Mixed breast and artificial feeding. Proper mixed feeding of newborns

Principles of mixed feeding. Features of supplementary feeding

Tell

Mother's breast milk will always be the best nutrition for newborns, but there are cases when it is necessary to transfer the child to mixed feeding. With proper organization of supplementary feeding, there is no danger to the health of the baby and mother.

a lack of breast milk the mother may occur late or immediately after childbirth. Low weight gain, restlessness or lethargy, infrequent stools and urination are the main indicators that the mother's milk is not enough.

Proper mixed feeding is considered to be feeding with breast milk and mixtures in equal proportions or a mixture of no more than the amount of breast milk. It is breast milk that contains all the necessary nutrients and protective enzymes, and mixtures are only approximate in composition. However, mothers are not always able to breastfeed their babies.

Reasons for mixed breastfeeding

In addition to the simple reluctance of some mothers to breastfeed, there are other reasons for switching to supplementary feeding with milk formulas:

Hypogalactia. Insufficient breast milk and reduced lactation.
Social and living conditions. Going to work or study, the impossibility of breastfeeding due to the absence of the mother.
Diseases of a nursing mother. If there are diseases of the kidneys, heart, blood vessels or respiratory organs. If the mother needs medical treatment.
Defective composition of mother's milk. With anemia, hypotrophy or, if necessary, the use of therapeutic mixtures.
Mixed feeding of newborns began from the maternity hospital. At caesarean section or a large loss of blood during childbirth, with an Rh-conflict of indicators of the child and mother, at the birth of twins or triplets, with a premature newborn.

Mixed feeding. How to correctly determine its need?

Hypogalactia or a lack of milk is most often the reason for switching to supplementary feeding of a baby, so you need to know how to determine such a shortage:

Rare urination - less than 7 times a day. Urine becomes concentrated in color and has a pungent odor.
Low weight gain. For a month, the child must add at least half a kilogram of weight.
Irregular feeding. The child is hungry or lethargic and the feeding regimen is not observed every 2 hours.
Rare or modified stool. Liquid (may be accompanied by vomiting) or more dense dark brown or green stools, as well as its absence per day.

Methods for improving lactation to avoid mixed feeding

The best formula for mixed feeding will never replace the benefits of breast milk, so if the mother has a lack of milk, you should stimulate its flow and try to switch to breastfeeding again:

rest and watch your diet and drink enough, include foods and herbal teas to stimulate lactation;
do not overload with homework, if you are tired - relax and trust others to do the work;
increase the feeding regimen by once per hour;
apply the baby to both breasts during each feeding;
always express the remaining milk after feeding;
be sure to feed the baby at night;
do not teach to bottle feed, feed the baby with a spoon, so he will not wean from the breast.

How to organize mixed feeding?

There are three types of supplementary feeding for a child:

breastfeed first, then formula;
breastfeeding is alternated every other time with mixtures for mixed feeding;
breastfeeding occurs in conjunction with a formula system attached to the breast.

Basic rules for supplementary feeding with mixtures

In order to know how to switch to mixed feeding and which mixture to choose, first of all, you need to consult a pediatrician. It is also worth knowing the main principles for such feeding:

Mixed feeding of the baby should begin with breastfeeding, and then feed the baby with a mixture. An exception may be therapeutic mixtures used before breast milk.
Complementary foods with mixed feeding are best given from a spoon, bottles can wean the baby from the breast and lead to a decrease in lactation.
Breastfeeding should be maximized, especially in mixed-fed newborns. Give preference to night and morning breastfeeding when mom has more milk.
Try to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible and increase lactation. Express all milk from your breasts.
The mixture and utensils must be sterile, and the water must be boiled, it must be prepared immediately before taking. When introducing complementary foods with mixed feeding, adhere to a temperature of 37 degrees.
Follow the feeding schedule, as formula takes longer to digest than breast milk.
Never use cow's or goat's milk for mixed feeding at 5 months or earlier. This type of supplementation lowers immunity, overloads the kidneys and pancreas, disrupts the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Calculation for supplementary feeding of a child with mixed feeding

For the correct calculation of the required amount of the mixture, taking into account the needs of all useful ingredients, the following indicators are taken into account:

the age of the child;
the proximity of nutrition to natural or artificial nutrition (mixed feeding at 4 months or more);
type of mixture (adapted or not).

