There are many common opinions and myths about baby food, which have now lost their relevance. However, many young moms continue to follow outdated advice. It is important that the mother consults with her doctor on issues of concern to her and is careful when choosing baby food.
The first myth, about feeding a baby with cow's milk
If the mother has problems with lactation: the child does not have enough milk or breastfeeding is impossible, then very often it is advised to replace such a valuable product with cow's milk, despite the presence of a wide selection of specialized infant formula.
Today, most pediatricians regard cow's milk as a product with poor digestibility by children under one year old. In terms of protein content, cow's milk is almost three times higher than breast milk, and it also contains much less iron and many vital vitamins. Feeding cow's milk can increase the burden on the kidneys due to its high salt content. If it is very difficult for a child to find a regular infant formula for feeding, then it is easy to replace it with a formula, for example, soy milk or goat.
Myth two: is it worth adding water to a child
In the first months of life, breast milk is the only and ideal food for babies. Experts in the field of baby food recommend introducing complementary foods no earlier than the child reaches four months. If the baby eats only specialized mixtures, then the child's supplementation is possible. However, before introducing water into the baby's diet, it is better to consult a specialist.
Myth three: only artificial feeding is the reason for regurgitation
After feeding, a certain amount of food in the stomach can enter the mouth. Then you can see white discharge from the mouth in children. Over time, regurgitation stops, but can continue for one and a half years. Regurgitation is considered normal for both breastfed and breastfed babies. The fact is that the digestive system of babies is not completely formed. More than half of babies spit up at least once a day during the first months of life.
Myth four: breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from allergic diseases
The occurrence of allergies in children is influenced by two factors - heredity and environmental ecology. Feeding a baby with formula or breastfeeding cannot predetermine the possibility of allergies for the body. Heredity plays a huge role. So, if the child's mom or dad suffers from allergies, then the child is most likely to have a disease.
Allergic rashes - atopic dermatitis occurs from improperly selected formulas that replace breast milk. To avoid such problems, it is worth choosing food for your baby according to the doctor's recommendations. Modern pediatrics recommends the use of hypoallergenic mixtures.
Myth 5: baby food contains preservatives because it has a long shelf life
Baby food is produced under very sterile conditions in compliance with all standards of the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Due to the fact that microorganisms cannot get into food or have the ability to multiply there, baby food retains all the nutritional properties of products as in their natural form. The use of any artificial additives and preservatives in baby food is strictly prohibited.
Myth six: babies fed on formula milk do not need a pacifier
The sucking reflex is a necessity, inherent in all children from birth, for the body to receive food and fluids. Sucking can be soothing, as babies often fall asleep on their mother's chest. In this case, you can completely do without a dummy. If the baby is feeding from a bottle, then when the mixture ends, the baby needs to satisfy the sucking reflex. And a pacifier comes to the rescue, which will also lull the baby to sleep after the evening feeding.
The seventh myth: constipation occurs in any case in children on artificial nutrition
The difficulty of removing fecal matter from the body of infants is due to the special nutritional value and concentration of milk mixtures. According to statistics, denser stools are more common in children with artificial or mixed feeding. An improperly selected mixture can affect the frequency of a baby's constipation. If a child eats exclusively a mixture, then constipation can be eliminated by careful research on the composition of the mixture. Particular attention should be paid to the constituent oils, such as palm oil. Therefore, children may not always suffer from difficulties with intestinal motility if they eat exclusively artificially.
