Baby Food
Baby food is any food, other than breast milk or infant formula, which is made specifically for infants, roughly between the ages of four months to two years. The food comes in multiple varieties and tastes, can be produced by many manufacturers, or may be table food that the rest of the family is eating, mashed up. Because infants lack teeth, many different baby foods are designed for ease of eating; they are either a soft, liquidy paste or an easily chewed food.
Organic infant formulas are a substitute to breast milk. They are manufactured without contaminants and toxic/ chemically engineered ingredients, including antibiotics and hormones that are commonly found in conventional infant formulas.
Organic infant formulas are manufactured with all production aspects certified organic, including vitamins, cow's milk, sugar, and the cleanliness of machines and handlers, in efforts to produce a quality of organic infant formula that are contaminant and chemical-free.
During the first year of life, a baby’s bones and body are growing at a faster pace or rate than any other time in a person’s life. Until they are about 6 months of age, their birth weight gains 0.5 ounces to 1 ounce every day, and then their birth weight is commonly tripled between 9 and 12 months. This weight includes growth of muscles, bones, fat, fluid, brain tissue, etc… which all needs a well balanced nutrition for strong growth and development. Babies begin to recognize people, places, things, and their selves as their brains and eyes develop and they start to practice learning abilities.
Linoleic acid
Vitamins: A, C, D, E, K, thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), B6, B12
Niacin
Folic acid
Pantothenic acid
Calcium
Metals: magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper
Phosphorus
Iodine
Sodium chloride
Potassium chloride
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for growing infants as it accounts for 35 to 42% of their daily energy intake. In most cow's based formulas, lactose is the main source of carbohydrates present. But lactose is not present in cow's milk-based lactose-free formulas nor specialized non-milk protein formulas or hydrolyzed protein formulas for infants with milk protein sensitivity. Lactose is also not present in soy-based formulas. Therefore, those formulas without lactose will use other sources of carbohydrates like sucrose and glucose, natural and modified starches, monosacchardies and indigestible carbohydrates. Lactose is not only a good course of energy, it also aids in the absorption of various minerals like magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron.
Nucleotides
Nucleotides are compounds found naturally in human breast milk. They are involved in many different critical metabolic processes in the body like energy metabolism and enzymatic reactions. Also, as the building blocks of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) they are essential for normal body functions. Compared to human breast milk, cow's milk has lower levels of nucleotides like uridine, inosine, and cytidine. Therefore, several companies that produce infant formula have added nucleotides to their infant formulas
This past year, new infant formulas were introduced which are supplemented with DHA and ARA, which are found in breast milk and are thought to help with an infant's development. Brands of these supplemented formula include Enfamil Lipil, Similac Advance, and Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA & ARA.
Infant formula should be prepared by the caregiver or parent in small batches and fed to the infant, usually with either a cup, as recommended by the WHO, or a baby bottle.
It is very important to measure powders or concentrates accurately to achieve the intended final product; otherwise the child will be malnourished. It is advisable that all equipment that comes into contact with the infant formula be cleaned and sterilized before each use. Proper refrigeration is essential for any infant formula which is prepared in advance.
In developing countries, formula is frequently prepared improperly, resulting in high infant mortality due to malnutrition and diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. This is due to lack of clean water, lack of sterile conditions, lack of refrigeration, illiteracy (so written instructions cannot be followed), poverty (diluting formula so that it lasts longer), and lack of education of mothers by formula distributors. These problems and resulting disease and death are a key factor in opposition to the marketing and distribution of infant formula in developing countries by numerous NGOs – these groups do not consider infant formula appropriate technology for developing countries.
According to the FDA, 'Homemade formulas should not be used.... Homemade formulas based on cows' milk don't meet all of an infant's nutritional needs, and cow's milk protein that has not been cooked or processed is difficult for an infant to digest. In addition, the high protein and electrolyte (salt) content of cow's milk may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys. Substituting evaporated milk for whole milk may make the homemade formula easier to digest because of the effect of processing on the protein, but the formula is still nutritionally inadequate and still may stress the kidneys.'