If the child is less than two weeks old, then the amount of food per day should be at least two percent of the weight times the age in days. After two weeks of age, the calculation will be different - the amount of food should be at least a fifth of the child's weight.

Types of mixtures for mixed feeding

Mixtures are made on the basis of cow's or goat's milk, which has undergone special anti-allergic treatment and are divided into groups according to the degree of adaptation:

Sour-milk, liquid, fresh and dry. Mixtures with increased adaptation for the smallest, containing all the components of the closest composition to breast milk.
Mixes with casein (milk cheesy protein). Such mixtures do not contain whey proteins and are recommended for children with intolerance or hypersensitivity to dairy products, and are also used in the first weeks of mixed feeding.
transition mixtures. For children from six months, who subsequently switch to complementary foods with sterilized baby dairy products.
medicinal mixtures. Instability of the stool with mixed feeding, allergies, abdominal pain, prematurity and low weight can lead to mandatory feeding with therapeutic mixtures. Do not choose such mixtures without consulting a pediatrician.

Cons of mixed feeding

If there are no problems with lactation, and mixed feeding is not necessary, then it is worth paying attention to some factors when feeding with a mixture:

when using mixtures, the intestinal flora changes as in children on full feeding with mixtures;
content of bifidobacteria (acids environment) in the intestines of children who are breastfed, is lower than that of formula-fed infants;
when feeding with mixtures in the first two weeks, the acidic environment of the intestine changes, which cannot be returned to its original level;
formula feeding can lead to allergies to dairy products;
babies have constipation with mixed feeding;
mixtures can cause dysbacteriosis, the symptoms of which are colic and loose stools;
no mixture will replace the child with the necessary substances contained in the mother's breast milk.

Factors inappropriate mixed feeding

Sometimes the child does not need supplementary feeding, but the parents or the pediatrician prefer it. In order not to make hasty decisions and not expose the child's health to unnecessary risk, you need to know when supplementary feeding will simply be superfluous:

Bad awareness. If the child refuses to breastfeed, the breast does not fill up, less milk is expressed, the child has not gained the required weight, the child has a stomachache or a rash (diathesis) - these factors do not yet mean a forced transition to mixtures.
Wrong feeding. Inconvenient position for feeding, discomfort of the baby while eating, too strict diet.
Pediatrician recommendations. The mixed feeding scheme is the most convenient for nutrition control and was developed according to statistical data. Each child is unique and his nutrition should correspond to well-being and personal indicators, and not to general norms.
The simple unwillingness of the mother to continue breastfeeding. Unreasonable fears and insecurities can lead to a decrease in lactation. It is necessary to understand that there is nothing better than breast milk, and any, even the most expensive mixture, will not replace it. Changes in the baby's body after the use of mixtures can be inevitable, so breastfeed your baby as long as possible, more and more often.
Large temporary breaks in contact with the mother. If there is an opportunity to be with the child more often, then use it. Constant communication with the child will increase the response to his needs and normalize lactation. Even if there is no milk in the breast, always put the baby to the breast. Express the rest of the milk if the baby is not hungry.
Misunderstanding the lack of breast milk. Every three months up to a year, a lactation crisis occurs. The child gains weight worse and is naughty when feeding. This factor must be taken into account and you should not rush into transferring to feeding with mixtures.
The opinion of others. Experienced relatives and friends can advise you to switch to a mixed diet. Do not rely too much on other people's opinions. The mother herself feels and knows how and when to feed the baby, because there is still an intrauterine connection between them.

Mixed feeding or completely artificial?

It is generally accepted that feeding at least equal parts of formula and breastfeeding is better than switching to a mixture completely, but this question remains purely individual. This is due to the difficulty of adapting children to food from the first days. If the initial feeding was breastfeeding, then mixed feeding can be used.

