How to switch a child to formula

How to transfer a child from breastfeeding to formula?

In order for the baby’s body to easily adapt to a new type of nutrition, it is necessary to make a gradual transition. The child must have time to try the new taste, and his digestive system must get used to the mixture.

Currently, a large number of different schemes for switching to mixtures have been developed. However, they are all united by a single principle - a gradual increase in the portion of the mixture.

Conventionally, the entire transition process can be divided into the following stages:

1. Consultation with a pediatrician. Before deciding to stop breastfeeding, it is imperative to consult with a specialist.
2. Choosing a suitable mixture, as well as convenient dishes for feeding (this point will be discussed in more detail below in the text).
3. Gradual introduction of the mixture, starting with small portions.

How to start the transition?

Blend selection

Having made a firm decision to switch to artificial feeding, you need to think about the right choice of formula. This process should be approached responsibly, and be sure to take into account the baby’s health status, level of physical development, as well as his age.

Undoubtedly, no substitute can exactly replicate the unique composition of breast milk, but with the right choice of formula, the baby will receive all the nutrients it needs for normal growth and development.

When choosing a mixture, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. For newborn babies, you need to buy only adapted formulas (for example, “Frisolak”, “Hipp”, “NAN”, “Humana”, etc.) - they are well digested and also perfectly absorbed by the baby’s body.
2. When buying a formula, you should definitely take into account the age of the baby - as a rule, it is written on the box what age this or that composition is intended for.
3. If the baby has digestive problems or other diseases, it is necessary to choose a medicinal or specialized mixture.
4. You should not blindly trust advertising - you need to carefully study the composition. It is not recommended to take a mixture containing palm or rapeseed oil.
5. You should always look at the expiration date.
6. It is recommended to buy baby food only in specialized stores.
7. If, during the transition to the formula, the baby develops colic, allergic rashes, constipation, or frequent regurgitation, then you should stop introducing the formula and consult a doctor. There is a possibility that this composition is not suitable for a particular child.

What utensils will be needed?

For feeding a baby with formula, the most convenient container option is a bottle. When choosing a feeding bottle, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Size of dishes - you should take into account the age of the child. As you grow older, the portion of the mixture will gradually increase.
• The shape of the bottle - today there are a great variety of them, ranging from ordinary cylindrical ones to “anti-colic” ones with a curved shape. In this case, parents should first of all take into account ease of use and ease of washing.
• Material – baby bottles come in plastic and glass. Plastic dishes are more convenient to use, but when boiled, plastic can release harmful substances. In addition, the plastic bottle should be changed periodically. Glass, on the contrary, is more durable in use, tolerates long-term sterilization, but can break if handled carelessly.

It is important not only to choose a formula, but also to choose suitable feeding utensils that will be durable and easy to use.

Additionally, it should be noted that in order to avoid purchasing a low-quality product, it is recommended to buy a baby bottle at a pharmacy or specialty store.

Basic Rules

When transferring a child to formula feeding, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. The transition should be carried out smoothly over 5-7 days, every day, gradually increasing the portion of the mixture.
2. Unlike breast milk, formula should be given to the baby strictly on an hourly basis. Your pediatrician will help you create a feeding schedule.
3. You cannot give different formulas, as the child will have to adapt to the new composition of the diet each time. This will be a lot of stress for the child's body.
4. The mixture should be prepared strictly in accordance with the instructions, which are usually located on the packaging.

Watch a video on how to properly transfer a child from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding:

Abrupt switch to formula - how to help your baby

A sudden refusal to breastfeed may not be related to the end of breastfeeding. Sometimes a sudden transition to formula from breastfeeding occurs for medical reasons or due to unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunately, during such periods it is impossible to immediately physically and emotionally prepare yourself and your baby for changes. However, for many mothers it is a revelation that it is possible to establish artificial feeding, maintaining lactation, and return to breastfeeding at the first opportunity. Pediatrician Ekaterina Andreevna Yakovleva tells how to do this.

— Ekaterina Andreevna, what could cause a sudden switch to formula?

— The reasons for switching to artificial feeding are different. At birth, the baby may be diagnosed and given specialized nutrition. There are few such pathologies (galactosemia, phenylketonuria, “maple syrup disease” and others), and, as a rule, they are diagnosed in the maternity hospital. Sometimes artificial nutrition in the maternity hospital is given to premature babies born with extremely low birth weight, or to newborns whose mothers are in severe postpartum condition and cannot breastfeed.

