Baby Nutrition Advice & Bottle Feeding and Nutrition

When making the choice between breast feeding a baby or formula as the main source of nutrition, keep in mind that bottle feeding is actually more work. Bottles need to be thoroughly cleaned, along with nipples and other articles with which the bottle might come into contact. If you're using formula that isn't premixed, then the blending becomes your job. Mixed formula is not to be refrigerated for longer than twenty-four hours, and any milk baby doesn't finish should make take a trip down the garbage disposal. Be assured, however, that formula manufactures adhere to the infant nutrition guide and using their products w ill assure that the baby receives all of the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Nutritional Development

Most babies become interested in solid foods between four and six months of age. Starting earlier than that is risky; your child's digestive system may not have matured enough to properly process solid foods. If your baby is doing great with breast milk, then solids can wait until six months but if you wait longer than that, the child may fall behind on the infant nutrition requirement for its age group.

Infant rice cereal is a good starter food. Try feeding the cereal immediately after breast feeding a baby or formula. The exciting period of self feeding arrives between seven and eight months. Most babies develop enough hand eye coordination by that point. Finger foods are great at this point as well, like small slivers of fruit.

New mothers do require baby nutrition advice. If you think breast feeding a baby is an onerous task, weaning a baby from breast feeding or from the bottle to a big boy juice cup is an even bigger step. Some children tire of their bottle before their first birthday while others take longer. Just be patient and try to give your child what he or she seems to need and want.