Breastfeeding is the best way to feed babies. When the nursing mother suffers from certain infectious, mental diseases and other medical conditions or insufficient milk secretion, or the baby suffers from certain metabolic diseases and cannot be exclusively breastfed, parents should consult medical staff and choose the appropriate feeding method to ensure the healthy growth of the baby. In order to promote the scientific understanding of infant and young child feeding, the Expert Working Group on Infant Nutrition and Feeding Guidance of the Chinese Nutrition Society has put forward suggestions on the current consumer concerns, especially the main issues in the selection of infant formula milk powder.
Hot Issues:
1. What is the best option for infant feeding?
2. What are the other common feeding modalities besides breastfeeding?
3. What are the stages of common infant formula milk powders divided into according to the age of the month? How to choose?
4. How should infants with special diseases or medical conditions scientifically select infant formula for special medical purposes?
5. How to identify infant formula for special medical purposes?
6. The product name does not have the words "Special Medical Purpose Baby XXX", but is the product that is displayed in the ingredient list or marketed with hydrolyzed milk protein added to it a special medical purpose infant formula?
7. For normal infants without functional gastrointestinal disease or milk protein allergy, is it possible to choose infant formula for special medical purposes?
8. Do infants and young children be fed strictly according to the feeding schedule on the formula label?
9. When parents feed infants and young children with formula milk powder, how to judge whether the intake is sufficient?
10. What are the requirements for infant formula milk powder flushing water?
11. How is Infant Formula stored?
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1. What is the best option for infant feeding?
Breastfeeding is the best option for infant feeding and can bring more health benefits to both mother and baby. The World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Chinese Nutrition Society have recommended that exclusive breastfeeding is the best way to feed infants aged 0-6 months, and that complementary foods should be added in a timely and reasonable manner after 6 months of age.
During breastfeeding, the mother should try to accompany the baby so that she can breastfeed and care in a timely manner. After the mother returns to work, she should also insist on breastfeeding, which can be sucked out and safely stored for the baby to eat.
There are also breast milk banks set up by medical institutions that accept breast milk donations and provide them to babies with special needs.
Breastfeeding has several health benefits for babies and nursing mothers:
(1) Infancy is a critical stage in the early 1000 days of life, and nutrition, as the most critical factor in this stage, has a sustained and vital effect on the growth, development and health of infants. Breast milk is the most critical and suitable natural food for infants at this stage, providing sufficient energy and nutrients for growth and development of infants aged 0-6 months, as well as immunoactive substances to protect them from pathogenic microorganisms.
(2) Breastfeeding avoids overfeeding caused by bottle feeding, allowing infants to obtain the best and healthy growth rate and laying a good foundation for their lifetime health.
(3) Through milk synthesis and secretion, nursing mothers can consume fat stored during pregnancy and restore healthy weight faster. Breastfeeding can increase the emotional interaction between mother and baby, so that nursing mothers can get the best emotional comfort,
It can also reduce the risk of postpartum depression and subsequent development of breast and ovarian cancer.
2. What are the other common feeding modalities besides breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed babies. If breast milk is insufficient or unable to breastfeed, mixed or artificial feeding may be an option.
(1) Mixed feeding
Mixed feeding refers to the feeding method of breast milk plus infant formula to meet the needs of infant growth and development.
Infant formula in mixed feeding is only a supplement to inadequate breastfeeding, and mothers still need to adhere to breast milk feeding. It is strongly recommended to use the "supplementary teaching method" to supplement infant formula, the number of breast milk feedings is unchanged during supplementary teaching, breastfeeding is fed first each time, and the breasts are emptied on both sides of the breast and then the infant formula powder is used to supplement the insufficient part of breast milk, which is more conducive to stimulating milk secretion and continuous breastfeeding. The amount of milk that is given is determined by the baby's needs and the amount of breast milk, that is, "how much is missing, how much is replenished". When mothers are inconvenient to breastfeed for various reasons, such as temporary outings, they can use the "alternative method" to supplement infant formula, that is, replace one breastfeeding with infant formula.
(2) Artificial feeding
Artificial feeding or bottle feeding refers to feeding entirely with infant formula.
