The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Baby

It’s a known fact: Babies are very messy, especially in their first year of life! With all the drooling, spitting, messy feedings and the occasional mouth-full-of-food sneeze, it’s no wonder the laundry keeps piling up.
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Manufacturers have been coming up with more and more products that make bottle feeding a baby faster, easier, safer and more on-the-go friendly. Among these are:
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There are a few things you need to consider before purchasing a baby bottle, such as the materials used to make the bottle as well as the nipple shape and size. Less important decisions such as style and color may also need to be considered. Either way, deciding on the best bottle for your baby is more than a matter of mere preference.
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Mother’s who are finding it difficult to breastfeed their children can rest assured that all baby formula sold in the USA is required (by the FDA) to meet the minimum nutritional requirements of a child. That being said, keep in mind that not all formulas are the same, and be sure to consult your pediatrician regarding the best formula for your child.

The Main Types of Baby Formula

• Cow’s Milk Formula: Most baby formula has been manufactured from altered cow’s milk, which is made to resemble a mother’s breast milk. It is highly recommended that this type of baby formula should not be given to children under a year of age, especially those who have a higher risk for allergies. The younger your baby is when you offer her cow’s milk formula, the more likely it is that she will develop an intolerance to lactose.
• Soy-based Formulas: There types of formulas are great for parents who would like to keep animal proteins out of their child’s diet. However, it is often found that babies with an intolerance to lactose (found in cow’s milk) may very well be allergic to soy milk.
• Protein Hydrolysate Formulas: Also known as Hypoallergenic Formulas, these mixtures are meant for babies that have a family history of allergies, whether they be from soy or milk/lactose.

Other Baby Formulas

There are a number of specialized formulas made for infant’s with certain problems. Here is a list of the most common.

• Gentle Formula: made for infants who exhibit signs of fussiness or gas when on regular milk-based formulas. This formula tends to have less lactose than the other milk-based formulas.
• Lactose-free Formula: for babies with lactose intolerance.
• Added Rice Starch Formula: great for infants with acid reflux
• Premature Baby Formula: has added calories and nutrients for extra weight gain (also used for babies born with a low weight)
• Toddler Formula: for children between the ages of 10 and 24 months. Generally, formula is used only up until the child’s first birthday. However, it would be wise to talk to your pediatrician for information and advice specific to your own baby.

Like many other products, there are a large number of different breast pumps available today, which may make it difficult to decide which is best for your needs. The first step to determining which type of breast pump is the right one for you is to decide between a manual pump or an electric pump.
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