Save Up on Milk But Keep Your Baby Safe

 
As we all know, baby milk formula takes big part in the family budget. And as much as we want to save, the child’s welfare comes first, always.

Wondering how can you keep your baby safe and healthy and save a lot in your budget? Note of the following:

Properly prepare the formula. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Wash the top of the formula cans with soap and warm water, rinse well and dry and clean the can opener. Be aware of the water you will use. You may consider using purified water to be sure. And more importantly, read the directions carefully. Make sure to follow the measurements precisely. Under diluted formula may lead to dehydration while over diluted formula can affect the baby’s growth and proper nutrition.

Do not force feed. You will definitely know when your baby isn’t hungry anymore. When the baby is satisfied he might turn his head away from the bottle. However, if there is still formula in the bottle never force him to feed for it might lead to overfeeding. It can make him uncomfortably full.

When your child didn’t finish feeding formula within an hour, toss it. Refrigerating and reheating leftover baby milk formula is a big NO. It’s because of the bacteria from his mouth that can seep into the bottle and contaminate the formula.

When you’ve prepared a bottle to use later, putting labels could be helpful. For a mixed powder or liquid concentrate formula, immediately refrigerate the closed bottle. It can be used for 24 hours. While, ready-to-use (premixed) liquid formula can be used up to 48 hours. Label the bottles with date and time of preparation.

Babies can get sick because of contaminated formula. And as prevention is better than cure, there are some precautionary measures you can do to keep your child healthy.

Knowing these, you are not only keeping your child healthy and happy—you are also able to save much from your budget.

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Want to save more? Here are some FREE Milk Samples from various brands. 
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Taking Changes, Little by Little


Change is the only constant thing in this world.

You have read this before, for sure. As a new mum, you have probably embraced the fact that you have just started a new chapter in your life. And to realize that in the next few days or weeks, another change will soon come over you.

Right when you’re getting used to giving infant formula to your child---your Mum or in-law suddenly just told you about getting rid of that infant formula and start giving your child solid foods and another milk supplement.

That change is growth. Your baby is growing into a toddler. Just like when he was a little baby in your arms, he equally needs the right milk formula as time passes by.

In the first 12 months, a baby’s diet is starting to mature to their nutrient-and-vitamin-rich formula routine. This is the time when your child is under the developmental milestone—the toddler stage.

A toddler is a child 12 to 36 months old. During this stage, toddlers may show independence, can recognize themselves in the mirror (and bring laughing moments at home), and can imitate behaviour from others. They take their first step up unto the countless times they fall and stand again.

Being in the most rapid stage of development, toddlers need around 4.5 times amount of iron as an adult male. Calcium and vitamin D are also needed for normal growth and development.

Yes, your precious little one needs special amount of care during this stage. That’s why choosing for a toddler milk is understandably challenging.

In choosing milk formula, check on the nutritional information. Some of the needed minerals and vitamins for developmental milestones are the following:

Iron. Supports normal cognitive development.

Calcium and Vitamin D. For growth and bone development.

DHA/EPA (Omega 3). Powering the brainpower.
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How to Avoid The Risks of Formula Feeding


When breastfeeding is not exclusively been practiced during the development stage of babies aging from six months to one year old, follow on milk formulas are generally used. However, World Health Organization requires parents that they must be fully informed of the hazards of the improper use of infant formulas. Bottle-feeding using milk formulas must be done with extra care and the amount of feeding must be monitored to avoid the risk that comes with it.

Milk manufacturing companies may not have told the public about this, but there are some risk for both babies and mothers who are doing formula feeding the wrong way.

Basically, the first six months of your baby must be exclusively aloted for breastfeding. If you are having trouble of doing so, you must contact your doctor or pediatrician first for recommendations. Only then can you use the right follow on milk formula for your baby.

Note: You can read also our post about Breast Feeding Vs. Formula Feeding

The Risks
 
According to Infact Canada, there are 16 risks of formula feeding for infant and children, and there are 8 risks for mothers.

For Infant/Children
Misguided or improper use of formula milk can increase the chances of having the risk of asthma, allergy, reduced cognitive development, acute respiratory disease, altered occlusion, infection from contaminated formula, nutrient deficiencies, childhood cancers, chronic diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, gastrointestinal infections,  mortality, otitis media & ear infection, and side effects of the environmental contaminants.

Sounds very scary, but with the proper help from your nutrion consultants, mums who can't do breastfeeding can still give their child the right milk and other source of nutrition.

