Until what age should babies be formula fed? General recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

At the wonderful time of her pregnancy, almost any expectant mother is sure that she will definitely breastfeed her baby. But, unfortunately, sometimes there are situations in which breastfeeding is impossible for various reasons.

Undoubtedly, a young woman needs to try to save her milk and for this by all means to stimulate its tides, but if this does not work out, then you should not be upset. Many children grew up quite he althy and on artificial feeding. You just need to familiarize yourself with the necessary information in advance and know until what age the child should eat the mixture.

Benefits of artificial feeding

There is a widespread opinion that cow's milk is such a product that it is better not to give children at a certain age, since it contains much more phosphorus than mother's. Therefore, such an excessive concentration of this microelement can have an unnecessary effect on the kidneys, which subsequently leads to poor absorption of vitamins and calcium by the baby's body.

PoFor this reason, many are in favor of artificial feeding. Parents who do not want to include animal products in their baby's diet in the early years of his life have their own opinions about how old to formula feed their children. You can see those who are going to give all the necessary nutrients in this way to their baby up to the age of three in the use of mixtures in the diet.

Another advantage of artificial feeding is that the mother knows exactly how much her baby ate, unlike the one who breastfeeds and cannot understand whether her child is getting the right amount of milk. The mother of the artificial only needs to know for sure until what age the child should eat the mixture in order to understand when it is right to include this or that product in his diet.

Flaws

Certainly, there is no such person who would not understand that milk infant formula for babies is a necessary measure. There are those whose composition meets all the needs of the baby. But then, until what age should a child be fed with an adapted mixture? Many people wonder if it is worth using it at all when the baby is already eating everything from the common table? Why, then, dilute the mixture from the pack, if he can be given real products?

Therefore, supporters of such a theory are confident that they know exactly how old to feed formula to children. The arguments against the use of this complementary food for a child are based on the experience of our grandmothers, since cow's milk, and not a mixture, is alwaysconsidered food for children who have reached one year. After all, even the generation of modern mothers was fed only on natural dairy products and semolina. Therefore, many do not believe in the fact that it can harm the children's body, but on the contrary, they consider it the right nutrition for their children, in contrast to artificial feeding. But even though there are some disadvantages of infant formula, it is better to give preference to them, since they are hypoallergenic, which cannot be said about cow's milk.

How to find the right solution?

There will never be equal opinions, and there will always be those who decide to argue until what age to formula feed a child. We are looking for a golden mean in this matter. For example, the famous pediatrician Komarovsky Oleg Evgenievich claims that the harm from cow's milk for a baby older than one year has been greatly exaggerated. At the same time, he does not speak out at all against feeding with infant formula and believes that it is possible to feed children up to three years in this way. Many experts also do not see anything criminal in giving a toddler a dairy product or kefir.

But you need to take into account the protein tolerance of the baby and then already draw a conclusion about how old to feed the mixture of children and when they can be transferred to natural products. Mom will have to decide this issue herself, of course, with the assistance of a competent pediatrician.

Doctor reviews

Specialists alsothere is an opinion on the subject of up to what age to feed the mixture of children. Their advice on this issue is as follows: you need to clearly follow the recommendations on the product boxes and carefully monitor the condition of your child (how he reacts to this or that complementary food).

If the formula is chosen correctly and the baby is gaining weight, then in this way it can be fed up to about two years, gradually removing nighttime snacks. But you should stick to one chosen brand and not jump from one mixture to another in order to avoid its poor absorption and not cause allergies. Doctors' advice on up to what age to formula feed babies varies, so you should always supervise your baby and never overfeed.

Nutritional opinions

If you ask experts the question of up to what age to feed formula to children, their arguments will be such that, with the right product formula, you can give adapted milk formula to babies until they reach the age of three.

They are simply necessary, according to nutritionists, for the full development of the child, especially for those who live in the cold regions of the country. Mixtures can be given both in pure form and added, for example, to tea or porridge. These products create a small load on the children's body as a whole, so there will be no harm from them, but only benefit.

WHO recommendations

The World He alth Organization has its own opinion on whether towhat age to feed formula milk to children. These experts believe that a low-weight baby who is not able to receive mother's or donor milk should be bottle-fed after discharge from the hospital and until he reaches six months. They also argue that for these babies, you need to purchase not a standard formula, but a nutrient-fortified one.

