Every health expert and the World Health Organisation will tell you, the best kind of milk for babies is the breast milk. However, due to various reasons, breastfeeding isn’t always feasible. Mother or baby could be sick after birth, or the baby was in the incubator for a time and was unable to feed. Perhaps the mother was unable to breastfeed her child, or perhaps her job situation did not permit breastfeeding.
No matter the cause, there’s a solution for babies that can’t feed themselves – and that’s baby formula. There are many varieties of baby formulas available on the market, ranging from baby formula made of soy and organic formula for babies produced by different companies. If you’ve made the decision to feed your baby bottle then the question is what is the most suitable infant formula for you?
The Best Brew – Milk or Soy Baby Formula?
In general, baby formula can be divided into two types which are soy and milk-based. While it is not recommended to give the baby cow’s milk before the age of one year, the milk contained in formula is altered and broken down to enable babies to take it in easily. In the past scientists have done everything they could to create formula for babies that is similar to the milk’s nutritional content in the greatest extent possible. So, formula for babies includes a range of nutrients and minerals that your baby requires. For milk formula the nutrients are extracted from cow’s milk and specially adapted to meet the needs of your infant’s undeveloped digestion.
If you have an history of milk allergies on your own family members, you might require a lactose-free baby formula. The most popular of these is the soy formula made from soya, and has a variety of added vitamins and minerals. Because cow’s milk formula is generally thought to be preferred, if you believe that it could cause the cause of a problem, talk to your health specialist to ensure that you’re giving your child the best formula available.
Once you’ve decided on your decision on the formula you want to use it is important to ensure that you buy the formula that is the most appropriate to your baby’s age. The majority of formulas are sold in the stages. This first phase is generally for babies ranging from six to six months old, the second stage lasts until the age of one year old and the third stage is for children older than one year old. This way the baby is getting the proper nutrients according to the stage at which they are developing. Try to adhere to the appropriate stage of formula. If you make a change too soon it is possible that your baby’s constipation will increase.
Other Factors For Feeding Baby
There are a variety of firms which sell baby formula, such as Wyeth, Nestle, Similac and many other brands. Similac formula is among the oldest brands, having been around since the 1920s. Several other established brands have also been around for some time. It’s not always simple to pick a particular formula brand. Some of the most famous brands are surrounded by controversy due to their extravagant and sometimes dishonest methods of marketing infant formula in countries that are developing. Also, in Israel which is a country with a high level of development an incredibly tragic incident occurred in the past few years when a reputable company offered formula that was deficient in Vitamin B1 due to an unidentified production issue. The result was that a lot of infants died of beriberi and others became permanently disabled.
Another aspect to consider is the cost of baby formula are quite expensive, particularly in the beginning when it’s the sole food source. Baby formula that is cheap can simplify your budget but the real question is whether or not it’s suitable for your child. However it is possible to find two formulas manufactured by different companies that have identical nutritional components and one of them is less expensive then the others, then you’d likely pick the one with the lower cost. But the decision you make should not solely be based on financial factors.
Finding the right formula for your newborn is, therefore, not an easy task. While in hospital, you might be given a variety infant formula sample bottles that can make you confused more. (This is contingent on the place you live in but, in general, the marketing of newborn formula has been made prohibited in some countries.) You can trust your peers’ recommendations. But the best approach to deal with the situation is to consult your health specialist for advice from an independent source that is solely based on health concerns and free of any kind or marketing bias.