For Mother
Not only the infants are at risk but mothers as well from breast cancer, being overweight, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, reduction of natural child spacing, rheumtoid arthritis, stress & anxiety, and maternal diabetes.

 Much scarier isn't it? Giving our babies the nutrients they need have these risks, but not all of them are all found in milk formulas. Often times, lack of guidance from a nutrionist or support from motherhood communities causes those risks. Stress can also add up most especially for first time mums.

So how can we avoid those risks?


It is no doubt that breast feeding is the best for babies up to two years of age, but with those who were unable to do so, leads them to find resource from infant formulas. Although formula fed babies have higher risk of getting those diseases mentioned above, but with careful and proper nutrional support, it can be lessen and avoided. Follow these few tips on how we can keep our babies risks free!.

Prepare the milk formula the WHO way:

If you have recently decided to bottle-feed your newborn, you are probably full of questions about toddler milk formula preparation, feeding positions, sanitizing utensils, and burping techniques. Here are a few guidelines on how to feed your toddler milk formula successfully.

Note: You can read the full guideline here:  Parent's Guide for Giving Toddler Milk Formula

Amount and scedule of formula feedings 

Your infant’s feeding habits may not match a fixed guidelines precisely, and rarely will your baby wake exactly 3 hours after the previous feed is finished. However, as long as they are feeding well and gaining normal weight, they are definitely getting the amount they need. 

Note: You can read the full guideline here.

Know the right milk in every stage of development

Baby formulas are categorised into three stages to match the developmental needs of babies. These are:

  • Stage 1 fmilk or babies below 12 months.
  • Stage 2 formulas are given to babies after 6 months. They are also known as follow on formula.
  • Stage 3 onwards is given to babies from 1-year-old onwards and it is also known as growing up milk or toddler milk formula.
These were just some of the practical tips on how we can avoid these risks, make sure to keep you babies well fed and always ask your nutrion consultant before giving milk formulas. Some mums still look for the best or nearest substitute for breastmilk. Remember that you and your babies health must be your first priority.

Let us what your thoughts are by writing them down below the comment section.

Regards,
SG-Mums




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When do I start weaning my baby?



Most first time mums have this question when thier babies turn 4 months old. Weaning generally means the process of stopping your baby from breastfeeding or bottlefeeding and the start of introducing other source of nutrition.

One of the worries is that the time mums started weaning would decrease their bond with their babies. However, study shows that ample evidence suggest that breastfeeding can improve child neurodevelopment, but more research is needed to establish this claim.

When can we really start weaning?

Basically, all babies must really be introduced to other source of nourishments, you cannot let your baby do that for years. When he starts to develop and grow, his appetite for food develops also. Usually around 4 to 6 months, our babies starts to show signs of losing appetite or interest in nursing.

Early signs of weaning shows when your baby grow more active and don't want to stay still long enough as when he/she is being nursed. This could be your opportunity to introduce solid foods.

But for some mums, especially those that needs to return to work or will have to start weaning gradually, they may decide to do so even though their baby seems not to show the signs of being ready for weaning. Suplement their nutritional needs by giving follow on formula milk. Keep on observing the signs and then start introducing small amounts of baby foods.

There are some ways on how to start weaning.

As your baby develops his appetite for other source of nutrition other than milk, you can start weaning by skipping nursing time (either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding) and introduce baby food. Remember that doctors suggests that solid foods is advisable to introduce for 12 months old and onwards. If skipping cannot be helped, you can reduce the amount so that your baby can adjust gradually.

In conclusion, weaning can work bothways, it's either you wait for your child to become more active and starts to loose appetite from being nursed or gradually introduce him to baby food from 4- 6 months old onwards.

Remember that weaning also depends on your baby's condition and nutritional needs, always consult your pedia for more medical help and advise. 
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Which Milk Is Better for Toddler?



If you are ready to discard the breast pump or the pricey formula, you are right on schedule. 12 months is the legal drinking age, for cow’s milk, that is. So now that your child has turned one, he is ready for the big switch. However, the question is, which kind of toddler milk powder should you choose?

The common belief was that 1 year old toddlers should get whole milk because the fat it contains was considered important for proper brain and nervous-system development. 2 years old, whose bodies are more developed and no longer need the extra fat, were supposed to move on to two percent or one percent milk. Still at times, they are a changing. Nowadays there is so much concern about childhood weight and rising cholesterol levels that experts have a new message regarding toddler milk.

The present message is that because toddlers get a lot of saturated fat from other sources, milk fat is not as important as we once believed it to be. As a matter of fact, research shows that toddlers who drink lower-fat milk develop just fine. Therefore, with this in mind, here is a new master plan on toddlers' milk.

