have to ask for help from good friends, relatives, and neighbors. Surely, someone will agree to help you: go grocery shopping, buy diapers, or wipe the dust at home. Involve people you trust, don't refuse help. Even half an hour of rest will be useful for a young mother;
• prepare simple dishes, buy a multicooker that minimizes labor costs for cooking. The device does not require constant monitoring, which is important when tired, frequent feedings, or when the mother thinks only about the baby and sleep.

Now you know how to start breastfeeding, how to give special formulas. Pay maximum attention to the baby, remember about your health and the existence of the rest of the family members. A proper diet will ensure maximum comfort for the baby and adults.

More useful tips about breastfeeding in the following video:

Hello, dear moms and dads! Recently, with the advent of a huge selection of milk formulas, many parents prefer artificial feeding.

And although high-quality milk formulas are closest in composition to breast milk, they can never replace full-fledged mother’s milk.

Every mother can breastfeed her child, but our life is not so simple and there are situations when breastfeeding a newborn is contraindicated. This may be due to the illness of the mother, or perhaps due to the health of the baby.

We won’t go into details, but rather talk about artificial feeding of newborns, its benefits, and how much formula can be given to a child.

Feeding a newborn baby with formula milk: what is the advantage?

Artificial feeding of a newborn has certain advantages:

• The main advantage of artificial feeding from the mother's breast is that it gives the baby's mother a certain freedom. Agree that any family member can bottle feed a baby;
• Also, feeding newborns with formula requires a clear feeding regimen: babies need to be fed less often and on a schedule. This is explained by the fact that the mixture is digested by the baby’s ventricle longer than mother’s milk;
• and finally, it is easier for you to control the amount of milk your newborn eats.

How much formula should a newborn eat?

When feeding a baby with formula, it is very important to correctly calculate what the baby needs. The rule applies here: it is better to underfeed the baby than to overfeed, otherwise you can earn a toddler:

• feeding a newborn baby with artificial formula should be according to a clear schedule: after a break of 3-3.5 hours, and a deviation of half an hour is quite acceptable. Total feedings are 6-7 per day;

• in the first week of a newborn's life, we give him the mixture in volume equal amount days of the baby’s life multiplied by 10. For example, the baby is 5 days old, multiply by 10 and get 50 ml of formula per feeding;

• from the second week until reaching 2 months, we will calculate the amount of formula a little differently: the baby’s body weight will need to be divided by 5. For example, if your baby weighs 3900, when divided by 5 we get 780 ml of formula per day. Next, divide by the number of feedings, let it be 7, and we get approximately 110 ml of the mixture per feeding.

Artificial feeding - a solution for feeding twins or triplets

Happy parents of twins or triplets often prefer artificial feeding. This is due to the fact that the mother of the babies simply does not have enough milk and has to first feed the babies with formula milk, and later completely switch to artificial feeding of newborns.

Indeed, feeding babies who are screaming and demanding immediate feeding at the same time becomes an almost impossible task. Therefore, in order to maintain calm, because children need a calm mother, it is better to switch to formula.

Although you can continue mixed feeding: feed one baby with breastfeeding, and the second with a nutritional formula, in next feeding vice versa. The choice is yours.

How often should I sterilize feeding bottles and nipples?

The issue of cleanliness of children's dishes is one of the main guarantees of the baby's health. For sterilization, you can purchase either a special device - a sterilizer, or boil them in a water bath.

It is worth noting that it is enough to thoroughly sterilize bottles and nipples once a week; the rest of the time, before preparing the mixture, it is enough to simply pour boiling water over both the bottle and the bottle.

Should I boil water to prepare formula?

The water for preparing milk formula must be boiled. Even if you use special bottled water for children, it also needs to be sterilized.

According to some reports, when testing the quality of children's bottled water, experts discovered that it contained harmful bacteria. Let’s not rely on being lucky and the water being perfectly clean; we’d rather play it safe once again. But we will be confident in the purity of food for our beloved baby.