Giving up exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months of age for no reason is not conducive to infant growth and development and subsequent health. It is worth noting that due to the limitations of breast milk composition research and raw material production technology, any infant formula cannot be compared with breast milk at present, and can only be used as a helpless choice when breastfeeding cannot be breastfed or breast milk is not enough.
Special reminder, it is not advisable to directly feed infants and young children with ordinary liquid milk, adult milk powder, protein powder, soy milk powder, etc.
3. What are the stages of common infant formula according to the age of the month? How to choose?
According to the existing national standards, infant formula milk powder is divided into three stages according to the age segment.
(1) Infant formula milk powder
Also known as "1-stage" formula, it is suitable for infants aged 0 to 6 months, and its energy and nutrient content can meet the normal nutritional needs of infants aged 0 to 6 months.
(2) Larger infant formula milk powder
Also known as "2-stage" formula milk powder, it is suitable for larger infants aged 6 to 12 months, formula milk powder with additional complementary foods can jointly meet the normal nutritional needs of larger infants aged 6 to 12 months.
(3) Infant formula milk powder
Also known as "3-stage" formula milk powder, it is suitable for young children aged 12 to 36 months, as an important part of a diversified diet, its energy and nutrient content can meet some of the nutritional needs of normal young children.
How to choose infant formula?
First, consumers should choose the right product based on the baby's age.
Second, consumers should learn to read infant formula labels.
Recognize the infant formula milk powder registration number on the label. Infant formula milk powder implements the product formula registration system, the registration number is "national food injection word YP + 4 digit era number + 4 digit sequence number" (of which YP represents the product formula of infant formula milk powder), the registration information can be queried on the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the product label content should be consistent with the same as the sample of the registered label.
In addition, consumers should learn to read the age group, ingredient list, nutrition facts list, expiration date, etc. on the label of infant formula milk powder, and compare and select according to these.
Third, the types, contents, sources, etc. of nutrients contained in different products on the market are slightly different, as long as they meet the national standards of infant formula milk powder can meet the nutritional needs of infants and young children. Generally speaking, the price of infant formula milk powder has little to do with nutritional value.
4. How should babies with special diseases or medical conditions scientifically choose infant formula for special medical purposes?
Infants with special diseases or medical conditions such as functional gastrointestinal diseases, milk protein allergies, food protein allergies, amino acid metabolism disorders, etc., need to choose special medical use infant formula under the guidance of a doctor or clinical nutritionist, including milk protein partial hydrolysis formula, milk protein deep hydrolysis formula, amino acid formula and amino acid metabolism disorder formula, etc., these products should meet the energy and nutrient index requirements stipulated in the General Principles of Infant Formula for Special Medical Purposes (GB25596).
(1) Partial hydrolyzed formula of milk protein
Partial hydrolyzed formulas of milk protein are mainly used for dietary management in infants with functional gastrointestinal disease, but can also be used for initial intervention feeding in non-breastfed infants at high risk of milk protein allergy (parents or siblings with a history of allergies). If the infant has a milk protein intolerance problem (such as frequent crying, spitting up, diarrhea, etc.), when determined by the medical staff to be functional gastrointestinal disease (or functional feeding discomfort), the milk protein partial hydrolyzed formula can be consumed for a period of time according to the doctor's instructions.
Milk protein partially hydrolyzed all milk proteins in food formulations are hydrolyzed to become milk protein fragments or peptides. In general, the average molecular weight of milk protein fragments or peptides in partially hydrolyzed formulas should be less than 5 KDa (range 3-10 KDa).
(2) Milk protein deep hydrolyzed formula
Milk protein deep hydrolyzed formula, mainly for the dietary management of infants with milk protein allergy.
Milk protein deep hydrolysis formula all milk proteins in the deep hydrolysis of the formula to produce a mixture of free amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides and short peptides, the vast majority of nitrogen in the form of free amino acids and peptides with a molecular weight of less than 1.5KDa, the formula does not contain food proteins.
Milk proteins include whey protein and casein. Sources of milk protein for hydrolysis include single whey egg whites, whey protein and casein blends, and single casein proteins, all of which meet the protein needs of infants.
