Could the Size of Your Baby’s Formula Bottle Make Him Overweight?
Parents who feed their babies with formula milk often are worried about how much baby food they should give and whether the size of the baby’s formula bottle can cause overweight or even obesity. This is an important matter parents should consider. But don’t worry – these several quick tips will help you keep your newborn healthy and happy.
Is there really a risk of babies being overweight from formula feeding?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that babies who breastfed (were on breastfeeding only or combined breastfeeding with formula bottles) for 9 months have a 30% lower risk of baby obesity. But obesity is usually caused by wrong feeding techniques and not by the formula itself. It’s totally safe to give your little champ formula food, especially when it’s organic, high-quality, and certified. To be sure, you can choose among the Best European Baby Formulas at BabyMilkBar, like HiPP, Holle, Kendamil, Lebenswert, Lowenzahn, or Jovie.
To avoid a baby’s overweight, first of all, pick the right baby formula for your child. Pediatricians will help you with that. They’ll also measure your baby’s growth over time to ensure that your little one gains enough weight and is healthy.
Tips on how to avoid baby overweight
- Pick organic, high-quality baby food. It should be sugar-free or contain a very little amount of sugar. Also, avoid formulas with palm oil, chemical additives, and synthetic substances.
- Give your baby enough time. Don’t rush your little champ to take the bottle, let him or her take the bottle nipple at their pace. Encourage frequent pauses during the feeding – this might also help reduce the amount of food taken by your baby in case you’re worried about obesity. But, of course, be smart about it and consult a pediatrician to know the right amount of formula milk for your little one.
- Stop feeding when your baby’s lost interest in the bottle, even if there’s some infant milk left in it.
- Choose the right size of a formula bottle. Pediatricians say that using a larger bottle than you should might lead to a baby’s overweight. Besides, there will be fewer leftovers in the bottle after the kid is sated and stops drinking.
- Introduce solid foods to your baby only after 6 months of age, unless your pediatrician recommends otherwise. Some researchers state that children’s obesity can be caused by the early introduction of solid foods rather than baby formula feeding, so don’t be afraid to use formula for a longer time.
- Give fruit juices to your little one no earlier than 6 months of age and limit the amount. Newborns don’t need juices to get vitamins and nutrients, breast milk or formula milk is absolutely enough. Even after your kid is 6 months old, offer him or her only sugar-free fruit juices and no more than 4-6 ounces per day. A good practice is to dilute the natural juice with water 1:1.
If you follow these simple pieces of advice and consult with your baby’s pediatrician to make sure your little champ is healthy and grows according to his or her age, you’ll forget any concerns about your baby getting overweight or obese. And high-quality, organic baby formula food will keep your child nourished and satisfied.