Infants must breastfeed for proper growth, but some mothers are not able to breastfeed. There can be many possible reasons for this, but the infants who don’t get breastfeed switch to baby formula or infant formula. If the baby is partially breastfed or isn’t breastfed, then the baby formula is the only food that is given for around six months. The infant formula can be continued with solid foods for around 12 months. There are many nutrients in formula feeding, but it may augment the baby’s risk being overweight or obsess. The research has been done, but it is the exact reason. It is not clear.
Choose the right formula with a low amount of protein.
There are plentiful companies selling the infant formulas in the market, but you must check the evidence to know which one is best. The only thing that can help in knowing the best is protein levels. Researchers have done a trial, and they found out the higher protein formula is linked with a higher weight of the child. Based on this research, the popular infant guidelines recommend choosing an infant formula with a minimum protein amount.
Baby formulas considerably have less amount of protein and are good for health. The baby formula should be provided to infants or babies until 12 months old. There are some instructions that you must follow while giving infant formula which are:
- You must follow the instructions mentioned on tin accurately so as to make the correct formula that is not over or under concentrated. Use the scoop that comes with the tin and add water first and then add powder. Don’t add anything else in the bottle.
- The babies must be fed only when they demand or when they demonstrate signs of hunger. You must never follow the clock and must always understand the signs given by the baby. Signs can be like mouth opening, hand sucking, being alert or awake. Crying is also a sign of hunger, but there can be many other reasons for crying.
- Parents must never put pressure on their babies to finish the bottle and must know the signs of fullness. The signs can be closing the mouth or turning away. Pressuring to finish the bottle can override the baby to learn a higher intake. This can also impact the drinking and eating behavior of babies.
- Parents must always hold their baby while feeding him/her. Some parents let the babies feed themselves while lying in bed. This must never be done as it can cause tooth decay: choking hazard, ear infections, disturbed sleep, and unhealthy weight gain.
- All babies are different and have a different appetite. Parents must understand the various factors on which their babies would get responses like thirst, hunger, and weather. They must follow the infant formula instructions written on the tin and do not need to worry if their baby doesn’t drink formula as suggested by health care providers.