Emotional atmosphere and bottle feeding of a newborn

It is quite possible to create a pleasant emotional atmosphere when bottle-feeding a baby, to establish contact with him when bottle-feeding, you just need to:

• choose cozy place in the nursing room;
• Mom should be in a good and calm mood;
• while feeding, hold the baby to your chest, look into his eyes, smile, talk to him;
• It is important that the temperature of the milk mixture is optimal; ideally it should be close to body temperature 36-37 o C.

Good luck in feeding your little one, may he grow up healthy to the delight of mom and dad.

Photos and videos: Artificial feeding (feeding) of newborns

Breast milk is the optimal nutrition for one month old baby and older. Together with this product, the baby can receive the most important and useful substances, as well as initial communication skills and, of course, maternal love.

However, due to certain circumstances, some mothers are unable to breastfeed, and the newborn is transferred to an alternative feeding regimen.

Artificial feeding of an infant poses many problems for the new mother: what formula to choose, how it should be prepared and given, how much the baby should eat in the first month of life.

Artificial feeding should not be introduced just like that, at the request of the nursing mother. Not a single high-quality formula is capable of transferring to a newborn baby all the necessary substances that breast milk provides.

Experts have identified several compelling reasons when adapted nutrition for newborns is necessary and even desirable.

First of all, you should try to restore breast milk using folk remedies and medications that enhance lactation.

Adaptive nutrition of newborns is carried out only if such medications do not bring the required results.

Experts do not advise completely switching to artificial feeding if a woman has breast milk, even in minimal quantities. A few drops of a natural product will bring infant invaluable benefits.

Before switching to artificial feeding of newborns, every mother needs to know all the advantages and disadvantages of adapted nutrition.

Quite often, new parents switch to formula because of some far-fetched principles, thereby depriving their children important vitamins And minerals.

The advantages of IV are as follows:

• The newborn can be fed by the father and other close relatives. The woman is freed from being next to the child every minute and is now able to go away for quite a long time, without worrying that the baby will remain hungry (it is better, of course, not to stay long).
• While breastfeeding, the mother cannot always control the amount of portion, so the baby sometimes remains hungry or, on the contrary, overeats and then burps. In addition, bottle feeding allows you to monitor deterioration in health, which is manifested by a decrease in appetite (you can see this by the volume of the remaining formula).

• If newborns eating formula begin to allergic reaction, Mom always has a specific “suspect.” If breastfeeding, a woman will have to seriously reconsider her diet and give up many foods.
• Artificial nutrition takes a long time to digest (much longer than breast milk), which is why the number of meals a baby can eat can be reduced.

These are the advantages of adapted feeding, however, in the opinion of many experts, the disadvantages of artificial feeding are much more significant and serious.

• Children on IV are more likely to experience colds, infectious diseases, and allergic reactions during the first month of life and in early childhood. Doctors explain this phenomenon by the fact that the formulas lack the most important antibodies that the mother must pass on to the infant along with the milk.
• The use of feeding containers requires regular washing and even sterilization. If such conditions are not met, the newborn may develop an intestinal disorder or other dyspeptic factor.
• It is quite difficult for an infant on IV to digest a product that is not typical for his gastrointestinal tract. This is why artificial babies often suffer from colic due to swallowing air.
• When traveling long distances with a baby, the mother needs to prepare and take with her a large number of things, including the dry mixture itself, clean bottles, and a suitable sterilizing device. That is, you will have to pack a whole bag and prepare food somewhere else.
• It is not always possible to immediately select the ideal formula for newborns, so new mothers are often forced to change Various types nutrition to choose the most suitable for a particular child.
• Adapted nutrition for children requires certain monetary expenditures from the mother. A balanced and complete product cannot be cheap, especially since an older infant will need much large quantity mixtures.

Thus, there are still advantages from artificial feeding, but this diet has more disadvantages. That is why it is extremely undesirable to give up breastfeeding for the sake of your own principles, the opinion of the media and the desire to feel “freedom” in the first months of a child’s life.

Pediatrician Komarovsky, who is an indisputable authority among many mothers, is convinced that breast milk is an irreplaceable product, despite the latest scientific and technical achievements.

Breast milk contains so many essential components (antibodies, hormonal substances, digestive enzymes) that its composition cannot be surpassed for a long time. Komarovsky never tires of repeating that under any circumstances, breast milk is preferable to formula.