Goat's milk is also not usually a good alternative, especially if your child has a problem digesting milk proteins. Goat's milk is low in Vitamin D and it is also low in iron, Vitamin B12 and folate, which can lead to an iron deficiency or megaloblastic anemia (low blood counts). If you are going to feed your infant goat's milk, make sure that you use a commercially prepared pasteurized form that is supplemented with Vitamin D and Folic Acid. You might also have to supplement it with an additional form of carbohydrate, such as sugar or corn syrup. And remember that your infant will need vitamin supplements with iron.
Cow's milk should also not be used until your infant is about 12 months old. Cow's milk is not always easy for infants to digest and it is low in iron.
Organic infant formulas are a substitute to breast milk. They are manufactured without contaminants and toxic/ chemically engineered ingredients, including antibiotics and hormones that are commonly found in conventional infant formulas.
Organic infant formulas are manufactured with all production aspects certified organic, including vitamins, cow's milk, sugar, and the cleanliness of machines and handlers, in efforts to produce a quality of organic infant formula that are contaminant and chemical-free.
During the first year of life, a baby’s bones and body are growing at a faster pace or rate than any other time in a person’s life. Until they are about 6 months of age, their birth weight gains 0.5 ounces to 1 ounce every day, and then their birth weight is commonly tripled between 9 and 12 months. This weight includes growth of muscles, bones, fat, fluid, brain tissue, etc… which all needs a well balanced nutrition for strong growth and development. Babies begin to recognize people, places, things, and their selves as their brains and eyes develop and they start to practice learning abilities.
As well, their reflexes and motor skills are heightened by the growing ability to function parts of their body’s. Because breast milk is recommended to provide the most nutritious diet for an infant with provisions that the mother does not consume alcohol or drugs that affect their milk, when parents decide to give their infant formula, organic formula becomes attractive to some because it is thought not to have chemicals, pesticides, or handlings like breast milk (if the parent stipulates that organic is more natural than non- organic formulas.
Infant formula is nutritionally inferior to breast milk but superior to other substitutes such as animal milk. Besides breast milk, infant formula is the only other milk product which the medical community considers nutritionally acceptable for infants under the age of one year – note that solid food is nutritionally acceptable in addition to breast milk or formula during weaning.
Although cow's milk is the basis of almost all infant formula, plain cow's milk is unsuited for infants because of its high casein content and low whey content which may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys, and untreated cow's milk is not recommended before the age of 12 months. The infant intestine is not properly equipped to digest non-human milk and this may often result in diarrhea, intestinal bleeding and malnutrition. To reduce the negative effect on the infant’s digestive system, cow’s milk used for formula undergoes processing in order to be made into infant formula. This includes steps in order to make protein more easily digestible and alter the whey-to-casein protein balance to a ratio closer to human milk, the addition of several essential ingredients (often called "fortification", see below), the partial or total replacement of dairy fat with fats of vegetable or marine origin, etc.
Most of the world's supply of infant formula is produced in the United States. According to FDA the recommended components of which infant formula should be composed of:
FatInfant formula is nutritionally inferior to breast milk but superior to other substitutes such as animal milk. Besides breast milk, infant formula is the only other milk product which the medical community considers nutritionally acceptable for infants under the age of one year – note that solid food is nutritionally acceptable in addition to breast milk or formula during weaning.
Although cow's milk is the basis of almost all infant formula, plain cow's milk is unsuited for infants because of its high casein content and low whey content which may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys, and untreated cow's milk is not recommended before the age of 12 months. The infant intestine is not properly equipped to digest non-human milk and this may often result in diarrhea, intestinal bleeding and malnutrition. To reduce the negative effect on the infant’s digestive system, cow’s milk used for formula undergoes processing in order to be made into infant formula. This includes steps in order to make protein more easily digestible and alter the whey-to-casein protein balance to a ratio closer to human milk, the addition of several essential ingredients (often called "fortification", see below), the partial or total replacement of dairy fat with fats of vegetable or marine origin, etc.