You Can Start Your 1-Year-Old on Whole Milk If:

She is at a healthy weigh: this means that if she is below the 85th percentile on the body mass index charts.

There are no history of obesity, high cholesterol, or heart disease in your family.

Start Your 1-Year-Old on Reduced-Fat Milk If:

Her body mass index is above the 95th percentile.

High cholesterol and heart disease run dangerously through your family tree.

When your baby is at two, ask your pediatrician whether your infant should keep taking reduced-fat milk or switch to one percent.

And What If Your Toddler Doesn’t Like Milk?

If your kid doesn’t’t like milk, you may have to consider some sneaky tactics to help her get used to it. You can try some of the following tricks:

Try mixing milk with formula or breast milk, then increase the milk into the mix gradually until all you have is straight up milk.

Also, experiment with different temperatures as your little one may like the milk better if it is warm as opposed to cold.

You can also toss some milk in a blender with your toddlers’s favorite fruit to change the color, flavor and texture. Giving your baby a “true blue brew” or a “princess pink drink” could make all the difference. Plus, this plan will also enable you to kick up the fiber and vitamin content.

However, don't fret if your independent-minded toddler is determined to reject milk. And don’t ever force it. If she is getting healthy fats from other sources, just make sure she also gets vitamin D from a multivitamin and calcium from other foods, such as dairy or calcium-fortified breads, cereals and orange juice.
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How to Buy Top Baby Milk Powder




If you don't breast-feed and you need to supplement breast-feeding, or decide to wean your baby before age 1, you will need to give him baby milk powder.

Infant milk formulas are improving continuously to create nutritional profiles as close to that of breast milk. Various brands stress a different mix of protein, fats macro and micronutrients and carbohydrates. With so many brands in the market, it can get really confusing for moms. You don’t have to worry anymore. Here is compiled list of the top baby milk powder for babies:

Earth’s Best Organic Infant Formula:

This is a formula rich in high-quality protein, mineral, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. It also contains DHA and ARA, nutrients which are naturally available in breast milk. DHA and ARA promote the baby’s eye and brain development. Although, its whey and casein ratio is similar to mother’s milk. Earth's Best Organic Infant Formula uses organic glucose solids and organic lactose as its carbohydrate source and it doesn't contain antibiotics, growth hormones, steroids or any harmful herbicides or pesticides.

Baby’s Only Organic Dairy with DHA & ARA Formula

Baby's Only Organic Dairy with DHA & ARA Formula should be your pick if your child is prone to allergies. This formula is totally gluten free and it contains no corn syrup or other GMO ingredients. Also, it contains DHA and ARA lipids, derived from the egg phospholipids which gives the formula a more natural fatty acid profile. This brand of formula also claims that it does not contain any artificial growth hormone, antibiotics, and steroids. .

Similac Go & Grow:

This is another formula to balance your baby’s diet. Similac contains omega 3 and 6, therefore you can trust that you are feeding your little one a formula that is closest to your milk. This formula is one of the few formulas that have Lutein and Galactooligosaccharides. These nutrients are nutrients that your baby can get only from breast milk. It is gluten free too, therefore you don't have to worry for your allergy-prone children.

Gerber Good Start Gentle Powder Infant Formula

You should pick Gerber Good Start Gentle Powder Infant Formula for your baby if she has a sensitive stomach. Because babies' digestive system develops throughout the first year of life, it is essential to give the nutrition that it gentle on your baby. This Infant Formula provides the nutrition of breast milk and at the same time, is being gentle on your infant’s developing body. The small proteins are easy to digest and also promote soft stools.

Enfamil Infant Formula

This is one of the leading brands in infant formulas. It is often recommended by pediatricians to mothers because it has been the closest ever formula to breast milk. This formula claims to meet the nutritional needs of babies until they are 12 months. It also have dual prebiotics which help babies support their natural defenses. Furthermore, the presence of nutrients like choline and DHA plays a vital role in your baby’s brain development.
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Why Give Growing Up Milk Formula?


At 6 months, your baby may be trying a lot of new things, from sitting up, to using sippy cup and also trying solids. After all, searching out new hiding places, learning to walk, and learning to talk takes a lot of concentration and skill. At this stage, your kid might be more interested in playing with his food than eating it.

Nevertheless, ensuring that your toddler’s nutritional needs are met is important. Toddlers need a diverse, balanced diet to ensure they get the vitamins and minerals needed. Just 2 beakers a day of growing up milk contain about the right percentage of toddlers' daily vitamin D.