Contraindications for breastfeeding on the mother's side include:

• HIV, cancer, autoimmune diseases, open form of tuberculosis;
• severe infectious diseases (sepsis, herpes type I of the mammary glands). For example, if there is a rash on one of the mammary glands, you have to feed the baby with one breast and supplement it with formula, or completely transfer the newborn to artificial feeding for the duration of treatment;
• mental illnesses, including those identified in the maternity hospital or later. If the mother requires a sedative psychotropic drug, the child is forced to be bottle-fed, because such drugs can have a negative effect on his nervous system.

The unexpected departure of the mother and the lack of expressed breast milk, hospitalization with an older child or hospitalization of the mother for health reasons also justify switching to formula, and often on the same day, because the child needs to be fed something.

— Could staying on the breast for a long time, constipation or colic during breastfeeding be an indication for switching to a bottle with formula?

— The only objective sign of the need for supplementary feeding in the event of a lack of breast milk is considered to be insufficient weight gain - less than 125 g per week for children under three months old, according to WHO recommendations.

Constipation while breastfeeding

— On breast milk, it is considered normal to have stool up to once every five to seven days, but provided that the baby feels normal, nothing bothers him, gases pass, the stool is yellowish and cheesy. If the child is initially predisposed to constipation, then with artificial feeding the situation gets worse.

Colic while breastfeeding

— Colic does not depend on the type of feeding: children encounter it both on breastfeeding and on artificial nutrition. Colic appears due to intestinal immaturity, so you just have to survive it.

— Is it possible to return to breastfeeding after a sudden switch to artificial formula?

- With a short separation between mother and baby, you can completely return to breastfeeding. There are cases when milk returned even six months after weaning. The main thing is that a woman needs to maintain lactation - express and empty both breasts at least every three hours when she cannot feed herself. The milk will be preserved, and when the mother begins to put the baby to the breast again, it will be restored in the required quantity.

Babies who feed a lot from a bottle then have a hard time latching on. The principles of breast and pacifier sucking are different. When suckling the breast, the baby creates a vacuum in the mouth and massages it with the tongue. You suck the bottle with your lips, the liquid flows out of it more easily, and you don’t have to put in much effort. However, if you wish, you can overcome the problem with the bottle and return to breastfeeding.

— What formula and why is it better to start artificial feeding?

— First of all, you should consult with your pediatrician: he can give advice on which formula is best to start with. The general recommendation is that the mixture should be adapted, age-appropriate and take into account the individual characteristics of the child, for example, confirmed allergies.

Modern mixtures have approximately the same “correct” composition. When choosing, it makes sense to focus on a reduced level of protein, because it is low in breast milk: from 0.9 to 1.2 g/100 ml. You also need to look at the osmolarity of the mixture.

Mixtures without palm oil MAMAKO® Premium: amount of protein - 1.35 g/100 ml; Palmitic acid from goat's milk fat promotes the formation of soft stools, similar to breastfeeding.

— Ekaterina Andreevna, how to help a baby adapt to new food and what rules for switching to IV should be taken into account?

— It all depends on the indications for which the mixture is administered. With a gradual transfer, the optimal period for administering the mixture is 7-10 days: on the first day - 10 ml, on the second - 20 ml, on the third - 30 ml three times a day. Next, the volume required for supplementary feeding is achieved. The mixture is given after emptying the breast. If you do the opposite, breastfeeding will quickly fade away.

With a sudden transition to artificial feeding, breast milk is completely replaced with formula. The main thing is to monitor the reaction so that the child does not have allergies, excessive regurgitation, severe diarrhea or constipation.

When switching to a mixture, the stool changes. The child may have bowel movements once a day, and the consistency of the stool may become slightly thicker.

— How often do you feed your baby formula? Can it be given on demand or do you need to follow a strict feeding schedule?

- It is necessary to follow a diet with formula, as it takes longer to digest than breast milk. You also need to calculate the amount of food. If a child receives significantly more than his weight or height, he may develop obesity. On average, bottle-fed babies eat once every three to four hours, depending on their age, with a six- or eight-hour break for nighttime sleep.

Formula for calculating nutrition for children under one year old

• For newborns up to ten days: N x 10 = single serving, where N is the number of days since birth (the child is two days old, he receives 20 ml of formula per feeding); N x 70 = daily volume, which is then divided by the required number of feedings (the child is two days old, he receives 140 ml per day).
• Child from 10 days to 6 weeks: 1/5 body weight = daily feeding volume, which is then divided by the required number of feedings; from 2 to 4 months - 1/6 body weight; from 4 to 6 months - 1/7 body weight.

