BREAST MILK
The World Health Organisation recommends continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years or longer. This is because breast milk is a great nourishment for your child and its nutritional composition changes according to your child’s needs. You can breastfeed your baby for as long as you both are comfortable and at the 4–6 month mark, your baby can start weaning and discovering new food textures.
WEANING
Introducing solid food to your baby’s diet
The process of switching your baby from a milk-only diet to one that includes portions of milk and solid/baby food, is called weaning or complementary feeding.When your baby is around 4—6 months of age, you can start to introduce solid foods into their diet gradually, to meet their increasing nutritional and developmental needs.
SOLID FOODS
MILK
Under the Nutri-Grade grading system, plain full cream milk is graded C due to its higher saturated fat content compared to low fat milk. For 1-2 year olds, plain full cream still meets the dietary requirements of adequate fat, protein vitamins and minerals which are essential for their growth and development.
LATCHING & POSITIONS
- Your baby’s upper and lower lips flare out to form a good seal on the breast.
- Your baby’s chin is touching the breast and the nose is slightly away from the breast.
- The areola is drawn into your baby’s mouth.
- Your baby’s cheek is round.
- You may feel the initial tug on the nipple when your baby suckles but you should not have nipple pain or discomfort.
- You can observe your baby’s sucking rhythm to ensure good milk transfer.
FULL OR HUNGRY
BREAST MILK
You can express your breast milk manually by using your hands or with a manual/electric breast pump.
MILK SUPPLY
It is normal for mothers to worry about producing enough breast milk for their babies.As long as breast milk is expressed, your milk production will continue, no matter the mode of feeding. Frequent and effective milk removal is important to ensure a good supply. Hence, do:
Ensure that your baby latches on correctly.
Rest, eat well and drink plenty of fluids.
Express and store breast milk if your baby is not feeding well or is away from you.
Feed your baby on demand. Allow him to suckle for as long as possible.
Reduce caffeine. Avoid alcohol and tobacco smoking.
Breastfeed regularly every 2–3 hours according to your baby's demand and avoid supplementary feeding with formula milk.
Avoid supplementary feeds as far as possible because your baby will have no desire to suckle to maintain the milk production and flow.
Avoid feeding from a bottle or using a pacifier in the first few weeks until breastfeeding is established, as it may cause “nipple confusion”.
CHALLENGES & TIPS
Do not worry or be discouraged if you encounter some difficulties when you first breastfeed.By being aware of the possible problems, understanding their solutions and asking for help, your breastfeeding journey can be a smoother one.Here are some examples of the common problems encountered and their solutions.
RESUME WORK
FORMULA MILK
ALLERGIES
- Plain full cream milk should not be given to infants younger than 12 months as it is low in iron and high in solutes which can damage your baby’s developing kidneys.
- Honey (on its own or in other products like cakes); your baby should not eat honey in any form until he is at least 12 months old. As infants cannot digest the bacteria found in honey, eating honey can cause infant botulism.
- Any food high in salt content like canned foods, sausages, preserved foods, and foods seasoned with salt, soy sauce or chicken seasoning powder; your baby’s kidneys cannot handle one gram of salt or more per day until he/she is 12 months old.
- If your baby gets too used to salty flavours, he/she may be more likely to reject unseasoned food. This could encourage him/her to consume more salty foods and raise future risk of high blood pressure. Instead, use ginger, garlic, spring onion or spices such as turmeric as alternatives for seasoning.
- Any uncooked foods and unpasteurized milk products
- Fish with high levels of mercury — such as shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna (includes bluefin, big eyes, albacore yellowfin varieties), king mackerel, orange roughy, yellowback seabream and dash-and-dot goatfish.
- Any food that can easily be a choking hazard, such as: Small and hard pieces of food (e.g. nuts, and grapes); crunchy or hard foods (e.g. uncooked vegetables); fish and meat with bones; fruits with seeds, and sticky rice (e.g. glutinous rice).
- Commercial snacks that are high in sugar and high in sodium are a big no-no.
- Sugared drinks, soft drinks or fruit juice.
- Caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks, coffee or tea.
Studies have shown that early introduction of allergenic foods (in particular egg and peanut in the form of hard-boiled egg and smooth peanut butter mixed with the baby’s usual food) followed by regular consumption can help prevent food allergy, especially for at-risk babies.
YUMMY RECIPE IDEAS
q&as
ALLERGIES
- Plain full cream milk should not be given to infants younger than 12 months as it is low in iron and high in solutes which can damage your baby’s developing kidneys.
- Honey (on its own or in other products like cakes); your baby should not eat honey in any form until he is at least 12 months old. As infants cannot digest the bacteria found in honey, eating honey can cause infant botulism.
- Any food high in salt content like canned foods, sausages, preserved foods, and foods seasoned with salt, soy sauce or chicken seasoning powder; your baby’s kidneys cannot handle one gram of salt or more per day until he/she is 12 months old.
- If your baby gets too used to salty flavours, he/she may be more likely to reject unseasoned food. This could encourage him/her to consume more salty foods and raise future risk of high blood pressure. Instead, use ginger, garlic, spring onion or spices such as turmeric as alternatives for seasoning.
- Any uncooked foods and unpasteurized milk products
- Fish with high levels of mercury — such as shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna (includes bluefin, big eyes, albacore yellowfin varieties), king mackerel, orange roughy, yellowback seabream and dash-and-dot goatfish.
- Any food that can easily be a choking hazard, such as: Small and hard pieces of food (e.g. nuts, and grapes); crunchy or hard foods (e.g. uncooked vegetables); fish and meat with bones; fruits with seeds, and sticky rice (e.g. glutinous rice).
- Commercial snacks that are high in sugar and high in sodium are a big no-no.
- Sugared drinks, soft drinks or fruit juice.
- Caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks, coffee or tea.
MEAL TIMES
ALLERGIES
- Plain full cream milk should not be given to infants younger than 12 months as it is low in iron and high in solutes which can damage your baby’s developing kidneys.
- Honey (on its own or in other products like cakes); your baby should not eat honey in any form until he is at least 12 months old. As infants cannot digest the bacteria found in honey, eating honey can cause infant botulism.
- Any food high in salt content like canned foods, sausages, preserved foods, and foods seasoned with salt, soy sauce or chicken seasoning powder; your baby’s kidneys cannot handle one gram of salt or more per day until he/she is 12 months old.
- If your baby gets too used to salty flavours, he/she may be more likely to reject unseasoned food. This could encourage him/her to consume more salty foods and raise future risk of high blood pressure. Instead, use ginger, garlic, spring onion or spices such as turmeric as alternatives for seasoning.
- Any uncooked foods and unpasteurized milk products
- Fish with high levels of mercury — such as shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna (includes bluefin, big eyes, albacore yellowfin varieties), king mackerel, orange roughy, yellowback seabream and dash-and-dot goatfish.
- Any food that can easily be a choking hazard, such as: Small and hard pieces of food (e.g. nuts, and grapes); crunchy or hard foods (e.g. uncooked vegetables); fish and meat with bones; fruits with seeds, and sticky rice (e.g. glutinous rice).
- Commercial snacks that are high in sugar and high in sodium are a big no-no.
- Sugared drinks, soft drinks or fruit juice.
- Caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks, coffee or tea.