SingaporeMotherhood | Baby & Toddler
December 2013
Happy Tummy. Happy Baby. Find out more…
As a parent you want only the best for your child. So, you weigh every choice you make carefully. You research, you speak to your friends and you consult doctors. You leave no stone unturned when making any decision. Because when it comes to your baby, you’ll do just about anything to see him happy and healthy. And one of the first and most important decisions you’ll have to make is deciding what to feed your baby.
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Your baby’s tummy is different
Think your baby’s tummy is just like your own? Consider the following:
- Consuming adult-size portions of food or water at any one time is something you may be able to do without much difficulty. Baby’s tummy however can only manage small volumes at every feed. So, small frequent feeds will be the way to go.
- You probably get to eat and drink whatever you like without being bothered by rashes or stomach discomfort. But do you know that two in three babies were reported to be frequently troubled by feeding tolerance issues such as fussiness, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, and allergies?*
Nutrition fuels your baby’s growth & development
Nutrition fuels baby’s growth and development, and the tummy is at the centre of it all. Your baby will grow rapidly and, by the end of his first year will weigh three times as much as he did when he was born. A healthy digestive system is essential to ingest, digest and absorb nutrients. These include AA and DHA which serve as building blocks for baby’s brain, calcium for bone strength and protein for growth of muscle tissue. A healthy gut supports daily nourishment and a happy tummy makes a happy baby.
Feeding your growing baby
Milk is essential
- Breast milk is baby’s best choice for nourishment. Designed by nature for infants, breast milk is easily digested and well absorbed so baby will receive all the right nutrients in the right amounts for optimal growth, physical and mental development.
- Fresh cow’s milk is a no-no for kids below one year. Here’s why:
- Cow’s milk protein can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestine, leading to loss of blood through the stools.
- Cow’s milk has high concentrations of protein and minerals, which can stress a young child’s immature kidneys.
- Cow’s milk lacks the proper amounts of iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients that baby may need.
- Cow’s milk does not contain the appropriate blend of fat for growing babies.
- The choice of follow-on and growing up milk formulas, if and when needed, should have all the nutrients to help your child’s overall development, especially AA and DHA to support his rapidly growing brain. Being hypoallergenic and easy-to-digest would also be important benefits to look for.
Complementary additions
- After six months, your baby will need to start have solid foods in his diet as milk alone can no longer meet all his nutritional requirements. Here’s a useful guide:
- Iron-rich cereals, fruits and vegetables are recommended as first foods as they provide important minerals and vitamins. They are also least likely to trigger allergies. Prebiotics in foods such as asparagus and bananas may support the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut to help maintain a healthy digestive system.
- Over time you can introduce fish, legumes and poultry to enrich his diet. Do check how your baby tolerates each new food by careful observation of his tummy and skin symptoms.
- From smooth and runny foods, your baby will progress slowly but surely until he can handle more complex textures and even self-feed.
- It takes time to transit from eating a teaspoonful to having hearty child-size food portions, so make sure to continue including milk (breast milk or formula) in your child’s diet to help supply the nutrients he needs.
Complete & Gentle Nutrition – The Smart Way To Go
Learning to eat and drink is a gastronomic journey that every little one needs to go through. As the gatekeeper of his nutrition, every mum and dad is committed to making it an enjoyable and comfortable experience. Gauging growth, observing milestones and timely discussions with the pediatrician will guide you to the goal post – healthy growth and development – so your child will be well equipped to face the world ahead.
Total Comfort milk formula delivers all the benefits of Similac and Gain that include
lutein, AA and DHA for brain development. Along with TummiCare™ EZ Digest System, it is formulated with gentle proteins and an easily digested fat blend. Its hypoallergenic formula provides complete nutrition with a gentle touch.
And when your baby is well-fed and comfortable you can focus on all the joys of parenthood, with the assurance that you’re feeding your baby nothing but the very best.
*Abbott global tolerance survey 12/08, n=5000/Base: All respondents (including Singapore respondents)
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