Special Formulas For Babies
During the breastfeeding phase, the best food for the newborn is, without a doubt, breast milk. However, on many occasions, and for different reasons, it is necessary to resort to special formulas. In addition, currently there are also special formulas designed for babies with specific needs, such as premature babies or those with lactose intolerance, for example.
Breastfeeding with breast milk
As we said, breast milk is the ideal food for a baby during the first 6 months of life. There are many properties attributed to it, such as:
- Adapts to the needs of each child, both in quantity and composition.
- Prevents cardiovascular disease.
- Contributes to the newborn’s immune system.
- It helps the mother to recover after giving birth by accelerating the contraction of the uterus.
- It strengthens the mother-child bond.
However, it is not always possible for a mother to breastfeed her newborn. There are many complications that can arise, such as mastitis, cracking, the baby’s inability to hold the breast, or even lack of breast milk. There may also be a mother’s personal decision not to breastfeed.
Anyway, there are alternatives perfectly adapted to the baby’s needs, such as artificial milk or formula. We call mixed breastfeeding the complementary feeding with breast milk and formula milk.
artificial or formula milk
Formula milks have been carefully crafted to mimic breast milk in the best possible way. Thus, just as breast milk changes to adapt to the baby’s needs as it grows, artificial milks are also adapted to each phase of the infant’s feeding.
There are three main types of formulas:
- Starting formulas : for the first 6 months of life.
- Follow-up formulas : from 6 months to one year. From 6 months onwards, it is also necessary to start supplementing the diet with cereals, fruits and vegetables, as milk alone is not enough.
- Growth : from 12 months to 3 years.
If we choose artificial food or need to resort to it, it is important to take care of hygiene. The bottle should always be washed properly and mineral water or boiled tap water should be used.
Formula milks come in powdered form, so add a scoop of powder for every 30 milliliters of hot water. It is important to be careful with the way you heat the bottle because sometimes microwaves, for example, do not heat evenly and can cause burns.
Special formulas
As we said before, among the formula milks, there are special milks adapted for babies with more specific needs, for which a common artificial milk is not sufficient or adequate. The pediatrician, in these cases, will recommend the most suitable milk.
Some of the cases where it is necessary to use special formulas are:
- Premature babies. Formulas with greater caloric density, greater protein intake, greater amounts of fat, better absorption are used, in addition to being enriched with phosphorus and vitamins A and D, mainly. They are especially intended for low birth weight babies.
- Lactose intolerance. Lactose-free formulas are used, as these children do not have lactase, which is the intestinal enzyme responsible for digesting this carbohydrate. Lactose is replaced by another carbohydrate, usually maltodextrin.
- Allergy to cow’s milk protein. Protein hydrolysates are used in which the structure is altered so that they do not cause an allergic reaction. Milk proteins are already partially digested, in smaller pieces, to be absorbed more easily.
- Anti-regurgitation. There are anti-regurgitation formulas that contain a thickener to increase the viscosity of milk in the stomach and thus prevent or improve this problem. They also contain a lower fat content to favor gastric emptying. Previously they were called anti-reflux formulas, but they have been shown to not improve gastroesophageal reflux, only regurgitation and vomiting.
- Malabsorption.
- Inability to digest fats.
- Heart disease.
There are also other types of special formulas, such as soy-based formulas, for example, which are useful in cases of galactosemia, although they are not recommended for children under 6 months. Other formulas are designed to improve minor digestive problems or frequent symptoms such as constipation or cramps.
medical indication
In each specific case, the pediatrician will evaluate and determine the most suitable type of formula for each baby. These special formulas should not be used without medical advice, as we can compromise the health of the little ones, exposing them to nutritional deficiencies or undue excesses.