He althy artificial babies, according to WHO, can include this product in their diet up to two years.

Reviews of experienced mothers

In many forums for newly minted parents, you can often find the question: in general, until what age should I give the mixture? But it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to it, since each mother proceeds from her personal experience and is guided by how her baby tolerated this or that mixture.

Many say that this complementary food can be given to children under three years old, others - that after a year and a half, the mixture should be gradually replaced with kefir and natural milk. Therefore, it is better not to rely on the advice of even experienced mothers, but to monitor the well-being of your child and periodically do not forget to consult with specialists in these matters.

When can I finish night feeds?

This question is decided as individually as the one that asks until what age to feed formula to children. Reviews on this subject by experts suggest that it is not worth it at all costs to wean the baby from night snacks. All childrendifferent, and some babies can sleep through the night after six months, while others continue to use formula milk for up to three years.

But no need to worry about this: a he althy baby will gradually give up night feedings and mixtures altogether when his time comes. When the baby switches to four meals a day, then in the dark, dairy products can be replaced simply with water.

How to choose the right mixture?

In order not to be afraid to give your baby such complementary foods and know exactly until what age to feed children with milk formula, when buying it, you need to follow the main recommendation from leading nutritionists and pediatricians.

When purchasing artificial nutrition, you must carefully read its composition. It should not contain starch and sucrose. The obligatory components of this product should be Omega-3 and probiotics, which the child needs at an early stage of his development. Therefore, it is recommended by many experts to include mixtures in the diet of children under the age of three.

As a child grows, their need for fluids and different nutrients becomes different, which is the reason why the composition of the mixtures is different and age appropriate.

What are infant formulas?

Designed several types of this baby product, and they all have a different purpose:

• Standard recommended for babies who do not experience anyproblems with food intake and digestion.
• Lactose free for lactose intolerant children.
• Hydrolyzed is used to feed a baby who is allergic to cow protein.
• Probiotic foods for babies with bowel problems.
• Powder mixes containing goat's milk.
• Antireflux - suitable for a child suffering from frequent spitting up.
• Soy products are for babies who absolutely cannot tolerate animal milk.
• Product for premature babies with properly balanced ingredients to help you gain weight quickly.

Of course, nothing can replace mother's milk, but if the circumstances are such that the child will grow up on artificial foods, then the choice of the mixture must be approached thoroughly.

Cooking rules

Before using this product in your baby's diet, you must adhere to the following rules:

• The temperature of the liquid in the bottle should be approximately +37 degrees Celsius.
• It is necessary to carefully adhere to the rules of personal hygiene during the dilution of the mixture, and also use only boiled filtered water.
• Clearly observe the necessary proportions indicated on the jar, as improper preparation can cause problems with the child's digestion.
• Pay attention to the expiration date after opening the package.
• Never mix mixtures from differentmanufacturers.
• Do not heat the bottle in the microwave, and after shaking, make sure that there are no air bubbles left, which can lead to colic and burping.
• Give your child only freshly cooked food.

Myths about artificial feeding

Many people think that if more powder is added to the water when preparing the mixture, then in the end it will turn out to be high in calories - this is not true. Such food will take longer to digest and also overload the baby's kidneys.

All mothers try to give their child as much milk as indicated in the table on the pack, as they are sure that the child should eat just such a portion - this is a myth. Each baby has individual needs, so for each crumb, it is his portion that should be selected. If suddenly it may seem that the child is not eating enough, you need to go for a consultation with a pediatrician.

It's good for every mom to know

New parents try to listen to the advice of every specialist, but they can be different. Therefore, you just need to know a few generally accepted rules:

• You should never force feed your baby through sleep, as he can swallow too much air, which will subsequently lead to colic.
• A bottle-fed baby needs to be fed on demand for the first few months of life, just like a breastfed baby.
• When the baby caught a cold eitherfalls ill and refuses to eat for these reasons, you do not need to force him. But he should definitely drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• When the baby is eating, you should always tilt the bottle correctly, and if he swallows too quickly, buy a smaller pacifier.

There are no definite answers about the age at which to stop artificial feeding. It's just that parents need to listen to the needs of their crumbs, who will decide for himself when he no longer needs mixtures. Only one thing is known that this product, with the right choice and use, cannot harm the baby's body.