Nowadays, more and more mothers are using Meiji milk for their babies due to its good quality and balanced nutrition, which helps babies develop comprehensively both physically and intellectually. But even good milk won’t do any good if it’s not prepared correctly. So, how should Japanese Meiji milk be prepared to ensure the best for the baby and the most economical for the mother?
These are the 8 mistakes you should avoid when preparing Meiji milk for your baby
- Pre-mixing Meiji milk for the baby
Many mothers think that pre-mixing Meiji milk is convenient and quick; whenever needed, they just have to warm it up a bit for the baby to drink. Some mothers even prepare a large bottle and store it in the refrigerator for the baby to use gradually for 1-3 days.
Do not pre-mix and store too much Meiji milk for your baby in the refrigerator
This is a misconception! Because once Meiji milk is mixed, it can only be kept at room temperature for 2 hours. Even if it’s stored in the refrigerator after mixing, it can only be kept for about 24 hours. If the milk is kept too long and given to the baby, it can cause diarrhea.
Usually, pre-mixed milk isn’t as appealing to babies as freshly prepared milk. Because it’s been stored, the nutritional content and flavor of the milk aren’t as intact as when it was just mixed. Therefore, to ensure the best for the baby and save money for the mother, it’s best to mix the milk right before feeding time, and only mix the amount the baby needs.
- Mixing Meiji milk for babies with mineral water or purified bottled water
Mineral water contains a lot of calcium and sodium, which is not good for mixing baby formula
Some cautious mothers use mineral water or purified bottled water instead of regular tap water to mix Meiji milk for their babies. They think bottled water is cleaner than tap water and that the minerals (sodium, calcium, etc.) in the water provide additional minerals for the baby when mixed with baby formula.
But sometimes, being too cautious can harm the baby! Mineral water contains high levels of minerals, and when mixed with Meiji milk, it can lead to an excess of minerals, which is not good for the baby. Excess calcium can cause kidney stones, reduced kidney function, constipation, and reduced absorption of other minerals (iron, magnesium, zinc). Excess sodium can make the baby tired, dehydrated, and thirsty, and in the long run, it can lead to high blood pressure.
Also, mixing mineral water with Meiji milk can create some intermediary substances that may be harmful to the baby. Therefore, the ideal water for mixing formula is boiled and cooled natural water.
- Saving leftover milk for the baby to drink later
If the baby doesn’t finish the milk, discard it or you can drink it
Some mothers are thrifty and store leftover milk in the refrigerator to warm up and reuse later. This is not good for the baby because when the baby sucks on the nipple, bacteria from the air and the baby’s mouth can enter and stay in the milk, affecting their health and potentially causing diarrhea.
Usually, once the baby has put their mouth on the bottle, the milk can only be used for about an hour. Unconsumed mixed milk should not be kept for more than 2 hours.
Do not prolong the baby’s feeding time. After that period, discard the leftover milk, or to save it, you can drink the Meiji milk yourself.
- Mixing Meiji milk with thin porridge
Never mix Meiji milk with thin porridge
Some babies are fussy eaters and drinkers, so mothers might mix Meiji milk with thin porridge to make it easier to feed the baby in one go. However, mothers don’t realize that Meiji milk contains a lot of vitamin A, while thin porridge mainly consists of starch and lipoxygenase, which destroys vitamin A. Therefore, by mixing Meiji milk with rice/porridge water, mothers unintentionally eliminate a significant amount of vitamin A, which is essential for the baby’s development.
Moreover, the starch in the rice/porridge water competes with calcium for absorption, which can slow down the baby’s height growth, delay teething, and may cause night crying, less sleep, and restless sleep due to insufficient calcium absorption from the Meiji milk.
- Not following the correct procedure for preparing Meiji milk
Follow the scientific procedure for preparing Meiji milk
To ensure the baby’s well-being and prevent diarrhea, mothers should follow the correct procedure for preparing Meiji milk: sterilize feeding equipment, wash hands thoroughly, mix the milk according to the instructions, let the milk cool down before feeding, etc.
- Mixing Meiji milk incorrectly
Wanting their babies to feel fuller and gain weight better, some mothers add 1-2 extra scoops of Meiji milk compared to the manufacturer’s recommended amount. Other mothers, wanting the milk to last longer and be more economical, dilute the milk. This is a mistake! For infants under 1 year old, milk is their primary source of nutrition. If the milk is too concentrated, the baby will lack water, overworking their kidneys and harming them. If the milk is too diluted, it won’t provide enough nutrients.
Note: Mix Meiji milk according to the instructions on the lid
Remember that Meiji researchers have spent a lot of time and effort developing the standard formula to ensure that the nutrients and vitamins dissolve properly and are suitable for the baby’s delicate digestive system, helping them absorb nutrients effectively.
- Mixing Meiji milk with breast milk
Some mothers think that mixing breast milk with Meiji milk will make it more nutritious. However, this isn’t good for the baby because the proportions of water and protein in breast milk and Meiji milk are different, leading to excess protein and potential interactions between the nutrients in the two types of milk, which could cause poisoning.
Avoid mixing breast milk with Meiji milk as it can easily poison the baby
- Warming Meiji milk in a microwave oven
Microwave ovens are convenient for heating food, so many mothers habitually use them to warm milk. However, microwaves not only destroy vitamins but also create uneven hot and cold spots, which can burn the baby’s tongue.
The advice for mothers is to warm Meiji milk using a dedicated bottle warmer or by simply immersing the bottle in a bowl of hot water for about 1 minute.
It is recommended to use a dedicated bottle warmer to warm milk for babies
One point to note is to avoid letting the baby sleep while feeding as this can have serious consequences, the most dangerous of which can lead to death.
Understanding these mistakes in how to prepare Meiji milk will help mothers care for their babies safely and healthily. Refer to other products such as Meiji number 0 and Meiji number 9 to choose the right milk for your baby’s age.