Artificial feeding of a child is a problem that worries many young mothers who, due to various circumstances, are not able to breastfeed their newborn.

Komarovsky suggests focusing on 2 most important axioms:

1. No formula, even adapted, can completely replace breast milk.
2. Cow's or goat's milk is not as good a product for an infant as a balanced formula.

Komarovsky notes an interesting pattern: over the past three decades, the number of cases of food allergies or intestinal disorders in children of the first month has decreased many times (a thousand or more times), as mothers switched from animal milk to industrial formulas.

Dr. Komarovsky convinces new mothers who cannot breastfeed that feeding their babies with diluted or whole milk from a cow or goat is a huge mistake. And you shouldn’t listen to grandmothers who call mixtures a set of chemical reagents.

Komarovsky cites data that newborns under one year old should not be fed cow's or goat's milk. After 12 months and before three years the volume of this product should be minimal, and with preschool age a child can consume this milk in reasonable quantities.

Such restrictions are associated with the increased content of phosphorus and calcium compounds in animal milk. Such an excess of the norm of these minerals is fraught with kidney disease and pathological development of the musculoskeletal system.

So, you have weighed all the pros and cons and decided that your baby needs artificial feeding. It is important to follow certain principles and take into account certain conditions. Among them:

• choice of adapted nutrition;
• feeding mode and portion size;
• baby feeding technique.

To choose quality products for children, you need to follow the advice of an experienced doctor. Parents are offered formulas for complete feeding of healthy newborns, babies with digestive disorders, allergies and premature newborns. Let's take a closer look at them.

Adapted mixtures

These products are made from cow's milk, but the volume of protein components in it is significantly reduced by introducing demineralized whey.

For children in the first month, you need to purchase products with primary or initial formulas. On the box with the mixture this is indicated by the number 1, for example, “Nutrilak 1”.

By 6 months, the infant should be given products with the so-called follow-up formula. They are also called less adapted mixtures. They contain higher amounts of milk proteins and carbohydrate components to meet increased energy needs.

They differ from the previous product not in quantity, but in the quality of protein elements.

Milk protein is subjected to a special enzymatic action, which means it is brought to a curdled state. As a result, the composition of the mixture approaches breast milk.

Because of this technological process the mixture is better digested in the newborn’s gastrointestinal tract and is absorbed more quickly. Curd ingredients form optimal intestinal microflora, introducing beneficial bacteria into the body.

Such products are indicated for feeding newborns with dysbiosis, stool disorders, and a predisposition to allergies.

Also, such artificial feeding is prescribed for a weak and premature infant.

Unadapted mixtures

They are made from fresh or dried animal milk. The volume of protein components in their composition is significantly higher than in human milk.

Since the main element of such products is casein, which is unnatural for newborn babies, the development of some unsafe conditions is possible:

• disturbance of intestinal microflora;
• digestive disorders;
• small in an infant;
• delayed development.

IV experts do not recommend giving this product to an infant under 12 months of age. It does not meet the needs of babies and even threatens their well-being. Also, experts do not allow the use of cow or goat milk for cooking porridge.

Selection rules

If you cannot breastfeed your baby and it is the turn of an alternative product, it is better to coordinate the choice of formula with a specialist. The pediatrician, knowing the characteristics of the child’s body, will recommend the most gentle nutrition.

To choose the optimal product, it is necessary to take into account certain nuances and important criteria.

When introducing a child to a dairy product for the first time, you need to constantly monitor his reactions and behavior: see how alert he is, monitor the color of his skin, the frequency and nature of feces.

It should be understood that regardless of whether you are breastfeeding your baby or he is bottle-fed, you need to serve the “dish” correctly.

Before production, you should definitely study the packaging to understand how to prepare the purchased mixture. Standard requirements for the preparation of dry dairy product look like this:

In some situations, you may want to cook multiple servings at once. To prevent the mixture from disappearing, it should be placed in the refrigerator (for a day) or in a special one (for up to 4 hours). Of course, if you stored the product in the refrigerator, the mixture needs to be warmed up before feeding the baby.

