Support your Toddlers Nutritional Needs with SMA® PRO Toddler Milk

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When babies are born we try to protect them at all costs and we only want the very best for our new little bundle of joy. It seems Everyone has various advice to give and sometimes it’s hard to know what we should or shouldn’t be doing for the best.

Did you know the first 1,000 days of your baby’s life are very important for their future, from the time from the start of pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. What we feed our babies determines a big part of their future health – helping set the foundations for life.

Why choose SMA PRO Toddler Milk

 

When your baby turns into a toddler, good nutrition, vitamins and minerals are fundamental to their health.

As toddlers grow at such a rapid rate they need extra vitamins and nutrients and SMA PRO Toddler milk has been formulated with this in mind.

SMA^® Nutrition has recently launched an improved formula for Toddler Milk called SMA PRO Toddler Milk and is suitable from 1 – 3 years. It contains Nutri-steps, a unique blend of ingredients including Vitamin D, calcium, iron, iodine and omega 3 & 6, tailored to help support toddlers’ nutritional needs and to help build a nutritional foundation for life.

It’s enriched with vitamin D to help support normal growth and development of bones. Vitamin D assists with calcium absorption. It is very important for toddlers to have enough Vitamin D and SMA PRO Toddler Milk is one way to help provide your toddler with their daily vitamin D requirement. 2 x 200ml of SMA PRO Toddler milk provides 100% of their daily requirements.

What Vitamins and nutrients your toddler really needs

The UK Department of Health recommends that all children from six months to five years old are given supplements, in the form of vitamin drops, which contain vitamins A, C and D. If your child is having 500ml of formula each day, they will not need the drops. Your health visitor can give you advice on vitamin drops and tell you where to get them. You’re entitled to free vitamin drops if you qualify for Healthy Start.

Having too much of some vitamins can be harmful. Keep to the recommended dose stated on the label, and be careful not to give your child two supplements at the same time. For example, don’t give them cod liver oil and vitamin drops, as cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D. One supplement on its own is strong enough.

Here is a guide to what each vitamin is used for:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for babies and young children, and some may not be getting enough. It strengthens their immune system, can help their vision in dim light, and maintains healthy skin.

Good sources include

• dairy products
• fortified fat spreads
• oily fish, carrots, sweet potatoes, swede, mangoes,  dark green vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli contain carotene which can be converted to Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important for your child’s general health and their immune system. It can also help their body absorb iron.

Good sources of vitamin C include:

• oranges
• kiwi fruit
• strawberries
• broccoli
• tomatoes
• peppers

Vitamin D

Vitamin D only occurs naturally in a few foods, such as oily fish and eggs. It is also added to some foods, such as fat spreads and breakfast cereals.

However, it’s sensible to keep your child’s skin safe in the sun. Children shouldn’t be out too long in the sun in hot weather. Remember to cover up or protect their skin before it turns red or burns.

That’s why babies and children need to have their skin protected between March and October in the UK. The NHS recommends the following tips to keep your child safe in the sun.

• Keep babies under the age of six months out of direct sunlight, especially around midday.
• Cover exposed parts of your child’s skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above and is effective against UVA and UVB. Don’t forget to apply it to their shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks, and the tops of their feet. Reapply often throughout the day.
• Be especially careful to protect your child’s shoulders and the back of their neck when they’re playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn.
• Cover your child up in loose cotton clothes, such as an oversized T-shirt with sleeves.
• Get your child to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck.
• Protect your child’s eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standard (BSEN 1836:2005) and carry the “CE” mark – check the label.
• If your child is swimming, use a waterproof sunblock of factor 15 or above. Reapply after towelling.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: SMA^® PRO Toddler Milk is suitable for young children from 1-3 years, as part of a healthy balanced diet and it is not a breast milk substitute. Breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible.