Some mothers are unable to breast feed their babies because of physiological reasons; some are disinclined to do so; and yet others, especially those who are career women, have practical difficulties.
Such mothers may choose fresh milk or Amulspray, which can also be used a complementary feeds for babies who are partially breast-fed by mothers.
Amulspray
Amulspray is a high-quality milk food for babies introduced by Amul to meet the demand for baby food in India. The name Amulspray indicates the process by which this milk food is made. The spray-drying process is widely used to make baby foods in the United States. In the spray-drying process, milk is treated at lower temperatures. This preserves the quality of milk protein better. Protein is a vital factor in the healthy growth of babies and your children.
Purity
Amulspray is manufactured from pure milk which is collected in clean containers and processed in a modern plants with up-to-date equipment. The entire process is automatic, with the final sealing done under nitrogen to ensure purity and freshness. The powder is untouched by hand.
Solubility
Amulspray mixes straightaway in warm water. No need to make a paste.
Digestibility and palatability
Amulspray is a light, easy-to-digest milk food. Babies can be safely started on Amulspray from the very first week. This pleasant-tasting milk food is readily accepted by them.
High nutritive value and vitamins
Amulspray contains all the growth-promoting nutrients in a well balanced formula. It has more and better protein for optimum brain and body development. Carbohydrates and fat for energy. Calcium for bones and teeth. Iron to promote blood formation. Vitamin A for resistance to infections and healthy eyes. Vitamin B Complex for healthy appetite, nerves and blood. Extra vitamin C for healthy gums, teeth and prevention of scurvy. Vitamin D for development of bone structure. Niacin to promote digestion and assimilation.
How to prepare the feed
Use the feeding chart to guide you on the number of feeds per day. The chart is printed on the pack. The proportion of powder and water per feed will change as your baby grows, as indicated in the chart.
Preparation
- Clean and sterilise utensils. Pour required amount of warm (previously boiled) water into measuring glass or jug.
- Add Amulspray in quantity recommended on feeding chart. (measure powder with spoon provided in the pack. Do not heap spoon; fill level).
- Stir gently till smooth
- Pour milk into bottle and feed at body temperature.
(if a wide-mouthed feeding bottle is being used, the feed may be mixed directly in the bottle. Add powder to water in the bottle itself. Put cap in position. Shake bottle gently till feed is smoothly mixed. Remove cap. Put on the nipple).
The milk should not be too hot. Test the heat of the milk against your hand. The milk must be pleasantly warm. By dropping a few drops of milk on your hand you will be able to ascertain this. Keep previously boiled water in a thermos flask to avoid the trouble of having to boil water every time the baby needs to be fed.
Extra feeds
Occasionally the baby may wake up in the night and cry because of hunger. Offer him water first. If he takes it and settles down to sleep again, well and good. If not, do not hesitate to offer him a milk feed.
It is better to prepare a feed and keep it ready a few minutes before actual feeding time. Avoid preparing the milk in front of the baby as it may make him more impatient if he is hungry.
Position of the baby while feeding
A semi-upright position will be the most comfortable for the baby. Do not leave the bottle propped against the pillow for baby to feed himself. Care must be taken to tilt the bottle in such a way as to fill the nipple completely with milk. This will prevent the baby from swallowing air. Half-way through and at the end of the feed hold the baby against yourself and gently pat him on the back in order to bring up wind.
Change over from breast to bottle
A change-over from breast milk to bottle feeding must be made gradually or it will upset the baby. To begin with, substitute breast milk with bottle milk for the 10 am feed, and later for the 2 p.m.feed. After a few days effect the change-over for the 6 p.m. feed also. The feeds at 6 a.m and at 10 p.m. should be the last for the switch-over.
Feeding tables
Feeding charts are meant as a guide. Occasionally the baby will demand more or refuse to take all the milk, in which case do not worry. A good rule is to allow the baby to take as much as he desires. If during a particular feed the baby takes all the milk in the bottle, see that you increase the quantity for the next feeds, till such time as the baby leaves a little milk in the bottle, including that the baby has had enough.
Do not be very rigid about feed timings. Half an hour either way must be allowed, should the baby be sleeping or demand a feed early. Avoid feeds late at night. Follow the same time-tables for bottle feeds as for breast feeds.
Care of the milk bottle
It would be convenient if you have at least three feeding bottles. After each feed clean the bottles with soap and water. Rinse in cold water once a day, all bottles, teats and spoons must be boiled. Do not put a bottle straight into hot or boiling water as it will crack.
Care of the teat
The teats must be cleaned with soap after feeds in order to remove any residual milk sticking to them. Rinse them in boiling water and keep in a clean container for the next feed. A wide-mouthed bottle which has been cleaned with boiling water or immersed in water and boiled, will serve as a good container for the teats. Put the teats in boiling water for one minute every day. Prolonged boiling will spoil the rubber. If necessary, widen the hole of the teat by means of a red-hot needle. Fix one end of the needle in a cork, hold the cork and put the other end into a flame in order to make it red-hot.
Storage
Remember to keep everything ready for the next feed. Cover everything with a clean cloth to keep flies and dust away. If there are no proper facilities to keep the bottle and the teat sterile then it is always advisable to use spoon feeding.
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice must be given to the baby daily after the first month. Begin with one teaspoon of orange or sweet lime juice diluted with a teaspoon of water. If the juice is sour, add a little sugar. Gradually increase the amount till the baby takes the juice of one whole orange or sweet lime daily. Do not warm fruit juice as it will destroy the Vitamin C content. Vitamin C is also destroyed if soda bicarbonate is added to fruit juice.
Fresh Milk
Should you decide to give the baby fresh milk, follow the simple rules given below:
- Boil all milk before use
- The utensils used in storing milk should be clean and kept in a cool place.
- Dilute the milk (half milk and half water) till the baby is three months old. Between three and six months the dilution ratio is three parts of milk and one part of water. After six months the baby will be able to digest full strength milk, i.e. without any dilution.
A great deal of underfeeding is due to excessive and continued dilution of fresh milk with water. - Let the baby take as much as he desires and as often as he wants.
- If you can get toned milk (available in some parts of India) give three parts of milk to one part of water before 3 months and full-strength toned milk afterwards.
- Add one teaspoon of sugar to every 113 gm (4 oz.) of feed. Give vitamins and iron tonic to the baby to prevent vitamin deficiencies and anaemia.