Experts envision the dangers of  artificial-nipple feeding

DAR ES SALAAM: THE USE of artificial nipples in feeding children is currently rampant in our society, where most users interpret the situation as going with the current modernity.

But do mothers, parents, or guardians who have embraced it know the harm they can cause to their children?

The best answers came from a nutritionist from the Food and Nutrition Institute (TFNC), Nusura Salim, who listed the harms of using these artificial nipples to feed children.

Among the harms he described are refusing to suck breast milk early and which makes a child lack the proper nutrients required from real breast milk.

She also explains that other harms are that the child’s teeth are damaged due to the bottles they use being hard in the child’s mouth compared to the mother’s nipple, so the more he uses it, the more it damages the structure of the teeth.

“There are some who are kept on artificial nipples for a long time so that they can’t suckle. This is not good. It damages the teeth that come out, so they must stop,” she emphasized.

Other side effects, she mentions, the child can get diseases such as diarrhea due to the artificial nipples being difficult to wash and sometimes remaining dirty.

Additionally, a nutrition officer from TFNC, Adeline Munuo, says the use of artificial nipples is completely prohibited in feeding children and has serious side effects.

She said it can cause the child to become confused and refuse breast milk because he/she gets used to the ease of sucking from the artificial nipples, where the milk flows easily.

“This situation causes the cheek and mouth muscles not to develop as they should because when he sucks, he is exercising using the artificial nipples, the muscles and bones of the cheeks and mouth as he sucks,” she explained.

Adding, she says when a child does not breastfeed, production decreases and as the child breastfeeds, milk production increases, so they insist that the child breastfeeds from the mother, and if the mother expresses, the child should be fed from a cup.

“Artificial nipples require high hygiene because they often contain bacteria; hence, a child can get diarrhea, stomach infections, and ear complications as they need to be cleaned regularly,” she mentioned.

She says when a child does not breastfeed, his or her immune system decreases because milk contains important antibodies for children, and it also removes the relationship between the mother and the child because when she breastfeeds, she hugs him or her, which creates closeness.

Nusura saysthat  when a mother breastfeeds her child, she avoids the risk of getting breast and cervical cancer because it helps reduce the risk.

“Breastfeeding repairs the body because during pregnancy the body changes, and also the uterine blood flow stops early, while breastfeeding also builds closeness between the mother and child.”

Nutritionist at Muhimbili National Hospital-Mloganzila, Hamida Kalambo, adds saying mothers are advised to consume foods with sufficient protein, such as meat, yogurt and fresh milk, as well as cheese but also legumes such as beans.

“The second advantage is that the mother’s milk is rich in calcium, fresh milk and yogurt, cheese, and all green vegetables. These iron minerals will prevent anemia in both mother and child.

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Foods rich in iron minerals are all red meat, chicken, vegetables, dried fruits such as raisins and dates,” she emphasizes.

She says the other group is unprocessed foods, especially grains that will provide us with enough nutrition, and a group of safe fats such as fish oil, seed oils such as sunflower, and fruit oils such as avocados.

“Drink enough water, eight glasses a day, or two or two and a half liters.

Munuo says a breastfeeding mother should eat a combination of foods from 6 food groups, which are Grains and roots, including cooking bananas, Vegetables, Fruits, Animal foods such as meat, chicken, fish, and eggs.

“She should eat legumes such as beans, lentils, peas, and vegetable oils.

Since a breastfeeding mother has additional needs, she should eat additional meals to meet the increased nutritional needs of her body.

She says a breastfeeding mother is advised to avoid all types of alcohol, reduce the consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat to prevent becoming overweight, and put herself at risk of developing non-communicable diseases.

“A breastfeeding mother should have enough rest and manage stress as failure to control stress can prevent milk from coming out.”

Statistics show that baby breastfeeding rates in Tanzania continue to improve as the number of breastfeeding babies alone has increased from 58 percent in 2018 to 64 percent by 2022.

In addition, children who are exposed within one hour after birth have increased from 53.5 percent in 2018 to 70 percent in 2022, while babies who continue to suckle up to the age of two or more are 62 percent.