Most of the world's supply of infant formula is produced in the United States. According to FDA the recommended components of which infant formula should be composed of:
Linoleic acid
Vitamins: A, C, D, E, K, thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), B6, B12
Niacin
Folic acid
Pantothenic acid
Calcium
Metals: magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper
Phosphorus
Iodine
Sodium chloride
Potassium chloride
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for growing infants as it accounts for 35 to 42% of their daily energy intake. In most cow's based formulas, lactose is the main source of carbohydrates present. But lactose is not present in cow's milk-based lactose-free formulas nor specialized non-milk protein formulas or hydrolyzed protein formulas for infants with milk protein sensitivity. Lactose is also not present in soy-based formulas. Therefore, those formulas without lactose will use other sources of carbohydrates like sucrose and glucose, natural and modified starches, monosacchardies and indigestible carbohydrates. Lactose is not only a good course of energy, it also aids in the absorption of various minerals like magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron.
Nucleotides
Nucleotides are compounds found naturally in human breast milk. They are involved in many different critical metabolic processes in the body like energy metabolism and enzymatic reactions. Also, as the building blocks of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) they are essential for normal body functions. Compared to human breast milk, cow's milk has lower levels of nucleotides like uridine, inosine, and cytidine. Therefore, several companies that produce infant formula have added nucleotides to their infant formulas
This past year, new infant formulas were introduced which are supplemented with DHA and ARA, which are found in breast milk and are thought to help with an infant's development. Brands of these supplemented formula include Enfamil Lipil, Similac Advance, and Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA & ARA.
Soy formulas and premature formulas with DHA and ARA have also recently been introduced.
A formula with DHA and ARA is likely a good choice if your infant isn't breastfeeding and you want to give a formula that is most like breastmilk to help with their development.
A formula with DHA and ARA is likely a good choice if your infant isn't breastfeeding and you want to give a formula that is most like breastmilk to help with their development.
It is very important to measure powders or concentrates accurately to achieve the intended final product; otherwise the child will be malnourished. It is advisable that all equipment that comes into contact with the infant formula be cleaned and sterilized before each use. Proper refrigeration is essential for any infant formula which is prepared in advance.
In developing countries, formula is frequently prepared improperly, resulting in high infant mortality due to malnutrition and diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. This is due to lack of clean water, lack of sterile conditions, lack of refrigeration, illiteracy (so written instructions cannot be followed), poverty (diluting formula so that it lasts longer), and lack of education of mothers by formula distributors. These problems and resulting disease and death are a key factor in opposition to the marketing and distribution of infant formula in developing countries by numerous NGOs – these groups do not consider infant formula appropriate technology for developing countries.
According to the FDA, 'Homemade formulas should not be used.... Homemade formulas based on cows' milk don't meet all of an infant's nutritional needs, and cow's milk protein that has not been cooked or processed is difficult for an infant to digest. In addition, the high protein and electrolyte (salt) content of cow's milk may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys. Substituting evaporated milk for whole milk may make the homemade formula easier to digest because of the effect of processing on the protein, but the formula is still nutritionally inadequate and still may stress the kidneys.'
Goat's milk is also not usually a good alternative, especially if your child has a problem digesting milk proteins. Goat's milk is low in Vitamin D and it is also low in iron, Vitamin B12 and folate, which can lead to an iron deficiency or megaloblastic anemia (low blood counts). If you are going to feed your infant goat's milk, make sure that you use a commercially prepared pasteurized form that is supplemented with Vitamin D and Folic Acid. You might also have to supplement it with an additional form of carbohydrate, such as sugar or corn syrup. And remember that your infant will need vitamin supplements with iron.
Cow's milk should also not be used until your infant is about 12 months old. Cow's milk is not always easy for infants to digest and it is low in iron.
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