Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

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NEWBORN & BABIES

Understanding Colic

Could It Be Colic?
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All babies cry. It’s your baby’s only way of telling you something is bothering him. It does not always mean he is experiencing serious discomfort. Check first to see if he is:

  • Too cool or warm
  • Hungry
  • Gassy
  • Tired
  • In need of a diaper change

Colic generally begins at 2-3 weeks old, and is often defined by the Rule of 3s.1 This is when a baby cries for an unknown reason for:

colic

Beyond crying, other signs of colic may include:

  • Red face and flushed while crying
  • Clenched fists
  • Extending or pulling his legs up to his tummy
  • Passing gas
  • Bloated tummy

A change in crying pattern could be cause for concern.
Trust your instincts, and call your healthcare professional if you are concerned.

What Is Colic?

There are a lot of theories about what causes colic, but no one knows for sure. Usually, it’s not a sign of a serious medical problem. If a baby has a serious medical problem, his cries are usually more continuous.

If it’s any comfort, know that it’s not your fault if your baby is experiencing colic and you’re not alone. Colic affects between 9 - 19% of infants.

There are some studies that have looked at whether there is a link between colic and cow’s milk allergy; however, additional research is needed to better understand if there is a connection to food allergy.

Notes:

1. Quiet the colic. Pregnancy and Newborn website. https://www.pnmag.com/mom-baby/baby-care/quiet-the-colic/