Probiotics in Infant Formula

Probiotics in Infant Formula

August 2nd, 2010 by admin  |  1 Comment

As the science of nutrition advances, there have been many changes to infant formulas aimed at improving them and bringing them closer to the standard set by breast milk for nutrition and immune support. One of the most recent additions to infant formulas are probiotics, which you have probably heard quite a bit of buzz about in the media. The addition of probiotics to formulas improves their ability to support your baby’s immune system, which is one of the areas in which formula is lacking compared the breast milk.

What are Probiotics?

When your baby is born, the digestive system is sterile. This means that there are no bacteria, either good or bad. After your baby passes through the birth canal, however, this changes rapidly. The presence of bacteria in the digestive system is completely normal; however, some bacteria are harmful while others actually help your body to digest food and fight off infections.

Probiotics are the good bacteria that are normally found in your digestive system. They aid in digestion and generally support your baby’s immune system. Because breast milk contains starches that promote the growth of good bacteria, breast fed babies will have an advantage in healthy digestion and general well being. Formula does not provide the same friendly environment for good bacteria to reproduce. Probiotics are bacteria that are added as a supplement to help colonize the digestive system with good bacteria, which will give formula more power to support your baby’s digestive health.

Probiotics in Formula

Although infant formulas containing probiotics have been available in other countries for many years, it is only recently that formulas containing probiotics have become available in the US. These formulas contain a type of probiotic organism that encourages digestive health in babies. Not all formulas contain these bacteria – the label should clearly say that the formula contains probiotics, otherwise it probably doesn’t.

The research on the use of this new type of formula shows good results. Babies fed a formula containing probiotics have a reduction in diarrhea caused by antibiotics and also acute gastroenteritis, which is caused by a stomach virus. Probiotic formula also improves colic and reduces the risk of allergies in the future. Because probiotics help your baby’s digestion, you will likely find that baby experiences less gas and constipation as well.

Should You Choose a Probiotic Formula?

When deciding on a formula for your baby, you should discuss the options with your baby’s doctor. Remember that while the new probiotic formulas are an improvement that brings formula a little closer to providing the same benefits to your baby as breast milk, it is still the official recommendation of the AAP that you breast feed your baby for optimal nutrition.

If you have already decided to use formula, choosing one with probiotics will give your baby a definite advantage. You want your baby to have the best nutrition possible, and if breastfeeding is not an option for you, choose the formula that offers the closest possible imitation of the benefits of breast milk. Your doctor can tell you a lot more about what probiotics can do for you and your family. With these amazing little bacteria currently the focus of a lot of new research, it’s likely that even more benefits to supplementing with probiotics will come to light.

Supporting Baby’s Immune Health

Supporting Baby’s Immune Health

May 4th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

We all know that the immune system exists to protect our bodies from harmful invaders, and that it is vital to keeping us healthy. The complex immune system is a powerful force for identifying and eliminating dangerous foreign matter that enters the body. A baby’s immune system, however, is not yet developed enough to successfully defend that tiny body – it needs a little help. Do you know how to best support your baby’s immune system so that it can do its job keeping your little one healthy? Answer these three basic questions to find out!

What is the Number One Way to Boost a Newborn’s Immune System?

When it comes to strengthening your newborn’s fledgling immune system, the absolute best thing you can do is to choose to breastfeed. Breast milk, especially the early, darker colored milk called colostrum, is packed with antibodies that your baby can’t get anywhere else. These antibodies are the building blocks of immunity. They give your newborn a fighting chance against the bacteria and viruses that are new to his body. Your baby received antibodies through the placenta during your pregnancy, but from the moment of birth that protection begins to wane. The only way to continue to protect him is to keep the supply of antibodies up through breast milk.

While formulas have come a long way over the years, they simply can not provide these antibodies to your baby, so if you can, breastfeed for as long as possible. When you stop breastfeeding, the same effect will occur as when you gave birth – the antibodies will become less and less effective. The longer you breastfeed, the more time you allow for your baby to grow bigger and stronger, and for his immune system to make its own antibodies.

