photo credit: Qole Pejorian
Do you get a lot of advice from well meaning people and end up it may not be true. Some of the advice may relate to what to feed your baby. Below, I have listed down 5 common myths about feeding your baby and you can find out the real truth about them.
Myth #1: Soy based formula is as good as cow’s milk
Answer: False. The proteins found in cow’s milk formula are closer to that found in breast milk. Hence, it is a better choice to breast milk instead of soy formula. Soy protein is totally different and normally it is the choice if the baby is confirmed to be allergic to cow’s milk or found to be galactosemia. Galactosemia means the baby is unable to digest a sugar contained in cow’s milk and it is a metabolic disorder.
Myth #2: The baby’s first food should be rice cereal
Answer: Not necessarily. Rice cereal is generally recommended as first food because it is a good source of iron and it is low-allergy. However, you can introduce other foods instead as first food like vegetables, meat and fruits.
Myth #3: The baby won’t need much breast milk or formula once he starts on solids
Answer: False. Breast milk or formula should be the baby’s important source of nutrients until age one. The solid food does not provide her with enough calories and nutrients to replace her milk. Therefore throughout the first year, breast milk or formula should be her most important source of nutrition.
Myth #4: Starting your baby early on solid food will help her to sleep through the night
Answer: Highly unlikely. Babies wake up due to several reasons like feeling hungry but the main reason is because they are not ‘developmentally prepared to sleep for long hours yet’. Generally at four months, they can sleep for 5 hours or longer. Hence, do not give solid food early and it is only recommended from the age of four months (earliest) and onwards.
Myth #5: The baby becomes constipated due to iron rich formulas
Answer: False. The amount of iron babies get from milk formula is not enough to cause constipation.
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