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An
organic diet can be more beneficial
during the first few months of the life of a baby than at any
other time. Babies have immature eating systems and need the
very purest and safest foods. Babies eat more food per kilogram
of body weight than adults – risking eating, on this basis, up
to five times more chemical residues in ordinary foods than
adults.
Breastfeeding
is best for babies. It is important that, while breastfeeding,
you eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and rest whenever you
can. For help with breastfeeding, speak to your health
professional or breastfeeding counsellor.
Infant milks are
intended to replace breast milk when mothers cannot or choose
not to breastfeed. It is recommended that they should be used
only on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public
nurse, die titian or pharmacist.
If you are
considering changing over from breastfeeding, talk to your
midwife, health visitor, or breastfeeding counsellor first, as
it is not easy to go back once you've made the change. Partial
bottle feeding with infant milk may reduce the supply of your
breast milk.
The cost and social
implications of using infant milk should be considered when
deciding how to feed your baby. If you choose to bottle feed, it
is very important that you use infant milk throughout the first
year (follow-on milks can be used from 6 months). Cow's milk is
not recommended as the main milk drink until after 1 year of
age.
If you use an infant
milk or follow-on milk, it is important for your baby's health
that you follow all preparation instructions very carefully.
Failure to choose an appropriate feed or to use it correctly can
be harmful to your baby’s health.
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