The Parenting IDEA
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The Parenting IDEA
What Parents Need to Know - from Conception to College and Beyond!
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Experts agree that breast milk and/or formula should be the primary sources of nutrition for infants 6 months and younger. While 92 percent of mothers plan on breastfeeding, more than two-thirds rely on using infant formula, according to the new “Feeding Realities” survey by Perrigo Nutrition.
(BPT) - Whether you're expecting your first child or you've been around the baby block a few times before, there are always a lot of questions when preparing for parenthood. Questions about feeding often top that list.
Experts agree that breast milk and/or formula should be the primary sources of nutrition for infants 6 months and younger. While 92 percent of mothers plan on breastfeeding, more than two-thirds rely on using infant formula, according to the new “Feeding Realities” survey by Perrigo Nutrition. Infant formula is used for a variety of reasons, including by mothers who have trouble breastfeeding, limited milk supply or opt to by personal choice. The survey of mothers of babies and toddlers uncovered common mistakes and misconceptions about formula feeding. Using more water than necessary Formula containers have specific measurements that typically call for mixing powder and water, yet 21 percent of those responding to the survey say they have used more water than required by the instructions when preparing formula. Nearly half stated their primary reason was to help save money or make formula last longer. “Many new moms have the misconception that diluting formula with water will help save money or make it easier for baby to digest,” says Dr. Jennifer Gardner, family physician and co-author of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby's First Year: More than 900 tips that 70 doctors who are also mothers use during their baby's first year (Mommy MD Guides). “Diluting critical nutrients in formula at a time of rapid growth can be dangerous for their baby. No cost savings is worth the risk of poor health and infant mortality. Parents should always follow preparation instructions on the product label and consult with their pediatrician to talk through infant-feeding options.” Microwave bottle preparation When warming infant formula, half of mothers said they always or sometimes use the microwave to make a bottle. The problem is microwaving formula bottles can affect ingredients and cause hot spots that might burn a baby’s mouth. What many parents don't realize is formula does not need to be warmed before it is given to baby. If your child happens to prefer a warm bottle, place it under warm running water and make sure that water isn't getting into the bottle, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before feeding, test the temperature of the bottle by putting a few drops on the back of your hand to ensure it's not too hot. Reusing and storing formula If baby doesn't finish a bottle, it's tempting to put it in the fridge for later, but this can be a mistake. The survey found 51 percent have thrown a partially used infant formula bottle back in the fridge to use for the next feeding time. This is dangerous because bacteria can grow and the nutritional profile of the formula can diminish. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), formula not fed to baby can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours if you are making it ahead of time. However, once you feed a bottle to baby, you must discard the remaining contents after one hour from the start of that feeding. Store-brand formula confusion According to the survey, 20 percent of respondents worried about what formula to purchase in the first few months of their baby’s life. Babies can be expensive, but one way to stretch budgets without sacrificing quality is to use store-brand formulas that meet the same FDA standards as nationally advertised brands. All formula brands — including store brands — offer complete nutrition for infants. Learn more at www.storebrandformula.com. “New moms can feel confident that store-brand formula will provide complete nutrition for baby just like any brand-name formula,” says Gardner. “All infant formulas are required to meet the same FDA standards, which means store-brand formula has the same quality as other brand names but costs less. More importantly, there’s no need for parents to take unnecessary risks such as diluting formula to save money when they can trust that store-brand formula is a high-quality and affordable option.”
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 (BPT) - The MythBusters on TV’s Discovery channel tackled hundreds — if not thousands — of myths in their 19 seasons on the air, but many questions still surround one topic never covered: infant feeding. Baby feeding has many pervasive myths, especially about infant formula. Here are five of those myths debunked by Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, family physician and co-author of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year: Myth 1: Breast is best. Fact: It depends on the mother and her baby. Baby formulas are a completely acceptable, doctor-approved and time-tested option when feeding baby. Breastfeeding is hard. It seems like it should be natural and easy, but so often it isn’t. A recent study conducted by Perrigo Nutritionals found more than half of moms experience issues when it comes to breastfeeding baby with low breast milk supply being the top concern. Additionally, while only 18 percent of new moms expect to introduce infant formula to baby during the first three days of life, in reality 45 percent relied on infant formula during those first days. If you experience breastfeeding challenges, look to formula as an ally — it can be used as a supplement while breastfeeding to provide some relief or used exclusively depending on mom and baby’s needs. Also, know that you can find help and support. Consider talking with a friend who has nursed her babies, your pediatrician, a lactation consultant or a local La Leche League. Myth 2: You have to sterilize your baby’s bottles. Fact: You do not need to sterilize your baby's bottles. This is another time saver for you! You should sterilize new bottles and nipples before you use them for the first time. Simply put them in boiling water for five minutes. After that first time, however, you probably don’t need to sterilize them again. Instead, you can run bottles and nipples through the dishwasher. Or if you’re “old school,” wash them in hot, soapy water. Rinse them carefully to remove any soap residue. Myth 3: Babies prefer warm formula. Fact: Not necessarily. It’s perfectly fine to feed your baby formula at room temperature (as long as it’s freshly prepared), or even a little cool from the refrigerator. Your baby is most likely to prefer his or her formula at a consistent temperature. In other words, if you start warming it you’ll probably have to continue warming it. Here’s an easy way to warm your baby’s bottle: Set the filled bottle in a container of warm water and let it stand for a few minutes. Check the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist before feeding it to your baby. It should feel lukewarm, not hot. Myth 4: Measuring formula isn’t a big deal — just “eyeball it.” Fact: The instructions for preparing your baby’s formula are important. Follow the directions on the label carefully. If you put too little water in your baby’s formula, it can give baby dehydration or diarrhea. If you put too much water in the formula, you’re watering it down and your baby isn’t getting enough nutrients. It’s critical to measure carefully each and every time. Myth 5: Brand-name formula is best. Fact: Nationally advertised, brand-name formula and store-brand formula are practically identical but have different effects on your family budget! Did you know all infant formulas sold in the United States must meet the same FDA standards and offer complete nutrition for baby? That means store-brand formula is nutritionally comparable to nationally advertised brands. In fact, store-brand formula is clinically proven to support baby’s growth and development and proven to be just as well tolerated by your baby as those other brands. So, what’s the main difference? Store-brand formulas cost less because they don’t spend millions of dollars on marketing. Think about all the ads you see on TV and all the samples that get handed out in doctors’ offices. In the case of those big brands, those marketing costs are passed on to you in the form of a higher price tag on each container of formula. Once you get into the groove of feeding your baby, it will all feel like second nature. And then it will almost be time to give up the bottle! KEYWORDS
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