If the child receives mixtures from the first days in pure form and adaptation to them was successful, then you should consult with your doctor about switching to breastfeeding. After all, the child's body will have to get used to a new type of food. Sometimes this leads to weakness and refusal to eat.

The transition to supplementary feeding should not be taken lightly, consultation with a pediatrician is required. Only mother's milk is fully adjusted to the individual needs of the baby's body, to his age, state of health, season and even day. You should not choose a mixture based on advertising or someone else's advice, because the incompatibility of the components will lead at least to allergic reactions in the child.

Do not forget about the huge stress of the child after childbirth, he needs constant contact (the closer and longer, the better) with his mother. Any mixture is heavier than breast milk and takes longer and more difficult to digest. After feeding with a mixture, the body gets tired more and the child wants to sleep all the time, which will not be well reflected in his daily routine.

You should not listen to older relatives who advise you to feed your children with cow or goat milk. It harms infants more than any formula. Such milk for children up to a year to use in any form, even as supplementary feeding is contraindicated.

Lactation can increase, especially if both the mother herself and everyone around wants it. Do not be subjected to baseless experiences and take on too many household chores. Remember that you and the child are one, you must be in harmony and peace. Trust your loved ones to take care of the house, at least for the first months. Also an important factor will be your sleep and night feeding.

Very often, a young mother, for certain reasons, cannot breastfeed her baby. natural way, and then analogues of breast milk, adapted milk formulas come to the rescue. But feeding with milk mixtures has several rules that must be followed.

Before purchasing formula for feeding your baby, you should consult your pediatrician. It is necessary to carefully read all the inscriptions on the label of the mixture packaging, where all the data are indicated: the qualitative composition of the mixture, the age of the child recommended for this mixture, the method of preparation and the shelf life in open and closed form.

Read more about the composition of infant formula, as well as unacceptable and necessary additives, read

What you need to know about formula milk

Milk formulas are made from cow's milk, maximally adapted to the standard of balance of food components and nutritional value- breast milk. For adaptation, innovative technologies are used to modify food components at specialized enterprises under strict control in compliance with all hygienic requirements that apply to baby food products.

Milk formulas are divided according to medical and age indications, but there are no fundamental differences between formulas for feeding produced by different companies, and the principles of proper preparation and feeding a child with a mixture do not differ from each other. So, what do young parents need to know to properly feed their baby with formula milk?

First of all, you need to remember the following - you need to purchase a mixture for food only in pharmacies or specialized children's stores, after carefully checking the packaging at the time of damage to the surface and expiration date.

For more information on how to choose a formula, as well as an overview of the most popular infant formulas, read

Safety regulations

Milk formula is given to the child from a special measuring bottle with a nipple. Water for the preparation of milk formula must also be purchased special, for children, and boiled.

Children's dishes should be free of any defects, they must be carefully looked after, after each feeding, the bottle should be rinsed under running warm water, the washed dishes for feeding should be placed on the bottom of a large pot on a towel for sterilization, bottles and nipples should be boiled for 10 minutes in a covered saucepan, then they should be pulled out of the water, put on a clean towel and allowed to dry. How to wash and sterilize baby bottles read more

The hole in the nipple for feeding should be such that the baby does not choke on the free-flowing mixture, but at the same time, so that the baby does not waste his last strength on sucking out the mixture. To date, manufacturers offer a wide range of nipples for feeding, but it is better to choose a special orthodontic nipple, such a nipple fits the baby's mouth better, and the movements of his tongue are as close as possible to the movements when sucking on the mother's breast. Read about choosing the right nipple for a bottle.

It is necessary to prepare the milk formula immediately before feeding the child, and when preparing, you should clearly follow the instructions on its packaging. No need to try to prepare the mixture thicker, this can lead to a deterioration in the child's well-being.

The required amount of boiled water cooled to 40-50 degrees is poured into a dry, clean bottle, then the required amount of dry mixture is poured into the bottle with a measuring spoon, after which the bottle should be shaken well until completely dissolved.