For toddlers between 6 to 12 months, milk remains an essential part of their diet, especially during weaning.

Between 1 to 3 years, it is important to make sure that your baby gets the nutrition needed to help them keep up with their adventures.

Do not forget milk plays an important role in weaning and if you use formula milk, you can try stage 2 follow-on milk.
Iron, in growing up milk, help in supporting normal cognitive development. This makes iron-rich foods a vital part of their weaning diet.

It is important to note that if your baby is less than a year old, don't feed her growing-up milk because growing-up milk is suitable only for toddlers aged between one year old and three years old.

Vitamins, minerals and prebiotics are added to growing up milk. Also, it contains higher levels of iron than other infant formula milks. Because of this, you may want to feed it to your infant once she is a year old. Nevertheless, at this age, your baby should be getting all the nutrient she needs from a combination of the breastmilk or infant formula milk and solid food.

Growing-up milk is no better for your child than cow's milk. And if you and your toddler are happy to continue breastfeeding, that is fine, too.

When your baby is one year old, you can give her cow's milk as a drink. By this time, your baby will be gaining a big part of her nourishment from solid foods. As long as she is having a variety of food, the mom should be getting all the minerals and vitamins she needs.

Still, it is easy for small children to miss out on important nutrients as they get used to eating regular meals.

If your little one is having vitamin drops and eating well, then she won't be needing growing-up milk. Even though growing-up milks have more nutrients, they also contain high in sugar and this could damage your child's teeth and her general health in the long-term. If you are unsure about feeding supplements or growing-up milk, then speak to your pediatrician.

In all, giving your kid growing up milk depends on your little one and not just a decision you can make based on people's opinion.

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Breastfeeding Versus Formula Feeding


These days, the age-old question of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding is even more relevant than it has ever been. It is a common debate we see on social media that continues amongst Singapore mums. The recurring battle between bottle and breast has many mums divided, especially when the end of the maternity leave approaches and it's time to go back to work. At the end of the day, the decision lies with the parents to choose what makes sense for their own situation.

But what then is a mum to do if she has to go back to work and still decides to breastfeed? Apart from bringing her baby to work, most mothers will have to introduce the bottle to their baby. The bottle is quite convenient because anybody can help in feeding the baby whether the supply is from breast milk or a formula. For sleep deprived mums, another helping hand can make a huge difference to her happiness and wellbeing, especially if she is going back to work.

Breast pumps are a great solution for mums who choose to continue to give their babies breast milk. Breast pumps are devices used for extracting milk from the breast of a woman who is lactating. There are so many options on the market in Singapore, it’s important that mums look around to find the right pump for her. If you are going back to work, and you are planning on feeding your baby breast milk through a bottle, it is advisable to practice pumping for a few weeks before you relying entirely on it as a feeding method. Doing this gives both mum and baby some time to get used to the bottle.

One other advantage of the bottle is that it can be used as a guide for parents to know how much the child is taking, which is a very important information to have when visiting your pediatrician or measuring your baby’s development. Many working mums usually opt for a combination of the two feeding methods.

Breastfeeding can be quite tricky when mums work as it is obvious that only the mom can feed the baby. Actually, this over-reliance can hamper the baby's appetite, especially if they start rejecting the bottle. This can, of course, work in both ways as your little one might have nipple confusion once the bottle bad been introduced to them. Meaning that once a bottle is introduced, the infant may reject the breast totally in preference to the bottle.

Ultimately, one of the main reasons why some women choose to breastfeed is because of the undeniable bond between baby and mummy that comes with breastfeeding – and with the increasing popularity of attachment parenting. It is a very attractive option for many mothers. The warm, body to body contact is something that can't be replace.

Above all, what we feed our baby is a largely personal choice and there is no perfect solution that can work for everyone. The only thing that is important is to make sure that both the mum and baby are happy and are getting enough nutrition.
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Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings


Knowing the amount of formula to feed your baby can be very difficult to gauge, especially if you're a new mom with no prior experience and in the early stages.

Every baby is different and their appetites differ largely.

Your infant’s feeding habits may not match a fixed guidelines precisely, and rarely will your baby wake exactly 3 hours after the previous feed is finished. However, as long as they are feeding well and gaining normal weight, they are definitely getting the amount they need.

If your little one is premature or of a low birth weight, please note, that their feeding requirements will be different. Your consultant or midwife will be able to advise you about your child’s unique needs.