(3) Amino acid formula
Amino acid formula, mainly used in the dietary management of infants with food protein allergies.
Amino acids are the most basic structural units that make up proteins, and the human body is made up of 20 amino acids. Infant formula that replaces protein with monomeric amino acids is called amino acid formula. Amino acid formulas that meet national standards can meet the needs of infants for amino acids and can also avoid allergens.
(4) Amino acid metabolism disorder formula
Amino acid metabolism disorder formula, mainly used in amino acid metabolism disorders in infants, its amino acid composition and content in the basic needs of the baby under the premise of not containing or only containing a small amount of amino acids causing metabolic disorders. The most common is formulated for amino acid metabolism disorders applied to infants with phenylketonuria.
5. How to identify infant formula for special medical purposes?
Read the label on the product carefully when purchasing.
Take a look at the product name. The product label main page product name should be "Baby ××× for Special Medical Purposes".
Second, look at the product registration information. The main page of the product label has "National Food Note Character TY + 4 digit era number + 4 digit sequence number" (of which TY represents formula food for special medical purposes), and you can also check and verify the approved registered product information in the "Special Food Information Inquiry" in the "Service" section of the official website of the State Administration for Market Regulation. If the product registration number is not marked or the relevant information cannot be queried, do not buy.
Three looks at the suitable crowd. The product label should clearly indicate the category of infant formula for special medical purposes and the applicable population, such as: milk protein partial hydrolyzed formula (milk protein allergy high risk infants), milk protein deep hydrolyzed formula (milk egg white allergy infants) and so on.
Fourth, look at the storage conditions and shelf life. The product label will indicate the storage conditions of the product, especially the storage conditions after opening. To purchase a product within the shelf life, priority is given to products with a production date that is closer to the purchase date.
Five look at the product label ingredient list. According to the requirements of continental regulations and standards, the raw materials in the ingredient list are arranged in the order of their addition from large to small, and consumers can identify the raw material ingredients from the ingredient list of product labels.
6. The product name does not have the words "Special Medical Purpose Baby XXX", but is the product that the ingredient list shows or markets advertised with hydrolyzed milk protein added to it a Special Medical Purpose Infant Formula?
Products with no "special medical use" and registration number "National Food Note Character YP+4 Digit Era Number +4 Digit Sequence Number" are not infant formula for special medical purposes, and are not suitable for infants with special diseases or medical conditions such as milk protein allergy and high risk, food protein allergy, etc. In addition to whey protein or whey protein (partially hydrolyzed), etc. in the product label ingredient list, there are raw materials from milk, milk powder and other protein sources. These products belong to the common infant formula milk powder with partially hydrolyzed milk protein added to the mainland.
7. For normal infants without functional gastrointestinal disease or milk protein allergy, is it possible to choose infant formula for special medical purposes?
For normal infants without functional gastrointestinal disease or milk protein allergy, receiving intact protein is more conducive to promoting the secretion of digestive enzymes and the further development and maturation of the digestive system, it is recommended that parents choose suitable ordinary infant formula according to the age of the infant, and it is not recommended to choose infant formula for special medical purposes.
8. Do infants and young children be fed strictly according to the feeding schedule on the formula label?
The reference value of the feeding table on the label of formula milk powder is formulated for the average needs of infants and young children of this age, which has a certain reference effect, but it is not necessarily suitable for every child, only for the reference of parents, and should be appropriately adjusted according to the growth and development of children.
In general, mainland nursing mothers produce an average of 750 ml of milk per day in 0-6 months after childbirth, and the total recommended daily milk intake of the feeding table is based on this, and it is appropriately adjusted according to the age of the month.
Feeding infants and young children is a process that conforms to the maturation and growth and development of their gastrointestinal tract, from the on-demand feeding mode to the regular feeding mode. Infant hunger is the basis for on-demand feeding, and early manifestations of hunger include alertness, increased physical activity, and facial expression. When hunger causes crying, feed promptly, and do not force the number and time of feeding, especially for babies under 3 months of age. The number of feedings may generally be more than 8 times a day, and it will be more than 10 times in the first few days of birth.
