European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Breast milk or bottles babies thrive a on both by Janet do Agostino medical writer new mothers often learn How to feed their babies from their mothers or a grandmothers while the advice they receive May have been handed Down successfully from generation to generation it May not be in line with current information on infant nutrition. A when i first became a Community health nurse All babies were put on Cereal at two weeks says it. Col. Lynda a. Linker chief of Community health nursing at the Frankfurt army regional medical Center in Frankfurt West Germany Quot Over the years that recommendation has changed As we Learned More about nutrition the first decision parents will need to make regarding infant nutrition is whether the Mother will breast feed or use infant formula. Breast milk is considered the perfect food for an infant. But babies also will thrive on infant formula. Mothers who choose to bottle feed should not feel guilty says Antoinette Watkins a registered dietician and health educator for the v corps Community in frankfurt1 Quot there a nothing wrong with bottle  a physician should decide which infant formula Best suits the needs of your baby breast milk or infant formula should provide All the necessary nutrients a baby will need during the first few months of his life. A Newborn will eat six to eight times in 24 hours usually three to four hours apart. Breastfed infants May eat More frequently because the breast milk is digested More rapidly says Patti Kuniak an outpatient dietician at the Frankfurt Hospital. Most bottle fed newborns will not take More than 4 ounces of formula at a time but probably will Start consuming More As they grow. Do not Force your baby to finish the bottle Kuniak says. If your baby finishes All of the feeding add an extra half ounce to the next feeding. Mothers who feed their babies breast milk from a bottle can pump their milk before the baby s feeding. But pumped breast milk should be discarded after 24 hours unless it is Frozen in which Case it can be kept longer. Prepared formula should be discarded after 48 hours. Discard unused formula or breast milk left in the bottle after a feeding. Infants will be ready for solid food at 4 to 6 months of age. Starting solid foods sooner is not recommended because a baby s digestive system May not be ready to handle the foods the baby May not be ready to Chew or Swallow and there May be an increased risk of developing food allergies a amps Gus scan Culli an infants digestive tract May not be Able to handle solid food before child is 4-6 months old. Signs your baby is ready for solid foods include a with breast fed babies the demand for nursing increases. A the formula fed infant drinks More than 32 ounces per Day. A your baby wants to Chew and fusses when other people Are eating. Solid foods should be introduced using a spoon starting with a couple of Teaspoons twice a Day. The first solid food for baby is usually a single Grain Iron fortified infant Cereal. Fruit juice from a cup also can be introduced at this time. New foods should be added one at a time at intervals of five to seven Days. This gives the baby time to get used to the food and parents time to see if the baby is having an allergic reaction to it Linker says. Reactions could include skin rashes or changes in Bowel movements. Solid foods do not have to be commercially prepared baby foods. Parents can make their own baby foods from the foods they eat Watkins says. Foods will need to be mashed blended or pureed to the right consistency for the baby. Do not add Salt or sugar to foods. Instead allow your baby to enjoy the natural taste of food. Quot we recommend parents stick to Plain foods with no Salt or sugar added Quot Watkins says. By one year of age your baby should be eating mashed table foods from All four food groups every Day Kuniak says. Provide plenty of Finger foods since initially Little food May successfully get from the spoon to the stomach. Parents should not be concerned if the baby gets More food on his face and on the floor than in his stomach says Linker Quot they re going to be Messy. They have to go through those  weaning your child from bottle feeding should be a gradual process Kuniak says. Remove one bottle feeding per week. The Best bottle to remove is the first feeding of the Day. The nighttime bottle is the hardest for the baby logo without so it is Best if this is the last bottle to be removed. Generally an infant can Start being weaned at a year to a year and a half Watkins says. Weaning a baby from the breast also is an individual decision and a gradual process Linker says. Some women decide to Stop when the baby cuts Teeth the decision is based on the needs of the Mother infant and family. By 15 months most babies easily can drink All liquids from a training cup. A common question asked by parents is whether tap water is Safe for a baby Kuniak says. Water in Central Europe and on military facilities is Safe to drink. However water in heavily Farmed areas May contain High Levels of nitrites. Some health professionals believe these May be harmful to infants under 6 months. If parents Are concerned about nitrites in their tap water they can have the water tested at the nearest . Military preventive Medicine activity usually located at military hospitals and discuss the Issue with their paediatrician or other health care professional. Local health care facilities should know the location of the nearest preventive Medicine activity. Friday March 30, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page