What Does a Fever Mean?

Fever is a sign that your baby’s immune system has kicked into gear to fight off an invading force. In the first few months of life, a fever in your baby is your first clue that something is not right. While older children and adults will come through most fevers just fine, a newborn doesn’t have the strength to fight off whatever the fever is signaling. Any fever in a newborn warrants a call to your doctor’s office. Antibiotics might be necessary to help her immune system fight off the illness causing the fever.

Recognize the signs that your baby is getting sick, such as fever and others – lethargy, changes in appetite and sleep habits – and help your baby’s immune system fight off the illness by stepping in quickly.

Is Exposing Baby to Germs Good or Bad?

It might sound like a silly question, but it’s a good one. Exposure to germs is what triggers the immune system to respond, and create antibodies that will fight off illness. However, a baby’s body isn’t strong enough to fight off many of the germs he might encounter. So what is the right answer? Avoid exposure to germs as much as possible for the first few months of life, when baby is still very small and vulnerable. During those early months, a simple illness can quickly become very serious, so be very careful.

As she grows and becomes stronger, you can be a little less militant on the germ patrol. This doesn’t mean exposing her to people you know are sick so she can build antibodies! Just that you can take her to more places and let her body start to build its defenses against what it encounters.

With the answers to all three of these questions, you arm yourself with the knowledge to boost your baby’s immune system so that eventually her body will be able to defend itself.

Does Going to Bed with a Bottle Cause Cavities?

Does Going to Bed with a Bottle Cause Cavities?

May 2nd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You’re tired, you just want to go to sleep, and you know that if you put baby down with a bottle, she will go to sleep easily so you can head off to bed yourself. Every mother has been there, doing whatever it takes to get some rest. Unfortunately, putting baby to bed with a bottle can do serious damage to her teeth.

Tooth Decay and Baby Bottles

Early childhood tooth decay can happen in a number of ways, but the most common and often the most severe of these is known as baby bottle tooth decay. It results when liquids containing natural sugars, such as formula, breast milk and juices, are left on the teeth while baby sleeps. This form of tooth decay can also occur in breast fed babies, even if they do not take a bottle, but breastfeed on demand during the night after the first tooth appears. Putting your baby to bed with a bottle is a major risk factor for baby bottle tooth decay.

Tooth decay in babies may start off mild, but can quickly progress to a very serious problem. It can result in infection and in your child losing one or more teeth.

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Although baby teeth are only temporary, they play a very important role in your child’s development. Your baby needs them not only to eat, but also to develop normal speech. Baby teeth are also place holders for adult teeth. If they are lost too soon, the adult teeth may come in crooked. The loss of baby teeth can not only harm your baby’s smile now, but her adult smile as well,

Preventing Tooth Decay in Babies

The American Dental Association offers some recommendations on how to avoid tooth decay in your baby. One of the major recommendations is that you avoid putting baby to bed with a bottle. That isn’t the only important precaution you should take, however.

Sugary drinks such as juices should be kept to a minimum during the day, and avoided entirely at night. In fact, unless your doctor has recommended juice for a problem such as dehydration or constipation, there is no real reason for a baby to have juice at all. Ensure that baby finishes his bottle entirely prior to a nap or bedtime, and gently wipe his teeth with a clean piece of gauze before you put him down.

Start a dental hygiene routine as soon as baby’s first tooth appears. Contrary to previous recommendations against using fluoride toothpaste, the ADA now recommends using a baby toothpaste containing fluoride right from the start to protect and strengthen teeth. You should get in the habit of brushing baby’s teeth at least twice a day, and wiping teeth after each feeding.

As soon as your baby is able to do so, you should tech him to start drinking from a cup and avoid trainer or “sippy” cups as much as possible. Consumption of sugary beverages throughout the day should be discouraged. If your child is thirsty, offer a drink of water.

The ADA recommends that you take your child to see a dentist as soon as his first tooth erupts. You can take him to your own dentist, or find a pediatric dentist who specializes in children.

Taking care of your baby’s teeth from the moment they first appear will ensure he has a healthy smile for a lifetime.

