The milk of its mother is first. But when, for various physical or psychological reasons, it is or becomes absent, your pediatrician will prescribe an baby formula. They are legion. How to recognize?

Milk is a Staple Food

Since his first cry at birth and until he is 6 months period of the early diversification of food where it will gradually discover other, milk is the food Baby exclusive.

Then, until he is 3 years old and in principle it does not scream – well, not in the same way! – And eat everything, milk should remain the mainstay of the diet of the infant. As in many months, he will drink less because he will love other dairy products. They bring him milk and the calcium it has a great need to make his bones.

In the first months, the best milk for a baby is obviously that of its mother. If she can not or will not provide it, it then use an infant milk recommended by the pediatrician.

But because the nutritional needs of a baby change with growth, this milk is not always the same. And because some babies can have problems with digestive disorders, allergies, there are milk adapted to these problems. All are subject to strict regulation.

Milk First Age

It can also be called “formula” because its composition is close to the best of the breast milk.

A standard milk first age is composed of proteins extracted from cow’s milk but have been modified to be closer to those of milk, fat of plant origin (with essential fatty acids), carbohydrates from milk. He must be fortified with vitamin D. There are also vitamin C and iron.

Is that your baby needs from birth to 4 or 6 months and who is easily in all supermarkets and hypermarkets. Whatever the brand, there is always the number 1 after the name of milk.

To deal with different problems, there are also the first milk age for preterm or low birth weight, milk enriched with lactic acid bacteria for those who have colic, thickened milk (with carob flour on more often) for babies who spit up too much of the lactose-free milk for those who have an intolerance to carbohydrates, and very specific milks for babies with allergies. They are in pharmacy.

But regardless of the milk, it should always be reconstituted with 30 ml of water with low mineral powder for a scoop.

Milk Second Age

Its shipping name is “preparation or follow-on milk”. His name is usually followed by the digit 2. These milks second age are also sold in the supermarkets and hypermarkets. They are available either in powder or liquid, briquettes or individual packs of 25, or 50 cl 1 liter. They are recommended for babies 6 months to 1 year.

From 4 to 6 months (six is ​​better than 4) starts food diversification. Baby gradually discovers other foods than milk. They bring him many nutrients but it still needs 500 to 750 ml of milk.

Cow’s milk does not suit him normal again, it contains too much protein and not enough iron or essential fatty acids or vitamin B9, C, D and E. Hence the need for a second milk age.

Depending on the brand, there is also a wide variety of milks. Their composition is clearly regulated. For 100 calories, protein intake should be between 2.25 and 4.5 g, the lipid between 3.3 and 6.5 g trans fat free, but with essential fatty acids, carbohydrates that between 7 and 14 g. They also contain iron, calcium (obviously!), other minerals and vitamins according to specific standards set forth according to a time when the baby grows quickly.

Always consult a pediatrician before taking milk to the milk second infancy age. And never give milk (juice) soy baby even if it is allergic or intolerant to cow’s milk. It exists for those cases of infant age second ideal.

Milk Growth

From the first year, baby up to be a small child eating yoghurt, white cheese, and soup cooked with a normal cow’s milk.

But it still needs to drink milk (500 ml per day) and he now takes for breakfast and lunch.

Certainly, he can drink cow’s milk. But it really does not provide iron or essential fatty acids it needs. If that cow’s milk is semi-skimmed, it did not bring enough vitamins A and D. If it is over, then he brings too much fat. And whatever it is, it is too rich in protein.

This is why milk growth, which also, like other infant formulas, a well-regulated composition, is useful for meeting the nutritional needs of a small child until the age of 3 years. Whatever the brand, all milk growth are measured in protein, rich in iron, essential fatty acids, vitamins A and D, sometimes in C, and other minerals.

The problem with these milks growth is that many are sweetened and flavored (usually with vanilla). And it is not top to form the taste of baby! It is better to choose one that is natural, no sugar or flavors added. Mom what she wants to add to the bowl of milk from her big baby honey or agave syrup or rapadura (this whole cane sugar), a little chocolate powder defatted. This will be much better for nutrition education for the toddler and discover different tastes.

Fatigue is one of those signs that doctors like to call “non-specific.” It can signal a serious illness as the fact that the child played with energy all afternoon! Some tips to determine whether fatigue is a problem and respond well.

A tired child is normal?

For an adult, it’s easy to feel the fatigue, recognize and express it. For children it is a little more difficult although they can speak. While some say they are tired, others may show their fatigue without putting words in a tendency to fall asleep everywhere, nervousness, discouragement, difficulty concentrating, etc..
Fatigue is a normal consequence of any physical or mental activity. But if it does not disappear with rest, do not ignore it.

How to react when my child is tired?

First, check if the cause of fatigue is not in his daily life. There enough time to relax after school? Its activities outside school are they not too numerous or too intense?
Also make sure that his lifestyle is good. Sleeping enough? His sleep is it good? Its power is balanced?
Negative emotions can also cause fatigue. If the family atmosphere is not good or if the child is not comfortable in his environment, he feels may be a psychological fatigue. Talk to you it may allow to express the problem.
If your child has a healthy lifestyle and fatigue remains still, a visit to the pediatrician is needed. The physical causes of fatigue are numerous, so observe the symptoms that accompany it will be useful for the physician.

