What is important to know about artificial feeding (the basis of the basics). Mixed and artificial feeding of the child

02.08.2019

What could be better for a baby than mother's milk? Every young mother hopes to breastfeed her baby for as long as possible, but life often makes its own adjustments to the most seemingly “innocent” plans. Under the pressure of circumstances, a woman has to make a difficult decision to transfer her child from breastfeeding to artificial.

Causes

The reasons that make a woman decide to stop breastfeeding are very different. Most often, these are medical indications that are based on the state of health of the mother or child. In the case of a woman's long stay in a medical institution or the need to take medications that have contraindications to breastfeeding, doctors recommend for some time or completely wean the baby from the breast. They are pushed to such a decision only by the most “extreme” situations that leave no chance to save lactation.

Often, women, worried that the child is malnourished, feed him with a mixture, gradually switching to artificial feeding. The difficult life of a modern woman, who has to combine the happiness of motherhood with a career, makes her "plunge" into work "without feeding" the baby. Not every mother, torn between a child and a “service”, is able to give the baby enough time. It does not matter what reasons motivate a woman to stop breastfeeding - the main thing is to make this transition comfortable for the mother and baby. Therefore, before transferring a child to artificial feeding, you should consult a doctor who will help you do everything right.

mixed feeding

A mixed baby feeding system will help you comfortably and safely switch from breastfeeding to artificial. Mixed feeding involves feeding the newborn with mother's milk and special mixtures. At the same time, baby food does not exceed fifty percent of the total diet of the baby. Gradually increasing the percentage of mixtures, and as if "displacing" breast milk, the mother transfers the child to artificial feeding. This nutrition system also implies a “reverse move” to breastfeeding, when a woman, reducing the amount of baby food, returns the child to full breastfeeding.

There are two options for feeding on a mixed system. The first is that the woman at the beginning of the meal gives the baby a breast, and then supplements him with baby food. According to the second option, mom completely replaces one or more feedings with formula. Usually replace those feedings during which a woman produces the least milk. If there are several formula feedings, then they should be alternated with breastfeeding.

Artificial feeding

The transition to artificial feeding should be gradual. Mom will have to spend up to seven days on it. During this time, the child's body and its digestive system adapt to baby food. The first intake of a new, for the baby's body, food should not exceed thirty grams.

After your child "tastes" a new food for the first time, watch him. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of his skin and feces. An "alarming call" may be a change in the color of the feces and the condition of the skin of the baby. It is possible to increase the amount of baby food only if the child's body normally accepted the first feeding.

Gradually increasing the volume of the mixture, and reducing the amount of breast milk drunk by the baby, you can achieve a complete "crowding out" of the latter from the diet of the baby. How much milk do you need per day for newborns? The generally accepted pediatrician method for calculating this need is as follows:

For children from the tenth day of life up to and including six weeks of age, the volume of milk consumed should be equal to one fifth of body weight.
The milk requirement for children between the ages of six weeks and four months is one-sixth of their weight.
Babies between four and six months old will need milk in the amount of one-seventh of their body weight.
As for children over six months of age, they must consume at least one-eighth of their weight in milk.

The first thing to do when deciding to transfer a baby from breastfeeding to artificial is to consult a pediatrician or a breastfeeding specialist. They will tell the young mother how to make this transition correctly and which mixture is better to choose. It is better to transfer the baby to artificial feeding in the cold season - this way you will protect him from infections that are “rich” in hot weather. The newborn should be healthy and in a calm state.

Mixes

Baby food manufacturers have worked hard to bring their products as close to breast milk as possible. Basically, mixtures for babies are made on the basis of cow's milk, from the composition of which excess proteins are “removed” and the missing iron is “added”. By including the necessary vitamins, minerals, acids and lactobacilli in the product, manufacturers make the mixture look like human milk. Today, there are special formulas for babies intolerant to cow's milk protein, which are made from goat's milk, soy or rice.

Mixtures should be suitable for the baby in terms of age and composition of the components included in them. If the mother can control the first condition on her own, then in order to fulfill the second, you need to seek help from a pediatrician. It happens that after the first doses of a new mixture, a child has various allergic reactions. The problem can be solved by replacing the product, but with this, you should also consult a doctor. Before proceeding with the preparation of the mixture, carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations for preparation and dosage.

