You won’t find any better source of sustenance for your baby than breast milk. It provides the best nutrition while also supplying much-needed antibodies that will help protect babies from cold and flu, middle ear infections and even conditions such as obesity and diabetes. However, since many women are unable to breastfeed their babies for a number of reasons, keeping your baby fed should be your top priority, and after breastmilk, formula is the next, best option. However, the number of different types of formula available on the market is never ending and can be somewhat intimidating. How do you decide what is best for your baby?
For starters, despite the variety of infant formulas sold in the United States, all aspects of their production and composition are overseen by the Food and Drug Administration. So no matter who makes it, know that they are all fundamentally safe for your baby.
Four Types of Formula
There are four main types of infant formula from which to choose. Here is a rundown of each of them.
Cow’s Milk-Based Formulas
Cow’s milk-based formulas make up a whopping 80% of all the infant formulas available on the market. However, the cow’s milk itself is unlike the milk you’d pick up at the grocery store. This milk has been treated by heat and undergone other processes to make it safe and more digestible for infants. Additionally, the formula is fortified with more lactose to bring it up to the levels contained in breast milk. Also, since babies have a hard time digesting butterfat, vegetable oils and other fats are substituted instead. Iron is also added to the formula since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that formula given to non-breastfeeding babies must include iron. You should never give your baby a low-iron formula. Many formulas also contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), which are fatty acids believed to aid development of babies’ brains and eyes.
Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula
Extensively hydrolyzed formulas are created for children who are allergic to casein, the protein found in cow’s milk. While this is still a cow’s milk based formula, the proteins here are broken down into smaller units, making them easier to digest. This is why formulas in this class are often referred to as “predigested”. The vast majority of children who have a hard time digesting cow’s milk based formulas will be able to digest extensively hydrolyzed formulas. However, parents should seek guidance from their pediatricians before giving it to their children. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas also tend to be more expensive.
Soy Formulas
The AAP always suggests that children consume cow’s milk based formulas over soy, but not all infants can consume these cow’s milk proteins safely. Apart from the difference in protein source, the carbohydrates in soy formulas are either glucose or sucrose instead of the lactose found in cow’s milk formulas. Soy formulas are recommended for babies who are unable to digest the lactose found in cow’s milk. It is also recommended for babies who find themselves briefly unable to digest cow's milk following an illness, specifically diarrhea. However if babies do have true milk allergies that often result in colic or bloody diarrhea, soy formulas are recommended. It is interesting to note that babies who have milk allergies often have sensitivity to soy milk and may instead require specialized formulas.
Specialized Formulas
In many cases, infants are unable to consume either cow’s milk based formulas or soy based formulas due to a variety of disorders or diseases, including being born premature. However, administering these formulas can be complicated. Requirements such as serving sizes and feeding schedules will differ greatly from that of regular infant formula. Parents will need to consult their pediatrician first.
When purchasing baby formula...
Whatever formula you decide to go with, there are a few precautions you should take to ensure the safety of your baby. When purchasing, you should make sure that the formula is not expired and that the container is not compromised in any way, whether with leaks, puffy ends or rust. The formula should also be age appropriate i.e. don’t feed formula intended for toddlers to infants. Apart from this, don’t stock up on formula until you know what your baby likes and/or what will agree with them. And always consult your baby’s pediatrician before trying a new type of formula.
THE SPOTLIGHT
We’d like to highlight just a few popular formula mixers that you could try as you navigate bottle feeding your baby. While we are not medical experts, we are offering these based on recommendations from moms that have used them and from Amazon’s ratings.
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