Fatigue and depression in children

Apart from physical illness, fatigue must still be kept in the eye because it can be linked to the onset of depression.
In addition to fatigue, a depressed child often expresses boredom, a self-devaluation (I suck, I can not, etc..), And takes more pleasure, even his favorite activities. In the presence of these signs, a consultation with a pediatrician or child psychiatrist, is also necessary: ​​the treatments are effective and can prevent a recurrence of depression in adolescence or adulthood.

Snacks, no breakfast, over-sweetened beverages, snack. Are all bad eating habits that contribute to the development of overweight. Here are some benchmarks to cover food at just the nutritional needs of your children and teens.

Nutrient intakes must cover the energy needs and at the same time ensuring growth. The energy needs of children and teenagers from 4 to 17 years range from 1750 to 2500 calories, but these values ​​are adjusted according to age, stature and physical activity of each child. The daily intake should include protein (11 to 15% of total energy intake), carbohydrates (50-55%) and fat (30-35%), as well as vitamins and minerals. This distribution in the different nutritional categories are not necessarily easy to apply, here are some pointers to help you.

6 benchmarks food

1) A milk product at each meal
Equivalences: Œ liter of milk = yogurt 2 = 80g = 60 g camembert county. Girls and young women, adequate supplies of calcium are very important to prevent later osteoporosis risk. You should know that the peak bone mass is reached at 20 years. Milk and dairy products are the best sources of calcium.

2) A portion of animal protein per day (meat, fish, egg)
Specifically, it is recommended per day, 10 g (meat, fish or eggs) per year of age + 10 g, for example, 40 g of meat per day for children 3 years or 80 g for a child 7 years (preferably one serving per day).

3) 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
Regardless of their presentation: fresh, frozen, canned. A serving is about 80 g of fruit or vegetables, either:

A half plate of vegetables or a small plate of raw vegetables or a bowl of vegetable soup;

A fruit type apple, pear, orange or fruit type two apricot, clementine, kiwi or a handful of small fruits such strawberries, cherries, lychees.

4) The carbohydrates at each meal
Bread, pasta, rice, pulses, potatoes.

5) Limit sugar without demonizing
The sugar should be a festive food, reserved for special occasions. It should not be demonized, but we must avoid excess and not accustom children to taste sweet. This often happens with even more sweets and sweetened beverages consumed with daily.

6) Give drink water
This is the only drink needed by the body without the addition of sugar as fruit juice or syrup.

These six markers are put in place rhythmically in the day, that is to say around three meals a day (breakfast is a real meal) and a snack. It is worth noting that the fast food are not to demonize, they must limit and ensure that they do not add up to other meal: a meal at fast food occasionally (once every 3-6 weeks) at the usual time of the meal, ensuring that the portions are adapted.

The risk of iron deficiency in young children is not zero in our developed countries. The period following the cessation of breastfeeding is the most sensitive as a baby goes from milk containing highly absorbable iron in another iron-containing significantly less bioavailable. Better to carefully choose the milk away and watch for signs of fatigue and anorexia.

Iron and Anemia

In the body, iron is found in various forms. Overall, there is the heme iron that is present in hemoglobin, ferritin and iron which is the reserve. If deficiencies in vitamins and minerals are now very rare in developed countries, iron deficiency is one of the few that still persist. It concerns mainly young children under three months. The effects of iron deficiency are significant and result in anemia, which results in insufficient production of hemoglobin and tissue oxygenation, which ends up sounding on psychomotor performance.

Iron deficiency: fatigue, anorexia and weakness

But before reaching this stage, there are also iron deficiency that can be described as lighter and do not result in a marked anemia. Only the stock ferritin is decreased. This condition results this time by a decrease in physical abilities of young children, fatigue and anorexia. Psychomotor development slowed and reduced mental performance. Such a ferritin deficiency can result in behavioral problems: child fearful, irritable, restless sleep. It is also suspected iron deficiency to interfere with hyperactivity. But children who do not have sufficient iron levels are weakened, they are more vulnerable to infections, including intestinal and ENT, which is affecting their growth.

The absorption of dietary iron

In fact, toddlers need very high in iron, about eight times larger than those of adults. At birth, they have sufficient stock for the first six months of life. But then, the dietary intake is essential. Now the iron content in foods comes in different forms, making its availability varies. In other words, it is more or less absorbed, used by the body. So do not necessarily rely on theoretical iron content of foods (milk, cow’s milk, beef, liver, spinach, etc). You should know that the iron in breast milk is better absorbed with a bioavailability of 50-70%. By comparison, the bioavailability of iron in cow’s milk is 5 to 10%, 30% for meat and offal and less than 5% for vegetables.

Furthermore, bioavailability varies greatly with the cooking and the presence of other compounds. Some of the decrease (oxalates, tannins, phosphates, phytates), Others increase as vitamin C, citric acid or lactic acid. Finally, note that the amount of iron absorbed from vegetables and grains increases when these foods are consumed together with meat or fish or other foods rich in vitamin C.

In conclusion, we must ensure that baby receives sufficient iron intake and take into account the degree of absorption of iron for the food, rather than theoretical content. But that attention needs to be strengthened to stop breastfeeding. Indeed, the transition period when one moves on to the milk or cow’s milk is at risk for iron deficiency in the infant. You should choose a milk content of highly absorbable iron guarantee.