Baby Nutrition

Q. How long can I leave newly prepared formula or opened formula at room temperature?
Q. How long can a bottle of formula that has been warmed sit out at room temperature?
Q. If my baby has only consumed a portion of the bottle, can I reuse the formula or reheat the bottle?
Q. Can I reheat the bottle if my baby won't feed right away?
Q. Can I reuse a bottle of formula once I have warmed it if I put it back in the fridge once I know my baby won't feed at that time?
Q. Can I prepare formula from powder ahead of time?
Q. What is the shelf life of NESTLÉ Baby Cereal once the package is opened?
Q. Are NESTLÉ Baby Cereals iron fortified?
Q. What makes NESTLÉ Baby Cereals different from all the others?
Q. Do I need to add breast milk or formula to NESTLÉ Baby Cereals?
Q. When should you start feeding a baby NESTLÉ Baby Cereal? What variety should you start with? What varieties should you feed them next?
Q. Does iron in cereal cause constipation? Will this amount of iron, along with iron fortified formula be too much for a baby?

Q. How long can I leave newly prepared formula or opened formula at room temperature?

A. After formula is prepared it should be used or refrigerated as soon as possible. Newly prepared bottles of formula should be discarded if left out at room temperature for longer than 30 minutes. Any remaining liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula left in the can should be kept in the can, covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Q. How long can a bottle of formula that has been warmed sit out at room temperature?

A. If a bottle of formula has been warmed but the baby was not able to feed at that time (if because, for example, the baby fell asleep), the bottle should be used within one hour of warming time.

Q. If my baby has only consumed a portion of the bottle, can I reuse the formula by reheating the bottle?

A. Once a bottle has been partially fed, the remainder of the bottle should be discarded. Saliva naturally contains bacteria that can start to multiply in the remaining formula if it's left out at room temperature.

Back to top

Q. Can I reheat the bottle if my baby won't feed right away?

A. For safety reasons, it is NOT recommended that formula be reheated if warmed or left out at room temperature if baby is not able to feed at that time, as there is an increased risk of bacterial contamination. Formula should be discarded once warmed or left out at room temperature if for some reason baby is not able to take it.

Q. Can I reuse a bottle of formula once I have warmed it if I put it back in the fridge once I know my baby won't feed at that time?

A. For safety reasons, it is NOT recommended that formula be re-refrigerated once warmed or left out at room temperature if baby is not able to feed at that time, as there is increased risk of bacterial contamination. Formula should be discarded once warmed or left out at room temperature.

Q. Can I prepare formula from powder ahead of time?

A. For optimal safety and health, Nestlé recommends preparing powdered formula one bottle at a time and feeding your baby immediately. Unused formula should be discarded. This simple step may help to reduce the possibility of exposing your baby's formula to environmental bacteria.

A simple and convenient alternative to preparing powdered formula ahead of time is to fill clean bottles with previously sterilized water and store them in the fridge. When you're ready, simply mix in the powder and warm the bottle as usual. Or you can try our new NESTLÉ GOOD START Ready-to-Feed Formula available in 250 mL cans.

If you need any additional information, please speak with your healthcare professional, your local public health unit, or call our toll-free hotline at 1 800 387-5536.

Back to top

Q. What is the shelf life of NESTLÉ Baby Cereal once the package is opened?

A. We recommend that the contents be used within 4 weeks after opening the package.

Q. Are NESTLÉ Baby Cereals iron fortified?

A. Yes. All NESTLÉ Baby Cereals are an excellent source of iron.

Q. What makes NESTLÉ Baby Cereals different from other cereals?

A. NESTLÉ Baby Cereals go through a special process resulting in enhanced digestibility, flavour and texture, which creates a more enjoyable feeding experience for both baby and parent.

Back to top

Q. Do I need to add breast milk or formula to NESTLÉ Baby Cereals?

A. NESTLÉ Baby Cereals are available in two formats: with milk and without. "With milk" varieties contain specially adapted milk with the ingredients used in infant formula to better suit baby's nutritional needs. All you do is just add water. Varieties without milk offer you the flexibility to add breast milk or infant formula of your choice.

