All new parents know that the best nutrition for a newborn baby is natural mom’s milk. Breastfeeding is the most reliable, safe, and affordable way to feed an infant. It gives not only food, and protection from infectious diseases, but also emotional comfort, which is now very important for both mother and child.
Breast milk contains all the nutrients necessary for the development and growth of the child in the first months of life, and from 6 to 12 months it meets at least half of the child’s nutritional needs and during the second year of life, it covers one-third of those needs.
But there are times in life when the natural way of feeding is not available for one reason or another. Young parents should then consider alternatives to breastfeeding. Today, the market for baby food is quite a wide choice. Many parents now choose organic baby formulas because of their safety. To make the final choice of milk formula you can help the pediatrician advise, which will assess the health of the child.
What is organic produce?
Organic products are products:
- obtained with complete rejection of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, antibiotics, and GMOs;
- produced using substances and processes of only natural origin, as well as careful and correct processing methods;
- obtained as a result of only certified production, which provides compliance of all production processes with detailed regulations on organic production of the European Union.
The production of all organic products begins with land certification. Even if they are dairy or meat products, the fields and pastures used for livestock production should be given organic status first. The cows that give organic milk must be grazed. Grasses on pastures should not be found with pesticides, dioxins, and other chemicals that can then pass into milk or meat, the land should be certified as organic.
After obtaining an organic land certificate, the farm is entitled to a livestock certificate. Organic meat and dairy products are derived from animals that do not consume growth hormones and antibiotics.
Now let’s answer the question: how is organic production different from conventional?
The studies reveal the following facts:
- organic milk contains 70% more beneficial substances, vitamins, antioxidants, and polysated fatty acids;
- Organic vegetables and fruits contain 25% more vitamins;
- Dairy products have 3 times more Omega-3 and 75% beta-carotene acids;
- Consumers choose organic products for high nutritional value, and for health safety: it is hormone-free, and without GMOs, antibiotics, and preservatives.
Recognizing an organic product is very simple:
- It has a special marking;
- The organic product shall be accompanied by an appropriate certificate, to be certified annually;
Types of organic milk formulas
1. Highly adapted. For toddlers from 0 to 6 months – digit 1. Number 0 indicates that the mixture is designed to feed premature babies. These mixtures contain milk serum and biologically active substances (lecithin, taurine, choline, and inositol), similar in the composition of breast milk.
2. Less adapted blends. They are distinguished by the predominance of casein – one of the types of protein in cow’s milk. Recommended for kids from the sixth month of life. In the title have the number 2.
3. Partially adapted blends. These products no longer contain biologically active additives: choline, taurine, and several fatty acids.
4. Therapeutic compounds. Designed for children with allergies, lactic insufficiency, diarrhoeal syndrome, or acute intestinal infections.
What you need to pay attention to when choosing a baby formula
When choosing and applying organic formula from Europe, always pay attention to:
• Individual development features of your child. For example, you should assess the degree of intolerance to the milk mixture. Some children may experience abdominal pains, allergic reactions, or diathesis. Therefore, the child’s nutrition should be discussed with the pediatrician.
• Gradual adaptation to the new blend. As a rule, it occurs within 3-6 days and depends on the daily rate of the mixture and the number of feedings per day of your baby. Do not «jump» from one mixture to another every 2-3 days.
• Child’s age. Dry adapted baby milk mixture 1 – from 0 to 6 months, 2 – from 6 to 12 months, and dry milk drink «Baby milk» – for feeding children over 12 months.
• The composition of the mixture. It is necessary to have vitamins and minerals, prebiotics and probiotics to maintain a healthy digestive system. Lutein influencing child vision. The absence of palm oil promotes the formation of a soft stool and reduces the incidence of colic and vomiting.
• Shelf life. As a rule, open capacity manufacturers recommend storing for 2-3 weeks. The milk mixture must be used within one hour. After 60 minutes, the remaining milk should be thrown away.