Never heat milk formula in the microwave, the temperature difference between the surface of the bottle and its contents can be quite significant, and you will burn your baby. Before giving the mixture to the baby, it is necessary to check its temperature, for this you should apply a few drops of the mixture to your wrist. Feeding formula should be warm, not hot.

Do not re-feed the baby half-eaten formula, or prepare the formula for future use. If you had to prepare the mixture in advance for several feedings, then it should be stored only in the refrigerator and no more than a day. Milk formula is an excellent base for the reproduction of various kinds of pathogenic microorganisms, so the mixture for feeding the baby should be prepared every time a new one.

Change the child's diet, guided by advertising is not the best the best way, because the choice of baby food is now huge, and it is very easy to make a mistake.

Therefore, if there is a need to change the mixture, you should consult your pediatrician.

How to formula feed?

When preparing the mixture, do not fuss and rush, otherwise you can make various mistakes. If the bottle in which it was prepared children food, suddenly burst, the mixture should not be poured into another bottle, it is better to prepare a new one.

The amount of formula that the baby eats during feeding may be different, but this should not disturb the young mother, this is completely normal, because the child has different time days different appetite.

Never force a child to eat up the entire amount of the mixture in the bottle, the baby himself knows how much he needs to eat in order to get enough.

About how much and how often a child should eat a mixture, read

Sometimes the question arises, how best to feed the baby - in the crib or in her arms. Some tend to believe that only in their arms, because in this way he experiences greater unity with the person who feeds him, and some young parents believe that feeding a child in a crib is designed to teach him to be independent. In fact, choose exactly the method that suits you and the baby equally. After feeding, be sure to hold the baby in an upright “column” position so that he burps the air that gets into the tummy during feeding.

Communication with the baby during feeding is one of the important points, try to make the baby feel your care and love for him, give him as much attention as possible.

It is necessary to feed the child taking into account his age and appetite. The child needs to get used to each new mixture, so the mixture is first introduced in small doses. It is impossible to feed a child with milk mixtures, focusing only on beautiful packaging, without taking into account individual characteristics his body.

How to find out if the mixture is suitable for your child, how to switch to another mixture, read

It happens that a woman has little milk or it is not fat enough. Sometimes the baby refuses the breast for some reason of his own and gains weight poorly. Or the woman went to work and does not have time to return to the next feeding. There are many reasons why a woman cannot fully breastfeed a newborn, each family has its own.

It is important for a woman to decide for herself whether she wants to breastfeed or not. If feeding does not bring joy or simply there is no desire, then, in agreement with the attending physician, transfer the baby to mixed feeding of newborns. But if you want to feed your baby with all your heart, do everything to increase lactation.

How to save breast milk

If there is even a drop of milk in the breast, do not refuse breastfeeding. After all, women's milk is the most useful and tasty for a toddler. Try to give your baby at least a drop of mother's milk, and then offer mixtures. To speed up the flow of milk and increase volume, apply more often to the breast. At every feed, day or night ─ breast first. The efforts of the crumbs will increase lactation.

Mom makes every effort to keep breastfeeding as long as possible. Compliance with sleep and wakefulness, full-fledged multiple meals, a positive attitude ─ this is the key to the appearance of high-quality breast milk.

If you have problems with lactation, check the quality, quantity and frequency of your meals and drink about 2-3 liters of water per day. Express after feeding each (albeit empty) breast for 10-15 minutes, this sets the brain to increase lactation.

Even when feeding the baby from a bottle, try to take it in your arms, press it to your chest. So the baby feels the warmth of the mother's body, it soothes the baby. And in the woman’s breast, from contact with children’s hands and cheeks, a new batch of milk begins to be produced. This is how the female body works.

The main reasons for transferring a baby to mixed feeding: hypogalactia, poor nutritional value of mother's milk, mother's going to work, some mother's diseases

How much milk is missing

To find out if your baby is getting enough milk, pay attention to his nutrition and look in his diapers. If they have to be changed 5-6 or more times a day, then the food is correct, complete, sufficient. If:

the baby is gaining weight well,
maintains a time between feedings of at least 2–2.5 hours,
breastfeeding for less than 30 minutes
falling asleep after eating
wet diapers 6 or more times a day,
urine is light, almost odorless, which means that the newborn has enough food.