— What mistakes do mothers most often make when transferring their child to artificial formula?

— Often mothers start constantly changing the formula if they don’t like something. This is unacceptable: a sudden switch to another mixture is appropriate only in the case of identified allergies, mucus or blood in the stool, excessive regurgitation and a sharp deterioration in health. Bloating and abdominal pain can normally occur as the body adapts to a new diet.

It is possible to fully assess whether the food is suitable for the baby or not, if there are no emergency allergic reactions, only after two to three weeks. Therefore, you cannot constantly switch him from one food to another, just as you cannot give him one formula, and then, if it is not available in the store, buy another. If you start feeding formula and it is suitable, then it should be offered to the baby for as long as possible.

— Mothers note various consequences of a sudden transition to formula from breastfeeding, including dysbiosis. Is it possible to suddenly switch a child to formula without harming his health?

— Dysbacteriosis is an erroneous concept. There is no such diagnosis, and it is also inappropriate to test stool for dysbacteriosis. A sudden switch to formula has some effect on the body, but remaining hungry is much more dangerous for a child. In the first two to three weeks, his gastrointestinal tract will adapt: ​​the microflora will change, new enzymes will be produced, so diarrhea, constipation are possible, colic and gas may intensify. But this is a normal reaction to new food. The main thing is that the changes are not critical. In case of acute conditions and reactions, it makes sense to change the mixture after consulting a doctor.

— Do children often refuse formula?

— A child who has been breastfed for a long time sometimes refuses new food because the formula tastes different from breast milk. More often than not, children do not accept medicinal formulas with an unpleasant taste, but they also get used to them over time. And sometimes, after receiving their mother’s nipple, babies simply do not understand how to suck a pacifier. In such cases, they can be helped by feeding them from a syringe without a needle or from a spoon.

— How to determine an allergy to formula in an infant and, conversely, how to understand that a child’s allergy to formula has passed?

— It is necessary to take into account the condition of the baby before introducing the formula. If a child with an allergy to cow's milk proteins, who is already sprinkled all over, is transferred to hydrolyzate, then within 2-3 weeks of therapeutic nutrition the rashes should go away.

How to switch to artificial feeding correctly

• Introduce supplementary feeding gradually, observing intervals. When breastfeeding, skip one feeding completely and replace it with artificial feeding.
• Baby utensils, bottles and pacifiers must be sterile.
• The hole in the nipple must be of a suitable size so that the baby does not get tired or choke.
• Prepare the mixture immediately before feeding. Each time you need to prepare a new portion.

How to switch to formula after breastfeeding if your baby often asks to eat? Feed your baby according to his appetite, but try not to overfeed. There are nutritional formulas on the market that are great for those who are unable to withstand breaks between feedings.

Advantages of artificial substitutes:

• Easy to prepare. Just dilute the dry mixture with warm water and the food is ready.
• Nutritious and balanced composition that takes longer to digest. This will allow you to adhere to clearer intervals between meals.
• There is always the opportunity to prepare a supplement if the child is not full.
• Mom can afford to supplement her diet.

How to switch a child to a bottle?

It is important to first choose a mixture that is completely suitable for the baby. Try to maintain proportions when cooking, watch the serving size and amount of water. And, of course, do not ignore the child’s physical and mental condition. Healthy children, with the correct transition from breastfeeding to formula, will fully adapt to the new diet within a few days.

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition option for a baby, because mother’s milk 100% satisfies the baby’s needs. It promotes the full growth and development of the baby, strengthens the immune system and improves digestion, which is especially important for newborns in the first months of life. Therefore, pediatricians do not recommend giving up breastfeeding even after introducing complementary foods.

Including adult food in a baby's diet begins at six months. During this period, the number and time of feedings are gradually reduced, and after a year, the baby’s daily diet consists largely of adult foods. However, doctors advise maintaining periodic breastfeeding for up to 1.5-2.5 years, until the baby himself refuses to breastfeed.

But mothers do not always manage to maintain breastfeeding even in the first year after the birth of the baby. There may be many reasons for this, including illness and a condition incompatible with feeding. In addition, the milk may disappear or the baby may refuse milk. In this case, the baby is transferred to mixed or artificial nutrition. Let's look at how to switch to formula after breastfeeding.