Follow-up milk and junior milk - which formula to choose after breastfeeding?

By the time your baby is six months old, milk, while still the mainstay of his diet, gradually ceases to be his only food. And while breast milk is still the best choice, sometimes you need to use formula alongside it. It will be slightly different from the original milk because the baby's needs change. Since when can I give the next milk? How to introduce them into the diet? What is "junior" milk and when to choose it?

dr n. farm. Maria Kaspshak

Follow-up milk – after starting milk or breastfeeding

Although breastfeeding provides the child with the greatest health benefits and should continue for as long as possible (at least up to a year, or even up to 2-3 years), the realities of life often force a mother to stop breastfeeding earlier. Sometimes breastfeeding is not possible at all, so your baby is given infant formula from birth. Regardless of the previous feeding method, if the mother decides to introduce modified milk into the baby's diet after the sixth month of life, it should be the so-called Follow-up formula, also known as “follow-up formula”, marked on the package with the number 2. Follow-up milk is slightly different from the original milk. It usually contains more protein, iron and vitamin D, and the nutritional composition is tailored to the needs of a slightly older child. It is important to note that the next milk cannot be the only food for the child - during this period, the gradual expansion of the diet with the first complementary foods begins.

How to introduce the following milk into the baby's diet?

Any changes in the diet of an infant or young child should be made gradually, in small steps. Thus, we will give the tummy time to get used to the changes. If the next milk is introduced after breastfeeding, you can gradually reduce the number of feedings and replace the portion of mother's milk with the next - first one, then two, etc. of the mother and child. It is best to consult with a doctor, midwife or lactation consultant who is familiar with the mother and baby. The specialist will help you schedule this shift and suggest the type of milk for the next one that best suits your baby's individual needs.

The transition from baby milk to the next milk should also be carried out gradually, carefully observing the reaction of the child. Here you can use the "portion by portion" method, i.e. first give the child one serving of milk for the next, and at other meals give the original milk, after a while replace two servings, then three, etc., until finally it is completely transferred to the next milk.

Another way is “measure for measure”. It can be used especially when you are switching to the next milk from the same manufacturer that uses the same scoops and the preparation method of its preparations is standardized. If (for example) you are using three scoops of powder per serving of milk, you can give two scoops of old milk and one scoop of new milk first. Then, when everything is in order, you can add two scoops of the next milk and one scoop of the original milk. The next step is to use only the next milk. If your child drinks more and uses more scoops of powder, the process will involve more steps. Here, again, it is better to consult with a specialist who cares for this child so that he can help draw up a detailed plan for such a change.

Junior milk for children over one year old.

Follow-up milk is usually given to healthy babies up to a year old. A one-year-old child, by formal definition, ceases to be an "infant" and belongs to the group of "small children", i.e. children aged 13-36 months (1-3 years). The diet of such a child is usually quite diverse, but he still needs milk. The older the child, the less milk he needs and more other foods. However, even infants over one year of age are encouraged to breastfeed in addition to other meals. Mother's milk is always formulated according to the needs of the baby and also helps to protect him from infections.

However, most one-year-olds in Poland are no longer breastfed and can then be given dairy products in the form of modified infant milk (milk infant formula). Its production is no longer regulated as strictly as the production of baby milk. Junior milk is products labeled with the number 3 (for children 12-24 months old), 4 (for two-year-olds), and some manufacturers even produce milk 5 (for children over 2,5 years old). New junior milk should also be introduced gradually into the baby's diet, especially if it is the first formula after breastfeeding or when changing brands.

It is worth remembering that if the child is healthy and does not have allergies, then after the child reaches the age of one, you can slowly let him try regular milk and sour-milk products. If your child can tolerate them, you can gradually increase the amount of dairy in his diet. However, infant formula should be given to young children as it is fortified with iron, vitamin D and essential fatty acids. These ingredients are very important for the development of young children and may be deficient in normal diets.

Drinking milk – how is łaciate junior made of cardboard different from ordinary milk?

In grocery stores, you can find popular brands of milk in colorful packaging, labeled "junior" and advertised as being made specifically for children - those who are a little older, of course, who no longer need to receive modified milk. This "youth" milk has nothing to do with milk mixtures, it's just full-fat cow's milk. When we look at the nutritional information table on this package, we see that this milk differs from regular milk only by a higher fat content of about 3,8%, compared to the most commonly sold milk, 3,2% or 2%. Manufacturers claim that higher fat milk is more nutritious for the baby. The fact is that it has more calories and the content of fat-soluble vitamins can be correspondingly higher than in skim milk. Full-fat milk may taste better, as fat is a flavor carrier. In practice, however, this does not matter much, as preschool and school-age children typically eat a wide variety of foods, including butter and other fats. So it seems to be of minor importance whether a child drinks a breakfast sandwich with full-fat or skim milk. The most important thing is that the diet of a child of all ages, like the diet of an adult, should be varied and formulated in such a way as to provide him with all the ingredients necessary at this stage of development.

Bibliography

1. “Children's Nutrition Guide. Step by step from birth to first birthday.
2. Hoysack I., Bronski J., Campoy S., Domelleuf M., Embleton N., Fiedler Mies N., Hulst J., Indrio F., Lapillonne A., Molgaard S., Vora R., Feutrell M.; ESPGHAN Nutrition Committee. Formula for Young Children: Position Paper of the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018 January; 66(1): 177-185. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001821. PMID: 29095351.
3. COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2006/141/EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formula and complementary foods and amending Directive 1999/21/EC (Text relevant to the EEA) (OJ L 401, 30.12.2006, p. . one)

Mother's milk is the best way to feed babies. Modified milk supplements the diet of children who, for various reasons, cannot be breastfed.