Otherwise, consult a neonatologist or pediatrician. On the recommendation of the doctor, introduce supplementary feeding.

In order not to overfeed and stretch the tiny ventricle, consider the following. Only 7 ml of liquid will fit in the stomach of a newborn. The baby is gradually growing, his stomach is growing, and on the ninth day he already holds 70-90 ml.

The volume of the stomach of a monthly baby reaches 100 ml.

Specialists in breastfeeding the daily norm of milk for infants from 1 to 10 days is determined as a percentage of weight, and a single amount of food ─ by multiplying: every day of life X by 10.

The daily norm is 2% of the weight in grams X for the number of days.
One-time norm ─ the number of days of life X per 10.

From the eleventh day of life, the calculation is based on the weight of the little man:

1/5 of the weight - up to two months,
1/7 of the weight ─ from 2 to 6 months,
1/8 weight ─ from 6 to a year old.

For example: at 4 months, with a weight of 7100 g per day, he needs 7100: 7 \u003d 1014 g or ~ 1015 g.
With these indicators and 6 meals a day, a single meal of 1015 g: 6 times = 167 g or ~ 170 g.

Important! A child up to a year old should eat no more than 120 g per feeding, otherwise you will stretch the baby's stomach, colic and other problems will begin.

Knowing the rate of consumption per day and at one time, weigh the baby before and after feeding. You need to do this in the same clothes. Now calculate how much milk he sucks out of his chest, how much he lacks, how much to give during supplementary feeding. Make several control weighings, because today the baby will want to eat more, and tomorrow less. Choose an average, use it to calculate nutritional deficiencies.

Consider all these questions with your pediatrician, on his recommendation, start giving infant formula along with breast milk.

How to start supplementing

On the advice of your doctor, start introducing formula milk. Prepare a portion according to the instructions on the product. After the milk is completely sucked out of the breast, give the crumbs for the first time 10 ml of infant formula. Next time add a little more, but not more than once a day.

Many experts strongly recommend giving formula with a spoon rather than through a nipple. It is believed that milk flows easier from a bottle, the baby will choose a nipple instead of a nipple and completely refuse the breast. Perhaps this is correct, because it is not so convenient to eat from a spoon, the baby has only a sucking instinct. But if you make the hole in the nipple very small so that the milk does not flow into the baby's mouth, so that he has to make an effort, then the bottle will make feeding look like breastfeeding. Try to find a tight nipple with a low flow rate. Experienced mothers advise using AVENT nipples ─ milk does not pour out of them.

In any case, the baby grabs the mother's nipple in a completely different way than the nipple on the bottle. The nipple is narrow, easily enters the mouth, and the nipple needs to be pulled out. The baby does not understand what has changed, is naughty, does not want to breastfeed. Therefore, supplementary feeding is given only after the complete sucking of breast milk. And it's best to avoid bottles.

The mixture with mixed feeding should be given only after the baby has drunk all the available milk from the breast.

If supplementary feeding takes up more than half of the total diet, lactation of mother's milk will decrease and stop. Therefore, the transfer to a mixed diet is carried out slowly, for a long time, not more than 10 ml per day. And do not forget to express milk, then the flow of milk will adapt to the new feeding conditions. Over time, you will not need to express milk, it will come on time and in the amount that the baby needs.

What mixture to choose

In pharmacies and shopping centers, there are enough high-quality, full-fledged, balanced mixtures for supplementary feeding of infants. A neonatologist or pediatrician will tell you which formula is right for your baby. Children under 6 months of age are prescribed so-called adapted infant formulas. These mixtures are made from cow's, goat's or soy milk in powder form. The powder is diluted according to the instructions and the composition and taste are obtained, close to mother's milk.

Mother's milk is produced in such a composition that it is completely suitable for the child. Mixtures are made according to general GOSTs and TUs, so a doctor will help you choose a product for a particular baby. The doctor takes into account all the features of the crumbs, his weight, age, development, health status.

