Infant formula
There's no doubt about it: breast milk is the ideal food for every infant. But please don't put your baby under pressure, don't stress and above all don't panic if breastfeeding doesn't work or doesn't always work.
Breast milk is a real magic potion:
It reduces the risk of developing allergies.
It reduces the risk of developing obesity later in life.
It strengthens the immune defence.
It ensures that the transition to complementary foods is often more successful.
It is therefore not unimportant that breastfeeding is successful. Midwives, breastfeeding counsellors, paediatricians and their male colleagues are happy to help if not everything goes smoothly. BUT: The world doesn't fall apart if breastfeeding doesn't work for whatever reason. The most important thing is to stay calm! Experience has shown that the more stress and pressure mums and those around them put on themselves, the less likely it is to work.
The "Gesund ins Leben" network provides an overview of the benefits of breast milk and suitable measures to promote breastfeeding: www.gesund-ins-leben.de/inhalt/stillfoerderung-geht-alle-an-31353.html.
Very good, high-quality ready-made foods are available as an alternative. These are all subject to strict legal requirements regarding their composition. Very, very many things are precisely specified, for example the composition of fats and proteins. All the more reason for manufacturers to use the few remaining freedoms they have to show off in terms of marketing. Suddenly there is talk of adding prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics and HMOs (human milk oligosaccharides). Don't let this confuse or impress you. There is no need for us to discuss all these supplements here. Only one thing is important for you: everything on the market is okay.
But you can still pay attention to this:
When it comes to protein content, you should tend to stay in the lower range of the prescribed standard (EXCEPT: always consult your paediatrician for premature babies)
If there is a family history of allergies, so-called HA foods (hypoallergenic) are available.
In terms of fat composition, care should be taken to ensure that polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are added.
It is also important to ensure that the recommended mixing ratio of water to powder is always observed when producing ready-made milk; water should be boiled and cooled to below 40 degrees Celsius. Under normal circumstances, tap water can be used, unless there is known to be a very high level of nitrate or lead contamination locally.
Information from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/empfehlungen-zur-hygienischen-zubereitung-von-pulverfoermiger-saeuglingsnahrung.pdf.
Special foods for increased reflux or severe colic should always be discussed with the paediatrician. The same applies to special therapeutic foods, e.g. cow's milk allergy or metabolic problems.
Further interesting tips
"Picky Eating"
Many parents are familiar with this: there's stress and arguments at the dinner table because the little one only eats the cheese or sausage - but not the bread. And definitely not cucumber - or even broccoli!!! Whatever the case may be, children can be terribly particular eaters. Under certain circumstances, this is known as "picky eating".
Children's hospice services
A very serious, sad topic, but one that is incredibly important. And interestingly, if you take a closer look, it also has many beautiful, cheerful aspects. It's about children's hospice work.
Self-harming behaviour I
Today we are looking at a really serious topic: self-harming behaviour in young people. Unfortunately, we've been seeing more and more of this in surgeries in recent years. It typically becomes an issue from the age of around 14. It occurs more frequently in girls, but also in boys, also increasingly in recent years.