Feeding

Artificial feeding involves feeding the baby on schedule. Children of the first months of life on this system are recommended to feed six to seven times a day, taking six-hour night breaks. If the baby has not finished the contents of the bottle, do not force him. When this is repeated regularly, it may be necessary to reduce the amount of the mixture.

It happens that the child in the first receptions of the mixture refuses to eat it. There may be various reasons for this. Before changing the type of baby food, try to find out. Perhaps the baby does not “like” the hard nipple, which is harder to suck than the mother’s breast or the baby is not satisfied with its shape. The position of the baby during feeding also plays a big role - choose one that suits both of you.

Feeding a baby with various breast milk substitutes in the amount of more than 2/3 of the total amount of nutrition is called artificial.

If half of this volume is occupied by the mixture, and the second half is breast milk, or the mixture makes up about a third of the child's diet, then such nutrition is called mixed.

Of course, it is preferable to artificial, since the quantitative component of breast milk in it is greater.

Try to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible

The transition to artificial nutrition is considered metabolic stress (metabolism is the metabolism in the body), therefore, if there is at least a minimum amount of milk, you should continue to put the baby to the breast and strive to prolong the breastfeeding process as long as possible.

Sometimes, for one reason or another serious reasons (a serious illness of the mother, lack of lactation, etc.), the child may be bottle-fed from the first days of life. But, unfortunately, it often happens that the mother herself, not wanting to breastfeed, easily makes such an important decision. It seems to her that this is the easiest way out of many problems.

If the transition is inevitable

It happens that the baby is worried and screams during or immediately after feeding, and then there is a suspicion of a lack of milk. At the same time, the mother feels an emptiness in the mammary glands at a time when the child is still actively suckling, and the number of wet diapers, meanwhile, is noticeably reduced.

There is no need to immediately suspect the worst - it may just be a lactation crisis, which will soon pass. There are so many ways to increase the volume of breast milk - there would be a desire.

But if none of the measures taken gives a positive result and the transition to artificial nutrition is inevitable, then you need to consult a doctor and, together with him, choose one or another mixture, based on the characteristics of the baby's development.

What are the mixtures?

Modern milk mixtures are made from specially processed cow's (rarely goat's) milk.

According to their properties and composition, they are very close to human breast milk and are divided according to the degree of adaptation to it:

Adapted mixtures are sour-milk and fresh, liquid and dry. They contain whey proteins, carbohydrates in the form of lactose, vegetable fats, vitamins and minerals in a balanced amount. Examples of manufacturers of such products: Agusha, Nan, Nutrilon-1, Tuttelli, Frisolak, HIPP-1 and many others. others
The second degree of adaptability - mixtures based on casein without the addition of whey proteins. These are "Nestozhen", "Similak", "Impress", "Lactofidus", "Danone", etc.;
Medicinal mixtures - used for babies with low weight or premature babies, for babies prone to allergic reactions, suffering from pain in the tummy, constipation, regurgitation, unstable stools. There are strict indications for the intake of such mixtures and exact schemes for their introduction into the diet. Starting to give them without consulting a doctor, you risk harming the baby.
Starting from the 7th month, you can use transitional mixtures (the so-called "following formulas": "Nutrilak 2", "Gallia 2", "Nan 6-12", "Baby 2", "HIPP 2", "Enfamil 2").

In the first month of life, the baby should be prescribed unleavened mixtures, since sour-milk ones can increase regurgitation. A little later, you can combine both, replacing one, two or three feedings with a fermented milk mixture.

Introduction of a new mixture into the diet

There are times when a mother decides that it is time to choose a better mixture, buys a new product and immediately introduces it into the child's diet in full. A couple of days later, she learns from a television advertisement about the existence of a new ultra-modern mixture and immediately quickly switches to it.

If in such cases nothing unforeseen happened, it means that mom was very lucky. But a child's body can respond to such stress with an allergic reaction or indigestion. And not so much due to the fact that the new mixture did not suit the baby, but simply because of its incorrect input.

A new mixture should be introduced gradually, gradually increasing its volume by reducing the volume of the replaced mixture. Read the cooking instructions on the packaging, do not store the diluted mixture in the refrigerator for more than a day.