Stores sell special heater devices, which are also suitable for heating hot water(or tap water). Warming up is not recommended, since the product heats up too unevenly, which means the child can get burned.

Experts identify two main ways to feed a bottle-fed newborn: clockwise and free-feeding.

Hourly mode

Artificial feeding must be precise. Experts often advise new mothers to follow a routine, maintaining certain intervals between feedings and following dosage standards.

How many times should newborns be fed formula? The number of meals by month looks like this:

• From 0 to 3 months. You cook and feed the child every 3 hours, at night the break is 6 hours. There are about 7 feedings per day.
• From 3 to 6 months. After 3.5 hours during the day, break for about 6 hours at night. That is, during the day, an infant will need to be fed 6 times.
• From six months. By 6 months, an artificial baby begins to be introduced to complementary feeding. At approximately the same age, complementary foods are also introduced to breastfed children. As the baby grows up, one feeding should be replaced with porridge or pureed vegetables. Now the number of meals is 5 every 4 hours, night sleep is approximately 8 hours.

Free feeding

Human milk and artificial formula differ in composition. If a natural product does not lead to heaviness even with frequent breastfeeding, then diluted milk powder is not considered a “light” dish.

However, other experts suggest using partially free feeding - a method characterized by a certain feeding time. The volume of the mixture in this case depends on the child’s wishes, but is within specific limits.

You prepare and pour the mixture into a container about 25 milliliters larger, but the food should be given at a strictly fixed time. This will allow you to more accurately determine the optimal portion size needed by the child. If he leaves milk in the bottle, you should not force feed him.

Breastfeeding a baby is not so easy, let alone an artificial baby. In some situations, the child does not gain weight well, in others they talk about overfeeding. That is why mothers should follow certain rules for artificial feeding.

Do not think that an artificial child needs less mother's care than a natural child. It seems that his father or other relative can give him a bottle, and a pacifier can comfort him. However, experts recommend that mothers ensure the closest contact with the baby, holding him close to her and laying him side by side.

Ideally, a one-month-old baby should be fed only by the mother. You should not entrust artificial feeding to other family members. Let him suck the bottle only in his mother's arms, turning to face her. As soon as he falls asleep, the pacifier is removed from his mouth and placed in bed.

How much formula does a newborn eat?

In a simplified diagram, the nutritional norms for an artificial diet are as follows:

• in the first 10 days, the daily volume of the formula can be calculated based on the number of days of the child’s life, multiplied by 70 or 80 (depending on body weight, 80 - if birth weight is more than 3200 g);
• from 10 days to 60 days – the child eats up to 800 milliliters of adapted nutrition 7 or 8 times;
• from 2 to 4 months – the maximum volume of milk increases to 900 milliliters (or a sixth of the child’s weight).

When should the mixture be changed?

Feeding must correspond to the characteristics of the baby. However, not all artificial products are suitable for children, so each mixture is given at first in a small volume and not for very long, carefully monitoring any reaction.

Experts advise changing the product in the following situations:

• the child cannot tolerate the mixture, a rash, redness, regurgitation, constipation or diarrhea appears;
• the baby has reached a certain age limit when it is necessary to switch to a less adapted formula (in this case, it is recommended to change the product to a mush of the same brand);
• there is a need to switch to a special therapeutic food (an allergic reaction, for example), and then return back to the usual product.

You should proceed sequentially, observing some nuances. First, a new product is introduced, mixing it with the old one (two-thirds of the old mixture and one-third of the introduced one). Then proportionality begins to be observed, and by the end of the week the child completely switches to a previously unfamiliar product.

If a mother feeds her child with formula, her pediatrician can tell her everything about artificial feeding. Expert advice is especially valuable when choosing the first product and when replacing adaptive nutrition. Although the formula is not capable of becoming an absolute copy of breast milk, if all the basic rules are followed, the artificial baby will definitely grow up strong and healthy.

Hello, I am Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully completed her studies at SUSU as a specialized psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and consulting parents on issues of raising children. I use the experience gained, among other things, in creating articles of a psychological nature. Of course, I in no way claim to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.