How To Feed Your Baby: Nutrition Guide

Once you’re blessed with a baby, it becomes a great concern how you will feed them and after how long they should transition from breastfeeding to baby formula. 

You’re likely to get a lot of ideas and suggestions from moms masquandering as experts to confuse you further on when to wean your baby, what kind of formula to feed your baby and when.

The best thing to do is to follow your instincts and medical recommendations plus the signs your baby manifests. To experienced moms, you will always know when your baby no longer wants the breast milk and when to transition to baby formula and solid food. To new moms, it’s overwhelming.

Breastfed Milk

As we all know, your bundle of joy should only consume breast milk for the first 6 months of life. Babies who are introduced to cow milk and baby formulas earlier than this tend to develop some behavioral patterns and do not mentally develop well when compared to breastfed babies.

It is therefore essential to set aside some moments to breastfeed your baby even as a working mom. Nowadays, you can suction breast milk with breast pumps, so there is no reason why your angel should not access the breast milk.

Breast milk is healthiest and very nutritional. It consists of essential vitamins, minerals and special antibodies essential for the development and growth of the baby’s immunity. You’ll not find most of these important nutrients in baby formula.

Besides, breastfed babies grow fast and are not vulnerable to sickness and infections when compared to formula fed babies

Baby Formula

After 6 months, it’s safe to introduce your baby to baby formulas. However, going on with breastfed nutritious milk is the best idea unless you want to supplement it with baby formula if you feel your baby is not getting sufficient milk or nutrients.

There are lots of baby formula in the market and not every formula will work for your baby. Some babies will be allergic to certain formulas and others will not. With the try and error, you’ll be able to identify the best one for your angel.

With the evolving world, we have baby formulas that are made for sensitive stomachs while others are made for constipation. 

Organic formulas are the best because they are made with natural ingredients. But again, this will depend on how your baby responds to them.

Using baby formula comes need a lot of supplies like baby bottles, so you should be considerate on the sterilizers, nipples and bottles you use with the baby formula.

Solid Foods

You have introduced your baby to solid food after 6 months, but that doesn’t mean that breast milk is no longer important. Experts advice moms to breastfed their babies until they are at least 1 year of age. 

There are signs that you’ll need to see before you introduce your baby to baby formulas. Your baby should be able to

• Support their head and neck unassisted
• Sit with support like baby floor seats
• Swallow solid foods

Knowing when to transition from breast milk to formula and solid food can be overwhelming to new moms. The best thing is to breastfeed your bundle of joy up to when they are 1 year if there are no health issues or related impediments. You can also supplement with baby formulas after 6 months if the milk supply is less or if you need to provide extra nutrients for your baby’s growth.