The diet of the child with artificial and mixed feeding

If your baby is on mixed feeding, then the diet remains free. It is enough for you to control the amount of breast milk with the help of control weighing, compensating for the missing volume with the mixture. Supplementation is done only after applying the baby to both breasts.

It is advisable to give it with a spoon so that your baby does not refuse to take the breast at all. If the supplement is large, use a small-hole bottle and nipple.

If your child is on artificial feeding, then you need to switch to nutrition according to the regimen. For the first 6 months of life, it is recommended to take the mixture six to seven times a day after 3 or 3.5 hours with one 6 or 6.5 hour break.

We calculate the amount of food

The required amount of nutrition is calculated based on the physiological need of the baby for energy. In the first half of life, this need is 115 kcal/kg. In the second - 110 kcal / kg of body weight of the child.

Simply put, the daily amount of food for a baby with normal physical development is:

Up to 2 months - 1/5 of body weight;
From 2 to 4 months - 1/6 of body weight;
From 4 to 6 months - 1/7 of body weight;
From 6 months to a year - 1/8 of body weight.

The one-time volume of the mixture is easy to calculate based on the daily volume, simply by dividing it by the number of feedings.

These volume figures do not include water and juices.

Once again about the main

In conclusion, it is worth once again reminding all mothers of the unsurpassed qualities of breast milk compared to any, even high-quality mixtures, and the uniqueness of the natural way of feeding.

Never rush to give your baby a mixture without good reason, but if you decide, make a choice of the mixture and develop a diet together with the pediatrician.

All mothers know how important breast milk is for a baby. However, not everyone can and wants to breastfeed, and then the question arises of how to transfer the child to as easily and painlessly as possible.

Start of translation

There are certain rules on how to transfer a child to artificial feeding.

Start by replacing one of your breastfeeds with a bottle. It is best to choose the evening time, because in the evening you accumulate the least milk. When you give your baby a bottle, try to talk to him, explain in kind words what to try. This dialogue, which may seem like a monologue to you, is actually very important for the baby. Within four to five days, you need to change one breastfeeding to artificial, during which time the baby will get used to it and stop being capricious.

Rules for the gradual transition to artificial feeding

After a few days, replace two or three more feedings. This method, how to gradually transfer a child from breastfeeding to artificial, consists in alternating breastfeeding and bottle feeding, so the crumbs will adapt faster. You need to do this again for about eight to ten days. Feeding should occur regularly and on schedule, for example, every morning and lunch, breastfeed, and before lunch and in the evening - from a bottle. And even better if you breastfeed in the morning and in the evening, and the rest of the feedings will be artificial.

Then you will have a choice: to leave everything as it is, so that the child is partially formula-fed, or still completely replace feeding with artificial. If you decide to completely wean your baby from the breast, then remember that you need to do this gradually and slowly. Give your baby time to get used to the bottle, to the new way of eating. Morning feeding should be replaced with artificial last.

If your baby is currently suckling on a pacifier, it will be much easier to transition him to bottle feeding. In this case, do not let the pacifier be made of the same materials as the pacifier. The mixture in the bottle should be warm to simulate breast milk.

None of us doubt that breast milk is much healthier than the most expensive artificial formulas. But there are times when breastfeeding, for various reasons, is not possible. Young mothers dig through the mountains of literature, looking for the answer to the question: "How to switch from breastfeeding to formula?".

The decision to stop breastfeeding

There are a number of reasons why a baby is transferred to artificial feeding. The most common are medical contraindications. If the mother has serious hospital-related illnesses and is taking medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding, then breastfeeding will have to be abandoned. A significant reason for weaning a baby from the breast is the mental illness of the mother.

On the part of the child, there are also contraindications to breastfeeding. They may be hereditary diseases that are characterized by intolerance to breast milk. These are galactosemia, leucinosis, phenylketonuria. Another reason for the transfer of a child to artificial feeding is an insufficient amount of milk from the mother. Women are worried that the child is malnourished, and begin to supplement his formula.

Different reasons suggest different ways to wean a baby from the breast. If breastfeeding is strictly prohibited, it is stopped completely. Sometimes not breastfeeding is a temporary measure, and after circumstances change, mothers return to breastfeeding. The most convenient option for formula feeding is to transfer the baby to mixed feeding.

mixed feeding

Mixed feeding is such a nutrition system in which artificial mixtures make up no more than fifty percent of the infant's diet. This is a kind of "fork" at which the further "direction" of the child's nutrition is chosen. It allows you to completely switch to mixtures, or return to breastfeeding. How exactly does this transition take place? For a competent transition to mixed feeding, it is necessary, first of all, to consult a pediatrician who will help you choose the mixture and calculate its amount.