There has long been a dispute about which milk mixture, cow or goat, is more suitable for supplementary feeding. Many nutritionists lean towards goat milk. It is believed that it is better absorbed, the protein composition is closer to human milk. Moms love Kabrita's adapted formula, which is formulated with lipids, pro- and prebiotics. These ingredients aid in the digestion of the baby.

Clinical pharmacologist Natalya Eremenko warns that in some children, mixed feeding violates intestinal microflora, and this leads to pain, colic, diarrhea or constipation. The kid tightens his legs in pain, cries, the doctor diagnoses dysbacteriosis. In some cases, a natural restoration of the microflora occurs, but children's probiotics are more often prescribed to restore the intestinal flora.

Pediatricians advise to feed the baby with a mixture from a spoon. But today you can buy a pacifier that mimics the nipple of the mother's breast. Some companies have managed to achieve amazing results - babies do not "see" the difference between a nipple and a nipple

Choose a supplement formula with your doctor. Give the baby a couple of days and observe the reaction of the body. Usually habituation occurs in 1-2 days. On the third day, carefully examine the baby for a rash. Check the tummy, if it has become hard, if the stool has changed. How does the baby feel: peppy and active or capricious and passive. If everything is fine with the baby, feel free to continue the mixed diet, the mixture is suitable for the baby. Otherwise, together with the doctor, decide how to replace it. If possible, refuse supplementary feeding, return to the previous breastfeeding.

mixed feeding

Mixed feeding involves feeding the newborn with breast milk and supplementing the missing infant formula. At each feeding, the crumbs are first applied to the breast, and only after he sucks everything, they are supplemented with the prescribed mixture.

If the doctor has prescribed supplementary feeding for the baby, the mother will have to prepare a fresh mixture for each feeding separately. The mixture is diluted only in a sterile container with boiled water not hotter than 38 degrees. Prepare a portion of the mixture and set aside. First, attach a cute baby to your chest. Let the baby try, suck both breasts, and if he does not have enough milk, give the mixture.

It is convenient to give the mixture at night so that the baby eats and sleeps well, and if he wakes up, give the breast. Especially good lactation occurs at 4-5 o'clock in the morning, enough milk is collected to feed the chick.

If it’s time for mom to go to work or school, try to feed the baby before leaving and upon returning. Pump a portion into a bottle for the day, and the milk will not be wasted.

Advantages and disadvantages

What more, pluses or minuses, contains a mixed diet, compare for a long time. Undoubtedly, the child will not be hungry during supplementary feeding and will gain weight for his age. And the downside is that the amount of mother's milk decreases, and this is always bad for a newborn.

Experienced mothers know that sometimes children ask for breasts not for food, but in order to be closer to their mother, to feel their native smell, to hear the beat of their dear heart, to calm down. The introduction of supplementary feeding does not affect the spiritual ties between the mother and the child at all. In his subconscious, you will remain the best, most beloved mother for the rest of your life.

The issue of child nutrition worries all young mothers, as well as those who are just about to become parents. The topic of proper infant feeding has always been and will be relevant. Every parent cares about the health of their baby and tries to do everything possible for his well-being. To begin with, it is worth understanding what mixed feeding is and whether everyone needs it.

Mixed feeding of newborns (or combined) is the introduction of an artificial mixture into the baby's diet. This type of complementary foods can be purchased in specialized stores, as well as in pharmacies.

Does everyone need it?

Mixed feeding of newborns is actual topic for mothers who, for one reason or another, cannot completely feed their baby with breast milk. Sometimes babies have to switch to artificial feeding while still in the hospital. Another reason for the need for complementary foods may be the birth of several children at once. For example, the birth of twins or triplets. Often, babies may not have enough milk, and then the doctor advises the mother to introduce additional mixtures.

Mixed feeding of newborns may also be required in the case when the child does not gain weight and cries often, and also if the process of urination rarely occurs (less than seven times a day), there is no stool or it happens once a day. All these symptoms may indicate that the child is malnourished: mother's milk is not enough for the normal growth and development of the baby. Of course, in this case, the mother should try to restore the lactation process. But if this is not possible, you should contact a specialist. The doctor will exclude all sorts of nuances and advise which mixture is best to purchase, depending on the characteristics of the child's body.