From when your baby is 2 weeks to 6 months, expect your bottlefeeding routine to consist of around 5-6 feeds daily.

After the first few days of starting, your formula-fed newborn will take from 2-3 ounces of formula per feeding and he will eat every 3 to 4 hours on average during her first few weeks.

If your baby sleeps longer than four to five hours during the first month, and starts to miss feedings, ensure you wake her up and offer a bottle.

By the end of the first month, she should be able to take at least 4 ounces per feeding, with a fairly predictable schedule of feedings about every 4 hours.

By 6 months, your baby can consume 6 to 8 ounces at each of 4 or 5 feedings in twenty-four hours.

Ideally, your infant should take in about 2 1⁄2 ounces of formula daily for every pound (453 grams) of her body weight. However, he will probably regulate his intake from day to day to meet his own specific needs. Therefore instead of going by fixed amounts, try to notice when he has had enough. If he becomes easily distracted or fidgety during a feeding, he is probably finished and if he drains the bottle and still continues smacking his lips, it means he might still be hungry.

However, there are high and low limits. Most babies are satisfied with 3 to 4 ounces per feeding during the first month and they just increase that amount by 1 ounce every month until they reach a maximum of about 7 to 8 ounces. If your little one seems to want more or less than this consistently, then discuss it with your pediatrician. Ideally, your baby should drink no more than 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours.

At first, it is best to feed newborn on demand, or whenever he cries because he is hungry, and as time passes, he will begin to develop a fairly regular timetable of his own. In the same vein, as you become used to his signals and needs, you will be able to schedule his feedings around his routine.

The most essential thing to note, whether you breastfeed or bottlefeed, is that your infant’s feeding needs are unique. Therefore, no book can tell you exactly how much or how often he should be fed or precisely how you should handle him during feedings. All these you will discover for yourself as you and your little one get to know each other.
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Follow On Milk After Breastfeeding


It is a commonly known fact that breast milk is the best for babies, and childcare practitioners and health organizations encourage moms to breastfeed their babies for as long as they can. However, there are situations where mums have no other choice than to give their babies formula and once you have decided to take the formula route, one of the hardest task at hand is picking a brand. If you are a mum looking for the best follow up formulas for your baby, it can be quite daunting and overwhelming. Below are some of Singapore's best formula brands.

ENFAMIL

Enfamil is the formula of choice when most mums were asked to recommend the best infant formulas. Enfamil has a range of products that tailor-made to suit the nutritional needs of infants and older kids equally. Enfamil A+ Stage 2 is appropriate for babies from 6 to 12 months and is fortified with ARA and DHA. These are very essential nutrients for eye and brain development in children. Another nutrient included in Enfamil is Choline which promotes overall mental function and there's also GOS, which is a prebiotic. This infant formula also contains antioxidants like Vitamins C and E.

Nestle NAN

Nestle NAN Pro 2 is specially designed for babies 6 months and older. It includes BL Bifidus, a blend of naturally active bacteria which helps in promoting a healthy intestinal tract. Also, it contains two essential fatty acids, namely DHA and ARA, and also OPTI PRO2, which helps to make sure your little one gets the proper amount of protein needed for his development.

Similac

Similac is the next infant formula on our list. It has a range of infant to toddler formulas. It also contain a host of nutrient blends like some Immunify Ingredients such as Eye-Q Plus Intelli-Pro and ProCalci Formulations. These blend of nutrients help in fulfiling your baby’s specific nutritional needs. And when it is compared to other formula brands, Similac doesn't contain palm olein oil, however, it contains more than 80% more added Lutein. Lutein is an essential nutrient for eye and brain development.

S-26’s Promil Gold

S-26’s Promil Gold is a follow-on formula for babies of 6 months and older. This formula has a unique blend of nutrients which are specially tailor-made to supplement your kid’s nutrition. These nutrients are oligofructose, which is a prebiotic that promotes a healthy digestive system in infants, taurine, which helps in developing overall mental and physical health of babies, and inositol which supports important biological functions. There are others such as AA, DHA and choline which helps with mental health and calcium which helps to strengthen bones in babies.

Dumex’s Mamil Gold

Mail Gold has a range of infant formulas suitable for 0 to 6-year-olds. Dumex’s Mamil Gold contains the highest amount of prebiotics amongst all the follow-up milk formula brands in Singapore. It also has a specialized blend of nutrients which is a perfect supplement for babies. Mamil Gold also contains Omega 3 & 6, DHA & ARA, taurine and choline, vitamins A, C, D & E, calcium, iron and phosphorus, among others.

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