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Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION: What do I feed my baby from the beginning?
Breastfeeding is ideal for infants as breast milk provides a baby with the optimal nutrients and vitamins. Information can be obtained from your local GP or Early Childhood Centre. In case your child requires an additional supplement or breastfeeding cannot take place, you should consult your doctor. Should you not be able to breastfeed or choose not to breastfeed, we recommend using Holle Organic Infant Formula 1. Holle Organic Infant Formula can be given as of the first bottle or after the breast feeding period or as an addition during the weaning period. Holle Organic Infant Formula 1 as of the first bottle is:
- adapted from protein using breast milk as a model
- easily digestible with a good taste
- hunger satisfying
- no added crystallised sugar
- gluten free
Holle Organic Infant Formula 1 contains all required nutrients that a baby needs and has been formulated and developed to closely resemble the protein found in breast milk. The protein found in breast milk is made up of approximately 20 % of casein and of approximately 80 % whey protein. In cow milk, the percentage of casein to whey powder is reversed. Holle Organic Infant Formula 1 consists of ingredients, of which 99 % are from controlled organic agriculture. Less than 0.5 % are added vitamins and minerals which infants need, which are however not found in the natural compound of ingredients in breast milk. These ingredients are guaranteed not genetically modified. As an instant product, the preparation is simple and quick:Holle Organic Infant Formula is shaken with cooled boiled water and is then ready to drink.
Please follow all directions on the packaging.
QUESTION: I have too little breast milk, what can I give as an addition?
Effective amounts of nourishment
You will need to determine whether your infant is really receiving enough milk. The amount of nourishment for an entire day, not just for one meal time, must be calculated. To achieve this an infant is weighed before and after each feed. The difference is effectively, the amount of nourishment. Discuss the results with your midwife or doctor.
Increasing your own breast milk production
Please discuss this with your doctor for more detail as some foods eaten by a mother may enhance or restrict breast milk production.
Foods to avoid
Coffee, tea, alcohol, strongly carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, sour berries, everything sour such as sour juices, sour conserves, vinegar, rye, game meat, wild berries, offal, mushrooms
Foods which may increase milk production
Herbal teas (caraway, fennel, aniseed), still or lightly carbonated mineral water, milk and milk products like yoghurt and cream, almonds, oats as porridge or muesli, raw vegetables (no flatulence producing vegetables), carrot juice, natural sweeteners such as thickened apple juice, honey, malt extract, dry fruits.
Introducing Holle Organic Infant Formula 1
If the above or any other method is not successful, Holle Organic Infant Formula 1 can be introduced. The taste is well-balanced, so that a child cannot become dependent to an undue quantity of sweetness. Holle Organic Infant Formula 1, from birth, contains the carbohydrate lactose as well as a second carbohydrate: maltodextrin (organic corn starch). This makes the nourishment more satisfying.
QUESTION: When do I give the first porridge?
After 4 - 6 months, the demand for nutrients cannot be met from breast milk or formula alone. Therefore, at this point, one can start with supplementary food.
The first porridge meal should be introduced step by step. The first attempts of feeding porridges and solid food is new and possibly difficult for your child. At first, a child may try to make the porridge come out of its mouth, rather than feed from the porridge. This is due to a extrusion reflex which an infant has. This disappears at approximately 4 or 5 months or age. Therefore, have patience and continue to try and feed your child porridge.
A small tip: try using a plastic spoon as it is not as cold as a metal spoon and this will be more pleasant for your child.
The first solid food should be a vegetable meal. This replaces the lunchtime breastfeeding or bottle feed. As carrots are mild and very digestible, it is recommended to feed your baby a warm carrot meal for the first solid meal. The sweetness of carrots eases the unfamiliarity of solid food for infants. Begin in the first two weeks of feeding spoonfuls of pureed carrots. We recommend adding 2 teaspoons of sunflower oil to approximately 190 - 200 g of vegetable in the form of a baby food jar or freshly prepared meal. Start by feeding less spoonfuls and increase the amount to that of a baby food jar (approximately 190 g).
The next vegetable meals
Should the carrot meals agree well with your baby during the first 2 weeks, the pure carrot meal should be replaced with a carrot-potato mix. In turn, two weeks later, we recommend adding meat (approximately 20 g) to the pure carrot-potato mix. Meat contains important nutrients and assists the absorption of vital iron. Lean beef, veal or turkey should be used. Another option is to use vegetable-meat baby food jars from organic agriculture. As of 6 months, instead of carrots, other vitamin-rich vegetables or vegetable baby food jars such as broccoli, fennel, spinach or cauliflower may be used.
These lunchtime vegetable meals can be complemented with the use of a Holle grain porridge to create a wholesome meal. Just mix 2 tablespoons of Holle Porridge (favourite type) and 3 teaspoons of sunflower oil with the hot vegetables. Once cooled it's ready to eat!
Non-dairy fruit meals as of 5 or 6 months
The fruit meal is a further meal which should be introduced. This replaces the afternoon breastfeed or bottled formula meal. In this case, simple, traditional fruits should be used such as apple, pear, bananas or peaches. We recommend introducing exotic fruits or a mix of several fruits only after having fed your child the traditional fruit porridge for a period of time. The preparation follows in combination with the Holle Organic Grain porridges. Just mix porridge with previously boiled water, add pureed fruit or fruit from a baby food jar and it's ready to eat! Details for further recipes can be found on the packaging of all Holle Grain Porridges.
QUESTION: Why does cow milk have to be diluted?