There are two types of transition to mixed feeding. According to the first, you give the baby the breast at the beginning of feeding, and then supplement it with formula. You can do otherwise - first give the baby milk from one breast, then from the other, and only then - offer a bottle of formula. Which of the two methods of this mixed feeding option is more suitable is up to you.

The second option is based on the fact that the mother completely replaces one or more feedings with the mixture. As for what kind of feeding to replace with a bottle with a mixture, they choose those hours when the mother’s milk is produced in the breast the least. It usually happens in the evenings. If you decide to formula feed several times a day, then alternate such feedings with breastfeeding.

In order for the transition to a mixed feeding system to be successful, follow simple rules:

If the child has not finished the bottle, do not force him to do so.
If the baby refuses to eat formula, try to find out the reason. The nipple, feeding conditions or the product itself may not be suitable.
Spend as much time as possible with the baby - this compensates for the stress of switching to another feeding system.

Temporary transfer

A temporary switch to formula suggests that after circumstances change, the baby will again receive breast milk. To make this possible, it is necessary to create all conditions for maintaining lactation and the desire of the baby to drink breast milk. To this end, pediatricians recommend feeding the child using a spoon or syringe. If this, for some reason, is not possible, then use a nipple with a small hole from which the mixture would flow in droplets. A nipple with large holes will make it easier for a baby to drink than from a breast, and he may refuse to breastfeed.

So that the child does not wean from the mother's breast, attach it to her immediately after feeding. If you are not breastfeeding for some time, but plan to do so in the future, do not forget to pump. Take drugs to increase lactation. If you are formula feeding, try to put your baby to the breast during the hours when more milk is produced in it.

Artificial feeding

Transferring a child to artificial feeding should be gradual and correct. This process can take up to seven days. Such a period of time is needed for the child's body to adapt to a new product, which is more "heavy" for his digestive system. The first portion of the mixture should be small and be about twenty to thirty grams.

If after the first “trial” feeding the child feels good and perceives the new food positively, you can “move to the next level”. Every day, gradually increase the volume of the mixture, and offer less breast milk. A bottle with a comfortable nipple will help you “crowd out” breastfeeding, from which the child would eat with pleasure. According to the existing method for calculating the need for milk in an infant, a child from ten days to six weeks of age requires milk in the amount of one fifth of its body weight for normal development. Accordingly: a child under four months - one sixth of its weight, up to six months - one seventh, and children who are already six months old - one eighth of body weight.

Blend selection

Before switching from breastfeeding to artificial, be sure to visit a pediatrician. He will tell you which mixture to choose and how to make this transition correctly. Today, baby food manufacturers produce many mixtures that are as close as possible to breast milk. If for some reason the product did not suit the baby, tell your pediatrician about it, and he will help you find a replacement.

Carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations for the preparation and dosage of the mixture. Follow the rules for preparing baby food exactly. Do not change the concentration of the mixture at your discretion. Keep your feeding bottle and nipple clean. Formula-feeding involves following a precise feeding schedule, which your pediatrician will also help you make.

Faced with the problem of transferring my daughter to the mixture. He pushes the bottle away, dodges ... Although he drinks tea with exactly the same one. In the end, I gave breast. She is almost 9 months old, my milk has become noticeably less. Yes, and I breastfeed her at 6 in the morning, in the evening at about 6 (in addition to curd) and at night. In addition, soon I will need to leave for a short time in Russia. So I tried to transfer to artificial feeding. Found an interesting article on this. If you have come across this, please add or give advice on this matter.

How to transfer a child from breastfeeding to artificial feeding - weaning
We will not discuss situations here when mothers make a (often very difficult for them) decision to transfer the child to artificial nutrition. Physiological, psychological or material conditions - they often make their own adjustments to our plans, and, despite all efforts, breastfeeding does not work ... Or a mother has been breastfeeding her child for quite a long time, he already eats “adult” food, but part with breasts still doesn't work. How to make sure that the baby and you endure the transition to artificial feeding (and for older children - weaning) the least painful? Here is my “digest” of the French experience.

