What You Should Know About Baby Formula
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your newborn baby. It gives her optimum nutrition and builds up her immune system. However, there are circumstances where it simply isn’t feasible, either for the baby or the mother. Baby formula is sometimes the only alternative for a number of different reasons.
Some parents, however, are concerned about potential problems resulting from feeding cow’s milk to babies. They’re not comfortable with the thought of giving their baby formula. But the fact is that commercial baby formula is perfectly safe and nutritious.
For infants under a year of age, regular cow’s milk isn’t recommended. It doesn’t contain the same nutrients in the right percentages that are found in breast milk. But baby formula isn’t just milk in a fancy package. The manufacturers of baby formula put considerable research into their products. The fats and proteins it contains imitate breast milk to a very high degree.
There are also various kinds of baby formula that aren’t made from cow’s milk at all. Some newborns are lactose intolerant and can’t digest dairy products. However, there are several good alternatives.
Soy-based formula is one such choice. Because it’s produced from soy protein, it’s completely lactose free. However, don’t buy regular soy milk because it’s not meant for babies; make sure it’s soy formula.
Formula containing protein hydrolysate is another alternative to dairy based products. The proteins in this formula have been broken down so that they are similar to the product of normal digestion.
All these products are available in a variety of formulations. Your least expensive choice is powdered formula. It’s prepared at home using boiled water. Formula in a liquid concentrate format also needs to be mixed with water, but it’s simpler to do so.
When preparing either powdered or concentrated products, it’s important to measure carefully. The ratio of formula to water is critical for nutrition and proper digestion. As well, formula should always be prepared using sterile utensils.
Pre-mixed, ready to use formula, however, can be used straight from the container. It’s also the most expensive of your various options. Like the others, it can be fed warm or cool, whichever your baby prefers.
A potential problem with giving formula to your baby is that it’s easier to see how much your child is drinking. Good baby advice to follow is to avoid encouraging your infant to take in more than she wants. If she hasn’t drunk the full amount at the time you think she should, just wait and try again later. Babies go by their internal clock, not the one on the wall.
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