5 Baby Feeding Myths – What Every Parent Should Know!

From bottle to brunch, the journey from breast or bottle through to solids is an exciting voyage of discovery for your little one. But for new parent’s access to accurate information and guidance can often be clouded by the well meaning advice of grandparents, friends, family and the internet. Read on as we work to separate baby myths from baby reality.

Allergic to Mum’s Milk

Myth: Some babies are actually allergic to their mother’s milk.

Reality: It is totally untrue, no baby is allergic to it’s mother’s milk.

Professional Advice: When a baby begins to spit up or refuse the breast, it is easy to misinterpret this as a signal that the baby is allergic to it’s mothers’ milk. However this is biologically impossible. It is true though that babies can have an allergic reaction to the foods the mother is eating (during breastfeeding), including cow’s milk.

Tip: If breastfeeding try the ARDO Calypso Ultimate Pump Pack a double electric breastpump for breastfeeding and expressing mums on the go!

Giving Water to Breastfed Babies

Myth: Even breastfed babies need water supplementation

Reality: The only fluid your baby requires is breast milk.

Professional Advice: Most healthcare professionals will attest to ‘breast is best; whenever possible and women should not feel they need to supplement their baby with water or any other fluid for hydration. Pediatricians recommend the introduction of other fluids at the same time as your baby begins to eat solids, which is usually around 4-6 months. For those mothers who choose to formula feed their baby, it is advised to check with your pediatrician for best practice.

Tip: If you’ve started your baby on solids why not use the  Beaba Babycook Rose Gold. It ensures healthy, nutritious meals for your baby with the brilliant 4-in-1 multi-functional food preparation system designed to steam, blend, defrost and reheat

Conceiving While Breastfeeding

Myth: It’s not possible to fall pregnant if you’re breastfeeding.

Reality: Breastfeeding is not a foolproof nor reliable method of birth control.

Professional Advice: Often myths thrive because there is an element of truth to them. If a new mum is breastfeeding exclusively – no supplementary fluids, no solids, pumping or regular feeds then it is highly improbable that she would successfully conceive in those first few months post delivery. However, she will remain vulnerable to falling pregnant after those first few months have passed and is at increased risk as her menses returns.

Tip: If you are breastfeeding exclusively make sure to support your body with  Pregnacare Breastfeeding Supplement. It is uniquely formulated with key specific ingredients for the postnatal period, including extra calcium and essential fatty acids. And created to help support new mothers throughout the postnatal and breast-feeding period

Food Allergy Must-Knows

Myth: If the parent’s suffer with a food allergy the baby will too.

Reality: What may trigger a food allergy in you, may not cause a reaction for your baby.

Professional Advice: Whilst it is true that particular types of allergies run in families, it is not necessarily true that if Mum or Dad are allergic to something, that their baby will follow suit. However it does pay to better educate everyone and to be tuned into potential triggers.

Tip: Hygiene is paramount in keeping baby well, so ensure optimal bottle sterilization with the Avent Electric Steam 3-in-1 Sterilizer. Flawless hygiene is vital when caring for infants, making the Avent 3-in-1 Sterilizer an essential choice for parent

Whole Milk vs. Skim Milk

Myth: Children should not be allowed to consume low fat or slim milk until they are of school age.

Reality: You can usually change to lower-fat cow’s milk from the age of 2.

Professional Advice: Previously whole milk was recommended to toddlers, however this has been revised in the hope of reducing childhood obesity. Make sure to consult with your pediatrician for guidance on this matter but recent studies show that babies who are at risk of being overweight should be started on 2% milk after their first birthday and switched to 1% milk when they turn 2. In all cases babies should not be given cow’s milk until their first birthday. As every toddler is individual we recommend consulting your health care professional for guidance on this issue if applicable.

Tip: If you continue to breastfeed or express as your child grows older a breast pump such as the  Ardo Amaryll Manual Breast Pump comes complete with features included in hospital grade pumps and encourages a faster flow of milk through a gentle massage effect.