How many times a day do you need extra feeding?

Until a certain age, the child's diet consists of mother's breast milk and a specialized mixture. But sometimes breastfeeding is not possible. When the mother does not have enough of her own milk, additional mixtures must be introduced. Many parents are wondering how to organize mixed feeding. There is no single answer, as every child is different.

To determine the dose, you can consult a doctor. Although later you will still need to look at the reaction of the baby. If a woman can breastfeed, then it is best to give the child the opportunity to receive the mother's product. After that, if the baby continues to cry or seek the breast, you need to prepare the mixture.

Often the dosage is written on the packages. Therefore, all you need is to carefully monitor the reaction of the child, and then you can easily determine whether the baby has received enough food. Proper mixed feeding is when the percentage of the mixture does not exceed the percentage of mother's milk. Of course, if we are not talking about artificial ones - here the child's diet will consist entirely of a purchased product.

The right mixture is the key to good health

In almost any, even a sparsely populated area, today you can buy infant formula. On sale is great amount goods for babies. But do not rush to buy the most expensive. Before choosing, of course, you should contact a specialist who will tell you exactly which mixture will suit your child. If it is not possible to use the services of a pediatrician, then you should carefully read everything that is indicated on the jars with a children's product.

There are several types of this food:

The first category is the customized product. That is, it contains substances and components that are almost identical to those present in breast milk.
The second category includes goods partially adapted. Such mixtures are often cheaper than the first and have a good percentage of assimilation.
There is hypoallergenic food. It is more complex and expensive. You should not buy it if there is no urgent need, because if the child does not have any allergic reactions, there is no need to use it.

What problems can arise with complementary foods?

With the introduction of the mixture in the baby, various kinds of physiological reactions can be observed. For example, it can be bloating, redness, the appearance of pimples. You can also notice how the stool of a newborn has changed with mixed feeding. Minor changes are a normal reaction to a new product. But if after two days the child does not have any negative manifestations, then the mixture definitely needs to be changed.

It is important to know one more nuance when practicing mixed feeding of newborns. The baby's stool may become more dense - this is a normal reaction to a new food. To prevent this phenomenon from becoming permanent, it is necessary for the child to give more water. Gradually, the body will get used to new products, and the problem in the form of constipation will disappear by itself.

What else do moms need to know?

Often parents do not dare to transfer their children even partially to artificial complementary foods for a long time. Many believe that the mixture contains chemical components that will adversely affect the growing body. Yes, such nutrition cannot be called a full-fledged substitute for mother's milk, but today it is very close to it in its properties. All blends are thoroughly tested. The only thing that can cause rejection is a personal individual intolerance to the product.

When to feed?

Also, parents often ask why the mixture should be given to the child after natural feeding, and not vice versa. Everything here is very simple and easy to explain. When a baby suckles at the breast, he exerts maximum strength. And the process of natural feeding stretches for several minutes. But the absorption of food from a bottle is a simple matter that does not require much energy. Therefore, the child, eating in this way, very quickly receives his dose, but at the same time does not feel full and satisfied.

Mixed feeding of newborns is a simple and harmless process, but requires right approach. If you give the baby the mixture first, after that he may refuse to make an effort. And mother's healthy milk will continue to disappear as unnecessary. Therefore, experts recommend giving the breast first, and then the mixture.

Parents' opinion

For all parents who doubt whether they need to practice mixed feeding of newborns, reviews will help make a decision. Most of them are positive. Parents note positive dynamics in weight gain, a nice mood in the baby, good digestion of food. A baby who receives formula is no different from a baby who feeds on mother's milk. But parents ask questions: "What do you need to know about the combined method? What to consider?"

How correctly mixed feeding of a newborn is carried out, we have already told. Don't be afraid - it's great way feed the child when the mother has problems.

Finally

Parents who are faced with the question of whether to introduce a mixture into the child’s diet or not can say with confidence that there is no need to be afraid of this process. If the baby does not experience allergic reactions due to individual intolerance, then the product can be consumed further. But before using it is better to consult a doctor. It is very important to carefully study the composition and check the expiration date before buying a mixture.

