There are various kinds of formula milk for babies that are sold in the market with different contents. So, you need to be observant in choosing formula milk that suits your little one's condition and needs. Check out the full explanation here, yes, Bun.
Although breast milk is the best food for babies, sometimes breastfeeding is not recommended if you or your baby has certain medical problems. If so, you can choose formula milk to help your little one grow and develop.
Choosing formula milk for newborns or those who are still under 1 year old may be a challenge for you. The reason is, babies at that age should not get any intake, including formula milk, because their bodies cannot digest food perfectly.
Pay Attention To ThisSaat Mchoose Sgut Fformula for Bbaby
Here are some things you should pay attention to and consider in choosing formula milk for babies:
1. Baby's condition
This is the first thing you should pay attention to. Babies who have special health conditions, such as premature babies or babies with low birth weight, generally need special formula milk that contains extra calories and minerals to meet their nutritional needs.
Therefore, if your little one has certain health conditions, you should consult a doctor about giving the right formula milk. Avoid choosing any formula milk for babies with certain health conditions, such as babies having difficulty defecating.
2. Types of formula milk
The type of formula milk is also important for you to pay attention to. There are formula milk products that use this type of protein whey, protein type casein, and a combination of the two. For newborns and under the age of 1 year, you should choose a cow's formula milk product that uses a type of protein whey because it is easier to digest.
Mothers can also choose formula milk products that combine both types of protein, but remember that the protein composition whey must be higher than casein. Generally the ratio between whey and casein is about 60:40. This ratio is equivalent to the protein content in breast milk.
If you want to apply a vegetarian diet to your little one from infancy, you can use soy milk. However, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor first.
3. Milk content
Basically all formula milk products consist of a collection of main nutrients, namely proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Even so, you also need to consider other ingredients that are no less important, such as arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This compound belongs to polyunsaturated fatty acids which are very beneficial for the development of the baby's brain, nervous system, and eyes.
In addition, also choose formula milk that contains prebiotics, usually in the form of fruto-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). This prebiotic is able to encourage the development of good bacteria in the baby's digestive system and strengthen his immune system.
4. Possible cow's milk allergy
What is no less important for mothers to pay attention to in choosing formula milk for babies is the possibility that your little one has an allergy to cow's milk, because this is one of the most common allergies in babies.
If you decide to buy regular cow's formula milk, you can buy milk in small sizes first. After that, try to give it to the baby and see the reaction.
If there is an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, redness, vomiting, or diarrhea, do not continue giving the formula. You should immediately consult this to your doctor.
Your doctor may recommend formula with a special formulation, such as extensively hydrolyzed milk or amino acid formula. This type of milk is still based on cow's milk, but the protein content has been processed so that it does not cause allergies.
In addition, avoid also giving various plant-based milks that are only squeezed from the plant, such as soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk, both for normal babies and babies who have allergies to cow's milk. The reason is, the nutritional value in various milks is not sufficient for the nutritional needs of the Little One.
Tips Meintroduce Baby dith formula milk
Some babies may refuse to be fed formula because they are used to breast milk. Babies also tend to refuse when given milk through a bottle by their mother, because when they are close to the woman who gave birth, the baby automatically expects to be breastfed.
To overcome this, you can try some of the tips below:
- Combine breast milk with formula. Gradually increase the amount of formula milk.
- Put a few drops of breast milk on the pacifier or warm the pacifier before use to make it more attractive to the little one.
- Use a pacifier that is soft and resembles a nipple to attract the attention of your little one.
- Ask your husband or other family for help to give your little one bottle milk so that he gets used to formula milk.
As good as formula milk, it will not be able to match the benefits of breast milk. However, if you don't allow exclusive breastfeeding, don't let this situation make you depressed.
Mothers don't need to worry, because formula milk can also help meet the nutritional needs of babies. Most importantly, choose formula milk products that have been registered with BPOM RI. If you are still confused about choosing the right formula for your little one, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.