So, after you've breastfed your baby, there comes a moment, whether consciously or not, of stopping.

First of all, this process involves both of you: you and your child. Your baby should gradually get used to the new taste, to the new way of sucking and eating in general. As for you, then your body must gradually reduce the production of milk, and you yourself must accept this new stage in your communication with the child.

The mechanism of transfer to artificial feeding.

In its most general form, the principle of switching to artificial feeding (weaning) looks like this: if you apply the baby to the breast less and less, the production of milk in the breast is stimulated less and gradually stops. To do this, you need to anticipate a minimum of 15 days, but the process can take three weeks or a month. It is better, of course, if this transition occurs as smoothly as possible - that is why avoid transferring your baby to artificial feeding during periods of stress, life changes, your absences, etc. You must be psychologically and financially prepared to devote maximum of your time and effort to your child.

Here are a few items that can help you prepare for the moment of weaning:

Think it over in advance, don't leave it to the "last minute"; if you go to work - start it at least three weeks before the start of work: the more gradual the transition, the less painful it will be.
The most difficult in terms of artificial nutrition is the first bottle. Be patient, tell yourself that everything will get better and next time will be better.
Never force a baby to drink a bottle if he resists.
If possible, start by giving a bottle of your own milk after expressing it first. The transition for the baby will not be so shocking.
It can help if you start giving your baby artificial milk from a cup (spoon) - so he adapts to the new taste, and only then tries it with a rubber or silicone nipple.
The scheme of transition to artificial feeding

First days:

Replace one feeding with a bottle. It is preferable to choose a feeding time when your milk production is least strong - mostly in the late afternoon (for example: 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 - breastfeeding, 18:00 - bottle, 21:00 - breastfeeding ). Try to explain to your baby that he is going to try the bottle, because the dialogue between the two of you is the most important. Keep it as long as possible, bottle feeding for 3-4 days (minimum), or longer, so that your baby and you yourself can adapt.

After 3-4 days (repeat, minimum):

Replace the second breastfeed with a bottle. Choose this so that you alternate between bottle and breastfeeding. For example: 9:00, 15:00, 21:00 - breastfeeding, 12:00 and 18:00 - bottle. Keep these two bottle feedings, without introducing new ones, for at least 3-4 days.

After a few days, replace again - the third feeding - with a bottle. Again, choose a time to alternate between bottle and breast. It is preferable if you still keep breastfeeding in the morning and evening. Keep, without introducing new ones, these three feedings for a minimum of 3-4 days, or longer.

Now you have a choice: you can stop the transition to full bottle feeding by keeping morning and evening breastfeeding and bottle feeding the rest. Then it will be partial artificial feeding.

Partial formula feeding will also be called another option - if you replace evening feeding with a bottle, leaving only morning breastfeeding (i.e. 9:00 - breast, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00 - bottle) .

If you finally decide to switch entirely to artificial feeding, replace the morning feeding with a bottle.

If your baby suckles on a pacifier, it's best to use a bottle nipple made from the same material (silicone or rubber).

It is preferable to give the baby warm milk, which brings him closer to breast milk. Don't be afraid to trust your baby to dad during the first bottles.

Difficulties:

The baby refuses the bottle. Once used to breastfeeding, your baby may express violent disagreement and push the bottle away; you embody the breast, not the bottle! But, don't despair. A few unsuccessful attempts should not be a trauma for either the baby or you. Never force your child to drink milk. If he resists, stop and occupy him with something (pick him up, walk around the room, show him a toy ...). After ten minutes have passed, resume bottle feeding.
If your baby refuses the bottle several times in a row, don't breastfeed right away. Wait ten minutes, and only then attach it to your chest. If repeated attempts to give a bottle are fruitless, take a break for a few days, put the bottle away. Wait for the weekend when your loved ones can help you.
During the transition to artificial nutrition, problems may arise with your breasts - it becomes very painful, it can “stone”, “plugs” can form in it ... Naturally, your body gradually reduces milk production, but this adaptation does not happen instantly and takes time. You should listen to your feelings in order to avoid trouble - lactostasis, often preceding mastitis. At the first sign of soreness of the chest, a hot long shower should be taken. Under hot water, while massaging the breast, express a little milk until relief comes, but do not express everything so as not to stimulate a new rise in milk.