Giving rusks and milk in a baby bottle to a baby under 3 months!?

Question

How do I gently explain to my friend that feeding her young baby mashed rusks & milk in a baby bottle is really bad for the baby?

Heath visitors (and I) advised her not to but she thinks its the only option for her baby.

What are the main reasons against this?

Answer 1

NO NO NO NO NO - they're digestive systems are way too immature to handle something like that. She's doing what she THINKS is best for her baby, which is great, but she's wrong. Strictly formula/breast milk for the first 4 months.

Answer 2

There are several reasons behind not giving a baby anything but breast milk or formula for the first 6 months of their life. Nutritionally, breast milk and formula provide everything a baby requires. Introduction of solid foods may begin between 4-6 months for most babies, although some can go longer before they are ready. This early introduction is intended only for the purpose of supplementing breast milk or formula and should not replace a bottle feeding or nursing. A baby's digestive system is not matured enough to digest anything solid much before 4 months. Most of any solids a baby eats at this age passes undigested through their system and may cause intestinal distress. Adding anything to a bottle of breast milk or formula presents a potential choking hazard. It requires a larger hole in the bottle nipple to get an added ingredient out with the milk. If a baby tries to drink at the rate he is used to drinking with straight formula/breast milk, he can choke, especially if he is very hungry. Some people are mistaken in their belief that adding cereal (which I am assuming rusks are similar to) will make a baby sleep better at night or go longer between feedings. Multiple studies have found no truth to this assumption. There is increasing evidence that early introduction of solids has a high correlation to a risk of obesity. The idea behind this is that a baby has a natural ability to know when he is full based on the quantity he has consumed. When adding any extra calories to the breast milk or formula, he does not have the ability yet to know when to stop drinking when he has consumed enough calories thus conditioning his body to take in more calories than he requires. There are some instances when a doctor may suggest cereal be added to a bottle, but these are rare and are generally because of some medical condition such as baby acid reflux or low rate of weight gain. Perhaps if you approach her by saying that you know she wants to do what is best for her baby she will be more receptive to hearing some good reasons for her to stop the practice of adding rusks to her baby's milk. Avoid accusing her of anything since that will likely put her in a defensive mode.

Answer 3

Rusks are not designed to go into baby bottles. Who told her to put rusks in the baby's bottle in the first place? Babies stomach are too sensitive for this kind of food. If the baby is still hungry and she has increased the amount the baby drinks and this is still not enough. Then she should buy a thicker formula.

If none of the above works, then she should talk to someone who has had alot of experience with babies. Maybe that's all she needs is a good talking to.

Answer 4

Cow's milk is made for cows. It has proteins that are undigestable for a human baby. That's why the formula makers have to do stuff to it. Anything but breastmilk or formula does not have the proper nutrition in a manner that a baby can digest. The rusks are frequently given to babies but not until they are older than four months old. Tell her flat out that she is starving her baby by not giving the baby the right kind of food. Bring a can of formual with you if you can, it might help. Talk to (I'm not sure who it would be in the UK, in America it would be a Public Health Nurse) someone about maybe helping her get free or low-cost formula. If she won't listen to the health visitor, it is unlikely she will listen to you but try brining a can of formula, maybe if its available, she'll use it.

Answer 5

I don't know what rusks are, but I assume they're something like cereal, which should NEVER go in a bottle. Babies can choke on solids in a bottle. (Or at the very least, the opening in the nipple gets clogged from the solids and they get exhausted trying to suck.)

Also, feeding anything but formula or breastmilk under 4 to 6 months of age isn't good - their digestive systems aren't ready for it, so the very least will be diarrhea, and at the worst, big-time food allergies.

Answer 6

toddler rice or pureed fruit and veg is approximately all that a 5 month previous could have. look interior the food market on the selection of toddler meals appropriate from 4 months onwards. i've got self assurance for you. i'm attempting to get my son off the breast and that's a nightmare! you should be no longer undemanding. quite a few hours won't be adequate. you in basic terms could refuse to feed and follow it. at last she will grow to be hungry and desire milk, even no rely if it extremely is from a bottle. She won't enable herself starve. If she holds her breath, blow in her face. It sounds unusual in spite of the undeniable fact that it shocks them into respiratory back. you'll be able to additionally attempt putting lemon juice or greater useful nevertheless, that stuff to stop you biting your nails on your nipples. The bitter flavor might act as a deterrent. It won't artwork top away yet after a collectively as she could start to comprehend that formulation now tastes greater useful than boobie milk.

Answer 7

1.Baby can choke
2.Their digestive system can't tolerate gluten(which you can find in rusks).
Why doesn't she try SMA white which is for hungrier babies.That's how i kept my daughter happy until i started her on solids.
And about your gentle explanation.... just tell her that she is plain stupid and that she is butting her baby at risk.Giving solids to such a young baby(even if rusks is mixed with milk its still solid food) is a breedind ground for allergies later in life.

Answer 8

Do a search on starting baby on solids and you will find good info on why we should wait until 6 months. Send her the links.
This is not good for her baby at all. She should be breastfeeding anyway--if she can.

It's good of you to be concerned about her baby!

Answer 9

WTF are rusks?

If it's anything like oatmeal then go for it. No problem.

You negative Nellies that gave me a bunch of negs are impossible. People have been putting oatmeal and other type cereal, mushed up, in a small amount, forever. After 3 or 4 months a baby can handle it, as long as you don't go overboard...just a little
.