You may have heard the claim that shaking breastmilk takes away from its nutritional value. However, that’s not true. Today, we’ll cover why you shouldn’t be afraid to shake bottles of breastmilk, including to mix in Ready. Set. Food! to introduce peanut, egg, and milk.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid to shake breastmilk: there’s no evidence to support the claim that shaking harms the nutrients in breastmilk
- How shaking Ready. Set. Food! into baby’s breastmilk bottle can make early allergen introduction easier.
Debunking the Myths about Shaking Breastmilk
Many mothers think that you should never shake breastmilk, and that it’s better to gently swirl it instead. They’ve heard that shaking breastmilk harms its nutritional value, because shaking denatures, or breaks down, its protein molecules. But this is just a common misconception.
The truth is, there’s no scientific evidence to support the claim that shaking breastmilk takes away from its nutritional value, or that swirling is better. Shaking does change how breastmilk looks, but doesn’t break down the protein molecules in the breastmilk or damage its nutritional value.
Yes, when proteins are denatured, they can’t properly perform their functions. But some proteins, like the ones in breastmilk, are much harder to denature than others.
To actually break down the protein molecules in breastmilk, you’d have to apply a significant amount of force to it. Think about how hard it is to whip heavy cream!
Plus, preparing a bottle of breastmilk requires pumping the breastmilk, and eventually pouring it into a bottle. This already agitates the breastmilk in other ways, without breaking down the proteins. Shaking a bottle of breastmilk is no different. It doesn’t break down the proteins or reduce the breastmilk’s nutritional value for your baby.
Learn more from What To Expect's Guide on pumping breastmilk:
Ready. Set. Food!: Early Allergen Introduction Designed for Breastfeeding Mothers
Landmark clinical studies and medical guidelines recommend introducing peanut, egg, and milk to your baby as early as 4-6 months of age, even if you're exclusively breastfeeding. At this age, babies enter a critical window of time where introducing these foods is important.
Ready. Set. Food! can help you introduce peanut, egg, and milk to your baby even before they’re ready to eat solids. Our system is the only multi-allergen introduction option that dissolves completely into a bottle of breastmilk.
Just pour a daily packet of Stage 1 or 2 mix-ins into baby’s bottle of breastmilk, and shake the bottle. Shaking the bottle for at least 5-10 seconds prior to feeding helps ensure that Ready. Set. Food! dissolves completely into the breastmilk. If you only swirl the bottle, the powder's less likely to fully dissolve.
If you experience clumps and clogs at the bottle nipple, it is most likely due to not shaking the bottle hard enough. Try adding a little hot water and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds to help. There’s no need to worry that you’ll damage the nutrients in your milk. Remember: shaking breastmilk does not harm any of the nutrients in breastmilk.
You can start mixing Ready. Set. Food! Stage 1 and 2 mix-ins into a bottle of breastmilk as early as 4 months of age. Introducing peanut, egg, and milk with Ready. Set. Food! has never been easier!
Learn more about why Ready. Set. Food! can help every family!
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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If your infant has severe eczema, check with your infant’s healthcare provider before feeding foods containing ground peanuts.