It is important to remember that NESTLÉ Baby Cereals are a nutritional complement to the other foods baby is consuming at this stage in their life and Cereal is not designed to be used as a sole source of nutrition. The role of NESTLÉ Baby Cereals is to introduce solid foods and variety into the diet and not to replace breast milk or formula. We have developed a product which we feel delivers a more balanced nutritional profile for a baby at this stage in their development and a product which is easier for baby to digest.

Back to top

Q. When should you start feeding a baby NESTLÉ Baby Cereal? What variety should you start with? What varieties should you feed them next?

A. Speak to your healthcare professional about when to introduce cereal and whether the baby needs one or two spoon-fed servings each day. Generally, you should start with single grains such as NESTLÉ Rice Cereal. After a baby has accepted single grains (such as rice or oats) you can move on to NESTLÉ Rice and Banana and NESTLÉ Mixed Cereals. Once a baby has accepted a variety of fruits you can move on to NESTLÉ Mixed Cereals and Mixed Fruits. For more information, please download our feeding guide.

Q. Does iron in cereal cause constipation? Will this amount of iron, along with iron fortified formula be too much for a baby?

A. No. Feeding NESTLÉ Baby Cereals along with iron fortified formula will not be too much for a baby. NESTLÉ Baby Cereals are iron fortified at a level which meets Canadian fortification guidelines. In addition, NESTLÉ Baby Cereals have undergone a special process that results in better digestibility, and improves the taste and texture of our Baby Cereals. The amount of iron recommended by the Canadian Pediatric Society for iron-fortified formulas should not cause constipation. Clinical research indicates that iron does not contribute to constipation.

You've chosen to formula feed and you want to give your baby proper nutrition for a great start in life. What are her nutritional needs?

From birth until her first birthday, your baby will grow more rapidly than at any other time in her life. For example, the average healthy full-term baby will weigh twice as much at six months as she did at birth and three times as much by age twelve months. Your baby's brain will increase in size more in the first year than at any other time.

Rapid growth requires proper nutrition. Breast milk supplies nearly all of the nutrients needed in infancy and is the ideal form of baby nutrition. If you chose to formula feed then your baby's diet will need to supply ample energy, vitamins, minerals and building blocks such as protein and fats for healthy growth.

Providing the appropriate foods at the proper age may seem difficult, but here are some insights that will make this very important job easier.

Lipids: DHA and ARA
These special nutrients can provide benefits to infant mental and visual development.

Vital Nutrients for Infants
You know how to take care of your own nutrition needs, but for your new infant, it may be a different story.

Baby Formula Basics
An introduction to the basics of formula including choosing an formula, mixing and storing formula, and feeding your infant.

Starting Your Baby on Solids
Introduce solid foods into your growing infant's diet to ensure proper nutrition.

Source: http://www.brightbeginnings.com/baby-nutrition.aspx

The nutritional food pyramid that is commonly used contains guidelines for adults, not young children. The recommendations for portions and servings are not appropriate for children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does have a food pyramid for children, but it has recommendations for young children between the ages of two and six. But what about babies? What is recommended for one and two year olds to eat?

Because babies have no food pyramid suitable for them, it is necessary to build one based on what foods and their servings are recommended by pediatricians and parents.

• MEATS
  Babies should have at least two servings of meat each day. These servings can come from eggs, chicken, beef, etc.
• FRUITS
  Babies should have about two to three servings of fruit each day. These servings should come from bananas, apples, pears; try to stay away from acidic fruits in the beginning, they can irritate your baby's bottom.
• DAIRY
  Babies should have about three to four servings of dairy each day. These servings should come from milk, yogurt and cheese. They are easy to digest in most babies.
• VEGETABLES
  Babies should have about three to four servings of vegetables each day. These servings should come from carrots, peas, green beans, yams, etc.
  Stay away from gassy vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Babies are not ready to digest them.
• GRAINS
  Babies should have about four to eight servings of grains each day. These servings should come from breads, cereal, pasta and crackers. Try to serve your baby whole-grain products rather than enriched.
• SNACKS
  When serving snacks, make sure that you are serving healthy snacks that are full of essential nutrients.

Source: http://www.essortment.com/all/babynutrition_rzrq.htm