Cow milk and breast milk are distinctly different in the protein and mineral content, as well as in the content of carbohydrates. Larger amounts of protein and minerals are contained in cow milk, than in breast milk. These unnecessary amounts need to be separated by the infant through their kidneys into urine. As infants are still developing their kidney function, any excessive kidney strain must be avoided.
It is therefore essential, that in the first 6 months, cow milk is customized to the physiological conditions of an infant, by diluting it with water using the ratio of 1:1.
As of 6 months your child would have developed and added a digestive enzyme. At the same time, food and meals are changed with the introduction of vegetable meals at 5 months and fruit meals at 6 / 7 months, so that as of 7 months, milk must no longer be diluted.
A further reason for the diluting of cow milk is to allow your child to slowly become accustomed to the unfamiliar protein of cow milk.
If your child has any allergies, we ask you to talk with your doctor, so that an exact diet can be designed according to the allergies of your child. The use of cow milk when preparing grain porridges must then only be followed after recommendations by your doctor.
QUESTION: In your recipes, you recommend adding lactose and sunflower oil? Why is this essential?
a) Adding lactose
Sugar, like lactose, consists of simple carbohydrates and are essential for infants. They supply your body with quick energy, for example, for the generation of warmth and muscle movement.
Unlike adults, infants do not yet have any energy reserves. During hunger, which is a sign of deficient energy supply or deficient energy availability, an infant can immediately dispose the energy of sugar. With the decomposition of complex carbohydrates in grain, the energy is only released bit by bit. ( Breast milk contains 7 g of lactose per 100 g). Holle recommends adding lactose during the preparation of grain porridges and meals before 7 months.
As of 7 months, sugar can be replaced by the fruit meals. By then, an infant has developed the digestive enzyme it needs, according to the physiological conditions of a baby.
White household sugar is not recommended as it is strongly refined and is therefore an "empty" calorie carrier.
b) Adding sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is a supplier of essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid and fat soluble vitamins. Breast milk contains sufficient linoleic acid, whereas cow milk only contains low amounts. As cow milk is diluted with water before 7 months, the addition of sunflower oil (see recipe on packaging) is essential. Furthermore, the defence system for infections is strengthened and a longer satisfaction of hunger is achieved. As of 7 months, the undiluted full cream milk contains enough fat properties and the oil is no longer needed. We recommend using cold-pressed sunflower oil or alternatively, corn oil or butter. The use of distilled oil or olive oil is not recommended due to their composition.
QUESTION: We do not want to use fresh milk. Can the milk cereal be prepared using water and cereal only?
Provided that the infant is still breastfed 2–3 times per day, the cereal can prepared with water only for a short period. If breastfeeding is no longer possible, then milk must be used without fail, because milk is an important part of a baby’s nutrition. If a baby is not fed with milk, then it will miss out on important nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium and others. In cases where cow's milk needs to be avoided because an allergy has been diagnosed or a risk of allergy has been identified, an appropriate alternative should be used, for example hypoallergenic infant milk. Organic hypoallergenic food is not yet available. However, Holle cereal baby foods can be prepared using hypoallergenic infant milk. In terms of natural products, positive results have been obtained using other animal milks such as goat’s milk or mare's milk. Vegetable-based milk substitutes such as home-made soy milk or almond milk are not suitable substitutes for animal milk, as they do not contain vitamin B12. They are also provide less calcium and a lower protein efficiency ratio than animal milks.
Rice milk, which comes in liquid form, is not suitable in any way for feeding infants. It is merely a refreshing drink and is not a milk at all. Before starting to use a possible alternative to industrially-produced infant milk or fresh cow’s milk, it is important to consult the relevant specialist, e.g. pediatrician, midwife, maternity adviser. Feeding of children with allergies should always be monitored by the relevant specialist staff.
QUESTION: It is possible to supplement Infant Milk 1 with rice gruel?
Infant Milk 1 is a complete bottled food and does not need to be supplemented with further ingredients. If infant Milk 1 is no longer consistently filling, 1–3 teaspoons of Holle rice gruel or Holle millet gruel can be added to the bottled food. After 4–6 months it is possible to change to using the more filling Infant Follow-On Milk 2.
QUESTION: Your products are made with full grain. Can an infant already tolerate full grain?
Your products are made with full grain. Can an infant already tolerate full grain?
For
over 60 years, Holle has been using full grain DEMETER grains as an
ingredient in our infant and baby foods. Full grain crops are an
integral nutritional foundation. They offer an abundance of important
nutrients and ingredients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, pulps,
vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Pure starch would solely supply
carbohydrates.
As a baby's kidney function and digestion is not properly developed at
birth, babies cannot sufficiently digest raw, merely ground grain. This
is where Holle applies their insight into manufacturing methods. The
sugar component of complex grain starch is partly transformed with heat
and moisture. Through this technique, the grain becomes easily
digestible for your baby.
Holle full grain porridges combine ideal measures with full quality
ratings to make a product which is easily digestible by your baby as
well as having a quick preparation time for parents.
Already the 4th generation is growing up with Holle baby food!
As
a basic principle, all meals should be freshly prepared. After the
breastfeeding period, in the case of your baby waking in the night and
requiring feeding, experience shows that the time it takes to prepare a
fresh meal and waiting until it has cooled, is too long. The longer a
baby cries, the longer it may take to get back to sleep. Also, siblings
or family members could become disturbed. Therefore, it is recommended
to prepare the night time bottle prior to going to bed. If a baby
requires to be fed in the night, the bottle only needs to be heated to
drinking temperature. In the meantime, the prepared formula should
always be kept in the refrigerator. In the case of using formula to
make the milk / porridge bottle meal, this should be prepared fresh
(see multi-purpose product instructions on the back of packaging in
Holle Organic Instant Porridge range).