Choices for Feeding Your Baby

Choices for Feeding Your Baby

April 5th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

One of the most important decisions you will need to make when preparing for the arrival of your new baby is how you plan to feed her. This can be a difficult and emotional topic for many new mothers, but making the decision is a little easier when you know the facts about both breast and formula feeding.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

The American Academy of Pediatrics along with countless other medical associations all make the same recommendation: breastfeeding is the best choice for newborns. Human breast milk contains everything your baby needs to stay healthy and grow strong, including many compounds that can not be imitated by any commercial formula available today. Colostrum, the earliest breast milk that is produced in the first days after your baby’s birth, is rich in nutrients and antibodies that can’t be found anywhere else. These antibodies are crucial to strengthening your baby’s immune system.

Every mother’s breast milk is unique, and tailored precisely to the baby’s needs. Studies have shown that the composition of breast milk changes over time as your baby grows and her nutritional needs change. A mother’s body is also capable of compensating for premature birth by producing breast milk specific to the needs of a preterm infant.

Breast fed babies have a lower risk of a long list of problems later in life, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, and allergies. Because of the antibodies in breast milk, breast fed infants will catch fewer colds in the first years and generally maintain better health overall.

Breastfeeding has other benefits as well. It costs significantly less than formula feeding, you won’t spend a lot of time on washing and sanitizing bottles, and you won’t have to worry about bringing a lot of gear with you everywhere you go. Recent research has also shown that mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

While some mothers are concerned that breastfeeding will leave the new dad out of the feeding process, a breast pump can easily solve this problem. This way, dad can take on some of the night feedings while you get some much-needed rest.

Formula Feeding

There are a number of reasons for choosing formula feeding for your newborn. Some mothers may have difficulty with milk supply or illnesses which could be transferred to the baby through breast milk. Mothers of adopted infants will not have the necessary hormones from pregnancy to produce breast milk. Working mothers may find pumping at work difficult or in some cases nearly impossible.

Formula feeding also offers the benefit of making the new dad an equal partner in the feeding process, without the extra work of having to pump breast milk for him to use. Dads can mix a bottle and feed the baby without ever having to disturb your much-needed sleep.

Today’s formulas offer better nutrition than ever before, and there are a number of formula choices on the market in case your baby’s stomach is sensitive and you need to try a different brand.

The Third Choice: Compromise

Many new mothers see the breast or formula feeding choice as an all or nothing proposition, but there is plenty of room for compromise. A combination of breast and formula feeding will ensure your baby reaps some of the benefits of breast milk while taking some of the pressure off of an already exhausted mom.

You may wish to breastfeed while you are on maternity leave, and then switch to formula when you return to work. Your baby will still have received many of the important antibodies provided by the early milk.

Whatever your choice, remember that a relaxed, happy mom is important to baby’s health and happiness too. Don’t let your feeding choice become a source of major stress in your life at a time when you need all your strength to care for your new baby.

How Much Formula is Enough?

How Much Formula is Enough?

February 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

It is very difficult for mother to know how much breast milk a baby is receiving during breastfeeding. However, the volume of infant formula intake is measurable. The estimated intake of infant formula is shown as below:

Birth to 1 Week

Infant who is a week old should normally feed on cue for about 6 to 10 times a day. The amount of infant formula for each feed is about 2 to 3 oz (60-90 ml).

1 week to 1 month

The volume of formula consumed will increase with age. So, infant who is older than 1 week need 3 to 4 oz (90-120 ml) of formula each feed. He should feed in every 3 to 4 hours, which is about 6 to 8 times per day.

1 to 3 Months

The frequency of feeding decreases to 5-6 feed per day when an infant is about 1-3 months old. The intake of formula increases to 4-6 oz (120-180ml) per feed.

3 to 7 Months

A 3-7 month old baby should drink 6-7 oz (180-210ml) of formula each time. He should feed 4-5 times a day.

7 to 12 Months

After 7 months, an infant requires 7-8 oz (210-240 ml) of formula, 3-4 times a day.