Nothing is better than breast milk for a baby. However, it is not always possible to feed a baby 100% with this, nature-approved product. Sometimes the mother does not have enough milk, and then there is a need for mixed feeding. Thus, the baby receives both breast milk and something else so as not to remain hungry. Does such nutrition harm the baby and how to properly organize it, says the famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky.

Do I need to fight for breast milk

Insufficient lactation in a mother can be observed for completely different reasons - from hormonal failure to a neuropsychological state. It is this second reason that is usually the leading one. The mother does not have enough milk, she begins to blame herself for not being able to give the child the nutrition necessary for his health and development, and thus the vicious circle closes. A woman is in constant stress, which, in turn, adversely affects the mechanisms of lactation.

Of course, breast milk is very important for a baby, but a normal, healthy and smiling mother is no less important for him, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. And therefore, if milk is barely collected for one feeding out of five, then there is not much point in maintaining mixed feeding, you can switch to artificial. After all, if the total volume of mother's milk in the diet of the crumbs does not exceed one fifth, then it has almost no effect on health, and it can be safely abandoned.

The second option is to change your attitude to the problem.

If the mother stops punishing herself mentally for a lack of milk, and begins to calmly express or breastfeed at least once a day, and carry out the rest of the feedings with mixtures, then you can leave everything as it is (if it suits all parties - both the child and the mother, and dad).

Mixed feeding is optimal if the proportion of mother's milk exceeds the volume of one feeding. For example, if half of the daily diet or a little less is breast milk. The volume of natural nutrition in the amount of 30% of the daily diet can also be considered quite acceptable.

About the dangers of mixed feeding

Until recently, it was believed, and still some medical reference books indicate that a mixture of breast milk with another product during mixed feeding is harmful to the child. Some doctors even interpret it as an "environmental disaster for the child's body." Yevgeny Komarovsky is in a hurry to reassure mothers who do not have enough milk of their own. The modern industry that produces formula and baby food, he says, has done everything to minimize this harm. And she succeeded.

Thus, the composition of most milk formulas available today (we are talking about adapted mixtures) is as close as possible to the composition of breast milk.

Yes, this is not the same thing, and the mixture is not able to replace mother's milk, but it is better than giving cow's or goat's milk to the child, which are actually biologically alien products for him.

Kinds

Mixed feeding, despite its name, should not be chaotic. It also needs to be organized properly.

There are two main types of mixed feeding: alternate and sequential.

With alternate feeding, the mother will make it completely natural, and the other or several subsequent ones will be artificial. With sequential feeding, the baby can suck on the breast until the milk runs out, after which, with visible signs of anxiety (if the baby cries, reaches for the breast, smacks and demands the continuation of the “banquet”), he is given a certain amount of the mixture so that he does not feel hunger. It is important not to overfeed the baby.

To know exactly how much formula he needs for supplementary feeding, it is advisable to weigh the child before and after feeding.

Mom can choose one or another type on her own. Much depends on the amount of milk - whether it is enough for a whole feeding, and on other circumstances, for example, how often a woman can express. It is no secret that mixed feeding is often chosen when the mother needs to go to work and she is absent during the day. The most optimal is feeding every other time - at 6 am with a mixture, at 9 am - with a breast, at 12.00 - with a mixture, and so on.

rules

The milk mixture saturates the baby faster and is digested a little longer, and therefore, with mixed feeding, you should not take long breaks between meals. A gap of 3-4 hours is enough. Even if you used to breastfeed on demand or every 2-2.5 hours, when switching to a mixed diet, it is right to feed with longer breaks and according to the regimen.

If the circumstances are such that the child will have to switch to mixed feeding, then certain rules should be followed that will help the baby stay healthy.

For baby up to 6 months choose fully adapted mixtures. They are marked with the number "1" on the package.
For toddlers from 6 to 12 months there are special mixtures - partially adapted. They are marked on the box with the number "2".
Children from one year mixes with the number "3" on the package are suitable.