When it comes to formula milk, the cheaper options are no less nutritious. We get the lowdown from the experts.
Parents today pay more than two times what they did for infant formula 10 years ago. A 900g tin costs an average of $56, compared with about $25 in 2007.
It is a hefty rise, considering that over the same 10-year period, the cost of fresh milk went up just 6.8 per cent to $2.81 for a 1-litre pack.
Peiru Ng, 30, who is in public relations, spends $240 a month on about four tins of formula for her six-month-old daughter.
She says: “I choose to breastfeed as I’m aware of the advantages. However, I have been supplementing with formula as my supply doesn’t meet her needs fully, especially since I’ve gone back to work.”
Market research firm Euro-monitor reported that formula milk sales were valued at US$47 billion globally in 2015, fuelled mainly by the growing number of women going back to work after giving birth.
Formulas are largely similar
All infant formula sold in Singapore must comply with the requirements of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority’s Sale of Food Act.
This includes the minimum and maximum nutrient composition in an infant formula, says Natalie Goh, chief dietitian at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.
Infants should be given only breast milk in their first six months. After that, complementary foods should be given, in addition to breast milk (or formula, if breast milk is not available).
When your baby is a year old, there is no need for formula milk as whole cow’s milk can be given.
Fresh cow’s milk, or any alternative milk sources, should not be fed during a child’s first year. The essential nutrients in infant formula are protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus and zinc.
What manufacturers do is to formulate a substitute that most resembles breast milk, experts say.
Bu hikaye Young Parents Singapore dergisinin July 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Young Parents Singapore dergisinin July 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Everything You Need To Know About Direct School Admission
If your kid is good at sports, music or has other talents, the DSA programme may be his key to getting into an elite secondary school or specialised school. Here’s what you should know about the process.
What Is The Right CCA For Your Primary School Kid?
Co-curricular activities (CCAs) aren’t just frivolous frills. They teach kids important life skills that can’t be found in a classroom lesson. EVELINE GAN finds out how to select the right one for your child.
Why You Shouldn't Let PSLE Stress Take Over Your Kid's Life
PSLE preparations start in Primary 5, which means a high-pressure two years for your family. Here's how to support your child so they can do their best.
Should Your Kid Skip A Vaccine Shot?
Vaccinations are a rite of passage for every Singaporean child, but what if your kid is sick before an appointment, or misses a booster dose? Find out the answers to these and other pressing questions.
Separation Anxiety, Bullies And Other Preschool Blues
Preschool is rarely a smooth journey for children. Sasha Gonzales asks the experts how to handle the most common dilemmas, from separation anxiety to having trouble making new friends.
Is Your Kid Stressed About Starting School This Year?
School kids in Singapore are more stressed than their peers overseas. If your kid is feeling the pressure, here’s how to find what's triggering his anxiety – and how to help.
Speech Problems In Singapore Kids: When Should You Worry?
How can you help your little one get over his stuttering? Should you worry that your tot doesn’t speak as well or isn’t as talkative as his cousin? Sasha Gonzales polls the experts on the pressing speech and language issues in toddlers and preschoolers here.
The Most Common Learning Difficulties In Singapore Kids
Struggling to read, write or count is a common problem for many children, but how do you know when that struggle is actually a learning difficulty or disability? Sasha Gonzales asked three experts to tell us what signs to look out for and when to know to get help.
Can You Really Un-Spoil Your Child?
Yes, there are ways to turn things around – without losing your temper. Here, the experts share strategies you can use in common bratty situations.
Bottoms Up!
Using cloth nappies helps save the Earth – and your wallet, too, say these mums who choose not to put their babies in disposable diapers.
