Frequently asked questions
What if my baby has allergy issues?
I am breast feeding. Can my baby still have food allergy or milk protein intolerance?
My baby was premature and spent time in NICU. How can I help her feeding progress?
My baby has growth failure and I am told a feeding tube is needed. Now what?
My baby has been put on reflux medication, but is still struggling. What should I do?
What are normal stools for a baby?
Exactly how much food and formula does my baby need?
Q: What if my baby has allergy issues?
Allergy symptoms in babies can include eczema, reflux, projectile vomiting, excessive spit up, bloating, sleep issues, weak growth, or stooling problems. Before you medicate these symptoms, know the good news: These often respond quickly to the right nutrition intervention. Breastfeeding moms can often keep nursing an allergic baby with guidance on how to change mom's diet and replenish with the right anti-inflammatory foods, probiotics, and nutrients. For babies on formulas, Nutrition Care For Children is also expert at finding the correct solution and has experience using many specialized formulas for infants.
Q: I am breast feeding. Can my baby still have food allergy or milk protein intolerance?
Yes. Some breast-fed babies can react to foods in mom's diet. Using a restricted diet while nursing can work, as long as mom is nutritionally replenished herself. In some cases, babies need to move on to specialized formulas that let them grow better. Either way, there is support and solutions at Nutrition Care For Children.
Q: My baby was premature and spent time in NICU. How can I help her feeding progress?
An important piece for settling good growth for newborns is establishing colonies of beneficial microflora (bacteria) in the gut. This helps babies digest food, and helps the immune system as well. Be sure to use formula or feedings that are not inflammatory, and consider probiotics to help your baby's intestine acquire healthy bacterial colonies. Nutrition Care For Children is experienced in supplementing infants safely with probiotics. Using these correctly can also prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants.
Q: My baby has growth failure and I am told a feeding tube is needed. Now what?
Nutrition Care for Children is experienced with supporting infants, toddlers, and children who need or who are already on feeding tubes. Formula changes or building "modular" formulas may improve your child's growth pattern and functioning. You may also be able to avoid gastrotomy tube insertion for your child by working with alternatives first, like ruling out all sources of inflammatory trigger foods, adding free amino acid based formulas or just free amino acids as protein source, or adding herbs and nutrients that enhance digestion.
Q: My baby has been put on reflux medication, but is still struggling. What should I do?
Reflux medications are intended for short term use. Leaving infants and toddlers on these medications for more than a few weeks may impede normal mineral absorption and digestion of proteins. Ask your doctor how long your baby needs this medicine, and when to wean off. Nutrition Care For Children is experienced in using non-prescription, nutrition-focused tools to eliminate the need for reflux medications in infants and toddlers, and to improve eating pattern, digestion, and growth.
Q: What are normal stools for a baby?
Stools are a barometer of how your baby is tolerating his feedings and absorbing nutrients. Breast-fed babies usually have more stool daily than formula fed babies, and may have three or four small stools/day, especially in the first weeks. They are tolerating breast milk normally when stools are soft or more wet, and gold to brown. Formula-fed babies who are tolerating their feedings normally will move their bowels once or twice daily and will have a soft formed brown stool. It is not normal for babies to have prolonged periods of stools that are mucousy, explosive, runny, foul, burning, hard, pebbly, or difficult to pass. It is also not normal for babies to routinely have fewer than 1 bowel movement per week. If your baby has these signs, consult Nutrition Care For Children to review other feeding options that may work better.
Q: Exactly how much food and formula does my baby need?
This varies depending on your baby's progress for growth, and his age and stage. Babies need many more nutrients and calories per pound than children and adults. Babies who have growth failure may need twice the typical amount. If your baby isn't growing as expected, Nutrition Care For Children can help troubleshoot why and help reverse it by directing you on foods that your baby will tolerate better.