Watering down infant formula

As most of you are aware WIC is a supplemental program meaning we can only provide some of your basic needs. When it comes to infant formula we have seen more and more parents watering formula down to make each can last longer. This is a very dangerous practice for several reasons.

1. Your baby is not receiving the appropriate amount of calories in each bottle. This will malnourish your baby and can cause weight loss or other health issues.

2. Your baby may be drinking too much water. Water in large quantities can be toxic to young babies.

3. You may have a fussy and unhappy baby because he will always be hungry if he is not allowed to eat the right amount of food.

When making formula be sure you are making it in accordance with the directions on the can or container.

How to mix powdered infant formula

For proper mixing, follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
2. Measure and pour desired amount of water into a bottle

*1 scoop of formula for every 2 fl.oz of water.

If your baby eats 2oz. of formula, you should be mixing 1 scoop with 2 fl. oz. of water.
If your baby eats 4oz. of formula, you should be mixing 2 scoops with 4fl. oz. of water.
If your baby eats 6oz. of formula, you should be mixing 3 scoops with 6fl. oz. of water.

3. Add unpacked, level scoop(s) of powder as directed to the bottle. Return dry scoop to can.
4. Stir formula until mixed thoroughly
5. Feed or store immediately in refrigerator.

Well, what if your baby eats 3oz, 5oz or 7oz at each feeding?? It is not recommended to use half scoops when making formula for 2 reasons. You will either have formula that is lacking the right amount of calories for the baby or you will have a formula that is too concentrated; concentrated formula can potentially cause constipation. If your baby is eating 3 oz. of formula, make 4 oz. and discard the extra ounce. If your baby  eats 5oz. make 6oz. and for 7oz. make 8oz. It is not a good idea to feed the last ounce to the baby later during the day because the bacteria on the bottle nipple from the baby's mouth earlier will be reintroduced. Always start each feeding with a clean bottle.

Another tip many moms have found helpful is to stir the formula in the bottle rather than shake the bottle. Shaking the bottle and feeding it to the baby without letting the bubbles settle can give your baby gas.

How to warm formula

Formula does not need to be warmed. If you choose to feed warmed formula, do not microwave it. It can cause "hot spots" that could burn your baby. Instead, set the filled bottle in a bowl of warm (not boiling) water or hold the bottle under warm tap water. Sprinkle a few drops of formula on the inside of your wrist to make sure it is not too hot.

How to store formula

Once opened, powder formula containers should be closed and stored in a cool, dry place — not in the refrigerator. Avoid extreme temperatures. Use contents within one month.
Once mixed, feed immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container, and use within 24 hours. See the label for specific instructions.
Do not leave prepared formula at room temperature and do not freeze it, because doing so can cause the protein and fat to separate



Keep this important fact in mind as well, when your baby has used all of the formula WIC provides and you need to purchase additional formula, remember store brand formulas such as Parents Choice (Walmart) contain the same nutrition as name brand formulas such as Similac or Enfamil and are usually much more inexpensive. This is a common misconception when purchasing additional formula. The baby will still be fed the same food, just at a much lower price. If you have concerns follow up with your doctor.

** Some of the above directions and recommendations are taken directly from Similac's website. Visit http://similac.com/feeding-nutrition/formula-feeding/making-a-baby-bottle#article-section-6 for more formula feeding tips and as always talk to your doctor with any concerns.

** It is always recommended to breastfeed your infant for optimal health.

Christy Redmond
Nutritionist Senior

Just say NO to cereal in the bottle!

It seems like as soon as you are pregnant, you are bombarded with all kinds of "advice" about how to feed and care for your baby. Alot of it is unwanted, some of it comes from healthcare professionals and is good advice, and some of the "advice" can be harmful! One particularly common peice of advice we hear alot in the clinic is the advice to put cereal in a baby's bottle. This is one of those things you may hear from your mother, grandmother, peers, and other family members. This practice can be particularly harmful and it is not recommended.

Putting cereal in baby's bottle at any age is harmful due to several reasons:

1. Cereal thickened formula for a young baby is a choking hazard! Young infants do not have the developmental skills to handle textured foods yet. Often a baby is given a cereal thickened bottle and layed down to go to sleep. The baby can choke or aspirate (inhale) and no one is there to know it! This is a double no-no. You should never prop a bottle up or give a baby a bottle while laying down and you should never put cereal in a baby's bottle.
2. Cereal in a baby's bottle can overfeed the baby. Do you know that overstuffed, overtired feeling we get after eating Thanksgiving dinner or another large meal? That doesn't always feel good. Do you want your baby to feel that way?
3. Putting cereal in a bottle messes up the perfect nutrition balance of formula or breastmilk. Your baby's milk is specially formulated to have the perfect balance of nutrients your baby needs. Don't mess it up by adding cereal, baby foods, or other items to your baby's bottle.
4. You have decided to bottle feed because you do not wish to breastfeed or breastfeeding did not work out for you. You want to bottle feed as if you were breastfeeding. Always hold your baby when you feed them. Feed them when they are hungry and stop when they are full (don't make them finish a bottle if the baby stops sucking, pushes the nipple out, or you see milk dripping out of the corners of the baby's mouth- these are all signs that your baby is done). And do your breasts have cereal in them? I didn't think so...
5. Putting cereal in the bottle usually means you are introducing solids too early because your baby cannot eat off of a spoon yet. Introducing solids too early can put your baby at increased risk for food allergies and obesity. Wait until your baby is old enough to eat off of a spoon (usually around 6 months). Breastmilk or formula is all your baby needs for the first 6 months of life.
6. Cereal thickened formula can cause constipation and tummy aches.

In very rare cases of severe reflux your doctor may recommend thickening the baby's milk with rice cereal. Cereal in the bottle should always be a very last resort. There are other ways to manage severe reflux and special formulas that are made already thickened so that the nutritional balance is not messed up. Please discuss these options with your doctor before putting cereal in the bottle and definitely don't put cereal in your baby's bottle otherwise!

If you are having feeding difficulties or have questions about introducing solids, please call your local health department and ask to speak with a nutritionist.

-Allison Leonard RD

Changes to Special Formulas

In the next few weeks and through the next few months, there will be changes to a few of the WIC approved special formulas.

Vital Jr.

-Change scheduled for mid July

-Same formula, new name. Vital Jr. will be changing its name to PediaSure Peptide.

EleCare

- Beginning August 1st, there will be an EleCare (prescribed for infants) and an EleCare Jr. (prescribed for children over the age of one). Also, there will be slight changes to the current formula to better meet the nutritional needs of infants and toddlers.

Neocate

-As of October 1st, Neocate will be discontinued and Neocate DHA/ARA can be used as a replacement.

If your infant or toddler uses any of the above WIC approved formulas, you will need to bring in a new form for special formula from your child's doctor.

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