Educating Hispanic Moms on Infant Nutrition and Feeding Choices

MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - Nov 14, 2013) - (Family Features) When it comes to deciding what to feed your baby, having access to credible information and available options is critical. With Hispanic babies now accounting for more than 25 percent of births in the United States according to the U.S. Census, there is an increasing need for Hispanic moms to have access to Spanish-language resources that can help them make an informed decision about what is best for the nutrition of their babies and families. 

Well-regarded registered dietitian Claudia Gonzalez, who has more than 15 years of experience working with moms and babies in the Hispanic community, understands the Hispanic moms' need for more access to infant nutrition and feeding resources.

"As a Hispanic mother of three, I experienced firsthand the difficulties of obtaining infant feeding information in my primary language," says Gonzalez. "While I am bilingual, having access to Spanish-language resources is something I find comfort in, especially when embarking on something unfamiliar, like when I became a new mom."

Helpful Resources for New Mothers
In partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Similac is trying to bridge this resource gap by raising awareness of the availability of the newly launched StrongMoms Español, a free program that provides Hispanic moms relevant, Spanish-language resources that can help give babies a great nutritional start, whether breastfeeding, formula-feeding or a combination of both.

"StrongMoms Español provides moms with expert advice on infant nutrition from the beginning of pregnancy through baby's first year," adds Gonzalez. "This is exactly the kind of information I wish I had available when I had my first child."

Moms who enroll will receive weekly emails about baby's development, prenatal nutrition and infant nutrition, as well as product samples and coupons. Moms can join the program by visiting es.similac.com/unete.

Useful Feeding Tips
Gonzalez understands the community's needs and shares in the mission to empower moms through providing education on feeding choices. Some of her infant nutrition and feeding tips include:

• Nursing mothers should try to maintain a well-balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and healthy fats. Remember, the quality of your diet affects the quality of your breast milk.
• Some babies nurse naturally from the breast right away, while others need a little help. Be persistent and keep trying to find that comfortable position for both of you, making sure baby has a good latch, which can help your baby get necessary nutrients.
• If formula-feeding, your baby's position is also very important -- semi-upright with the head higher than the body and the bottle tilted can help decrease air in the stomach, which can cause discomfort.
• When choosing a formula, select one that is as nutritionally close to breast milk as possible, such as Similac Advance. If your baby is sensitive to lactose, try Similac Sensitive, which has 98 percent less lactose*.
• Most doctors recommend feeding your newborn baby 8 to 12 times in every 24 hour period, whether breast or formula feeding. Feedings can last for 10 to 60 minutes, but be sure to pay attention to signs from your baby to determine if he or she is getting full or hungry again. Frequent feedings are very important to ensure a good milk supply, and support your baby's healthy weight gain.

For more information, visit https://es.similac.com.

Courtesy of Abbott Nutrition.

* Typical value 0.1 g/10 kcal compared to Similac Advance (11 g/100 kcal). Not for infants or children with galactosemia.

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