Note:
Please take not that the size of a baby and the activity level will affect the actual intake of infant formula. The values provided above are estimated. If you have doubt, please check with your birthing hospital or ask your lactation consultant for advice.

Nutrient Composition of Formula

Nutrient Composition of Formula

February 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Comparing the nutrient composition of breast milk, formula and cows milk.

Breast Milk Cow’s Milk-Based Formula Whole Cow’s Milk
Protein 6% 8-9% 20%
Fat 50% 45-50% 50%
Carbohydrates 40-45% 41-43% 30%
Form of Infant Formula

Form of Infant Formula

February 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Infant formulas are typically sold in the following form:

  • Powdered concentrate
  • Liquid concentrate
  • Ready-to-use formula

Powdered Concentrate

All types of formula are available in powdered form. The powdered form of infant formulas is the cheapest among all other types of infant formula. Powdered concentrate must be measured and mixed with clean water. Preparing powdered concentrate is not as convenient as liquid and ready-to-use formula. However, the shelf life of powdered form is longer as compare to others. Once open, a tin can be stored up to 1 month.

Liquid Concentrate

The liquid concentrate is relatively more expensive than powdered variety. However, it is easier to measure and mix than the powdered concentrate. The liquid concentrate must be used within 48 hours after it is opened.

Ready-to-use Formula

Ready-to-use formula is the most expensive form of formula. However it does not require mixing and it can be used at anytime. The variety of ready-to-use formula is limited. Only cow’s-milk and soy-based formulas are available in ready-to-use package.

Choosing and Preparing Infant Formula

Choosing and Preparing Infant Formula

February 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

If breastfeeding is not the right solution for you and your baby, formula feeding provides baby with all of the nutrients he needs and also allows you to hold your baby and establish the same level of bonding as you would while breastfeeding. To ensure success with formula feeding, first discuss your child’s health and situation with a pediatrician to learn what she recommends.

Cow’s Milk-Based Formula

In the vast majority of situations, doctors prescribe cows milk-based formula for infants. There are both commercial and organic versions of milk based formula and there are differences to consistency and taste between brands. Your baby might prefer one brand to another, but switching formulas should always be done slowly and cautiously to avoid upsetting baby’s digestive system.

Milk based formula is derived from cow’s milk. The cow’s milk is broken down to remove harsh proteins that can harm the baby’s fragile system and many additional nutrients are added to make it as close to breast milk as possible. This is true of all formulas. Despite this, some babies still have trouble digesting cow’s milk-based formula and do better on a different formula.

Soy-Based Formula

Babies that don’t do well with cow’s milk-based formulas often switch to a soy-based formula. This type of formula is derived from soybeans and is dairy free. While soy-based formula can be gentler on the digestive tract for those babies that suffer from lactose intolerance, there is just as much likelihood of allergies with soy products as milk-based ones. Speak to your doctor about soy-based formulas if you think it is right for your child.

Lactose-Free Formulas

There are other formulas that might be suitable for a child with sensitivity to lactose but not a full-fledged milk allergy. Lactose-free formulas are made with cow’s milk proteins, but have the lactose carbohydrate removed and replaced with a carbohydrate that is easier to digest.

Elemental Formulas

Formulas made without milk or soy are created using hydrolysate proteins. This makes it easier to digest for babies with milk and soy allergies. Elemental formulas, like all formulas, are fortified with iron and all required vitamins and nutrients.

Preparing Formula

Once you’ve decided on a formula, you generally have three options of how to prepare it. There is a powdered form which requires you adding a certain amount of water, shaking up the bottle and then feeding it your child. Powered formula is usually the easiest to handle while on the go as it doesn’t require refrigeration. Concentrated formulas also require you to add water and shake to create formula in a bottle. The remainder of the concentrate should then be refrigerated.

Ready-to-use formulas are packaged in bottles much like milk and are ready to be used, as stated in the name. Simply pour the desired amount of formula into a bottle and you are ready for a feeding. There is no measuring involved. The unopened container of formula does not require refrigeration, but it must be refrigerated and used within 48 hours once opened. Ready-to use formula is typically the most expensive option available.

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