Often called the "perfect food" for a human baby's digestive system, breast milk's components — lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat — are easily digested by a newborn. As a group, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than do formula-fed infants.
As a new parent, you have many important decisions to make. One is to choose whether to breastfeed your baby or bottle feed using infant formula. Health experts agree that breastfeeding is the healthiest option for both mom and baby.
Exclusive formula feeding – either right from the start or after a period of nursing – is a healthy alternative to breastfeeding and a safe way to nourish your baby. Formula has all of the vitamins and nutrients that your baby needs to thrive.
A study conducted by researchers from Cambridge, London and Paris found that formula fed babies seemed to smile more and cry less than breast fed and combination fed babies. The study also showed that formula fed babies settled to sleep more easily.
While six weeks is the established peak age for infant crying, those fed formula peaked much earlier and at 2 weeks intense crying/colic behaviour occurred in 43% of formula fed babies and just 16% of those fed by breast. These findings link the timing of the infant crying peak to the mode of feeding.
Exclusively breastfed infants (≤6 months-of-age) had a greater number of night wakings, but most studies (67%) reported no difference in night-time and 24 h sleep duration compared to formula-fed infants.
Enfamil Enspire is one of the most similar baby Formula to human milk, especially nutritionally. Although it often costs a little more than other options, it contains nutrients only found in mother's milk, making it perfect for breastfed infants. First and foremost, it includes lactoferrin which is found in colostrum.
Breastmilk or infant formula should be your baby's main source of nutrition for around the first year of life. Health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with a gradual introduction of appropriate foods in the second 6 months and ongoing breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond.
Illness, lack of milk production, medical needs, and personal choice are all reasons parents choose formula feeding over breastfeeding.
Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their children for at least 1 year. The longer an infant is breastfed, the greater the protection from certain illnesses and long-term diseases.
Similac Advance Newborn bottles are the same bottles used in hospitals- The Perfect Bottle® for your new baby.
Throughout the ages and until the end of the 19th century, animal's milk was the most common source of artificial feeding. As mentioned earlier, pap and panada were used only as supplements to animal's milk when the infant failed to thrive.
It can take several weeks for you and your baby to feel happy and confident with breastfeeding. Once you've both got the hang of it, it's usually possible to offer your baby bottles of expressed milk or formula alongside breastfeeding. This is sometimes called mixed or combination feeding.
Some of the most common formula-feeding problems include fussiness, gas, and spitting up. Some babies may refuse to take a bottle because they're not used to the nipple shape or size. Formula-fed babies may also get constipated or have hard poop.
For infants, not being breastfed is associated with an increased incidence of infectious morbidity, including otitis media, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia, as well as elevated risks of childhood obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leukemia, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
If you're unable or choose not to breastfeed, it's definitely okay—and you're not alone. Canadian and U.S. surveys have shown 10% to 32% of mothers never begin breastfeeding and 4% stop within the first week of life. An additional 14% of mothers stop nursing before their baby is 2 months old.
In fact, some women can find that breastfeeding triggers or further contributes to stress, or even more severe maternal mental health issues, such as postpartum anxiety and/or depression. Other situations where breastfeeding could be more challenging for a new mother might include: Chronic physical/medical illness.
Many women experience common side effects to breastfeeding, such as back pain, chest and wrist pain. Many also experience bruising on the breast, cramping, and Osteoporosis. None of these should stop you from choosing to breastfeed; you should be aware should you start experiencing the symptoms.
Adjustment period and pain
The early weeks of breastfeeding are often the most difficult. Some women experience issues with milk supply, which can be too high or too low. Others have painful or cracked nipples. Some women develop mastitis, a potentially severe breast infection.
Is it OK to breastfeed during the day and formula feed at night? Yes! Combo feeding is a great way to extend your breastfeeding journey. Feeding your baby can happen many different ways.
Most babies can sleep from 7pm to 7am consistently between the ages of 6 to 9 months, as they learn to connect sleep cycles and develop self-soothing techniques.
There is no hard and fast rule as to when you should start supplementing your breastfed baby with formula at night. You can start at any time that feels right for you! However, if your goal is to primarily breastfeed, experts recommend waiting (if possible) at least 3 weeks until supplementing with formula.
Leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes. Then it will stay at a temperature of at least 70C. Water at this temperature will kill any harmful bacteria. Remember to let the feed cool before you give it to your baby.