It should be emphasized that parents should refer to the amount of milk powder and water consumption of the feeding table to prepare the formula milk powder, which is too thick or too thin is not conducive to the normal growth and development of infants and young children.
9. How can parents determine if they are ingesting adequate amounts when feeding infants and young children with formula?
The following principles are observed when using formula feeding:
(1) Respond to feeding
Initial feeding should be responded to, with newborns starting at about 60 ml and adjusting to the infant's response later in each feeding, gradually reaching the appropriate intake for the infant. For infants after the full moon, it is recommended that the total milk intake per day is estimated based on weight and energy needs, which is about 100 to 120 ml per kilogram of body weight. Taking the baby's weight of 5 kg as an example, according to 100 to 120 ml per kilogram of body weight, about 500 to 600 ml per day is needed. Babies tend to appear quiet and content when they have enough milk intake, and don't cry out of hunger.
(2) Feed on demand
Infants aged 0 to 2 months are mostly fed on demand, with no limit of times; After 3 months of age, it is necessary to gradually enter the mode of regular eating, and the number of feedings is gradually reduced, especially at night, which is very important for cultivating good eating habits and adequate sleep in infants and young children.
Formula-fed infants are prone to overfeeding, which, in addition to increasing the burden on the baby's intestines and kidneys, will also make the baby eat more and more, and the weight will increase too much and even obesity. This is mainly due to parental misfeeding behaviors, such as worrying that the baby is not full or has too much urine and the milk is too thick, and forcing the baby to eat the remaining milk in the bottle for fear of waste.
In addition to observing the infant's performance and urine output, the long-term and accurate criterion for judging whether the infant's intake is sufficient is to continuously record the infant's growth and development indicators, such as weight, length, etc. (see attached figure). Parents should measure the length and weight of newborns once a week to half a month, infants within 6 months of age should measure body length and weight once a month, and infants aged 7 to 24 months should measure physical growth indicators such as body length, weight, and head circumference every 3 months.
Infants and young children have their own laws of growth, too fast, too slow growth is not conducive to children's long-term health. There are also individual differences and periodic fluctuations in infant and young child growth, and parents do not have to compare growth indicators with each other.
10. What are the requirements for infant formula milk powder flushing water?
The key to the choice of infant formula milk powder flush water is safe and clean. According to relevant international standards and guidelines such as the WHO/FAO Guiding Principles for the Safe Preparation, Storage and Handling of Infant Formula Milk Powder, the WHO How to Prepare Emulsions for Artificially Fed Infants in the Household, and the CODEX Standard for Infant Formula and Formula for Special Medical Purposes (CODEX STAN72-1981), safe and clean water such as drinking water can be used to prepare formula powder after boiling and cooling to the right temperature. There is no need to deliberately pursue the special commercial water of infant formula milk powder.
In addition, it is also necessary to pay attention to hand washing and disinfection before mixing milk powder, keeping the countertop of brewing milk powder clean and hygienic, fully disinfecting the bottle of brewing milk powder, and paying attention to the inner cover of the milk powder tank and the use of spoons when mixing. It is not advisable to heat the milk in the microwave to avoid uneven heating or excessive heating of the milk. A new lotion should be prepared for each feeding, and the brewed lotion should be fed immediately.
11. How do I store Infant Formula?
First, carefully check the production date and shelf life on the milk powder label before purchasing to determine that the milk powder is within the shelf life; Second, unopened milk powder should be stored in a cool, dry place. Milk powder should be placed in a light-protected, clean, cool and dry environment after opening, and should not be placed in the refrigerator for refrigeration, which is due to the large difference in temperature and humidity inside and outside the refrigerator, frequent daily removal and placement, milk powder is more likely to absorb moisture in the air and agglomerate deterioration occurs; Third, when brewing milk powder, attention should be paid to cleaning hands and countertops, keeping dry, and after each take, the canned milk powder should be covered tightly with a lid, and the bagged milk powder should be clamped with a clip to avoid contaminating the milk powder; Fourth, after opening the milk powder, it should be consumed within one month as much as possible.