While
breastmilk is the most nutritious and healthy choice that parents can
make for their new baby’s diet, there are times when breastfeeding
simply isn’t feasible. When medical conditions, personal choice or other
circumstances require that your infant be fed formula, the vast array
of options on the market can be staggering. Commercially available
infant formula comes in several forms, and contents vary based on the
specific requirements of an infant with special dietary needs.
Preparations
There are three common infant formula preparations commercially
available today: powder, liquid concentrate and ready-to-use. Powder
formula is often chosen due to its relatively low price and is favored
by earth-conscious new parents due to the fact that powdered formula
cans take up less room in transit, and in the garbage. It does, however,
require a bit more time and concentration to prepare, which might be
less than ideal for 2 A.M. feedings. Powdered infant formulas are
designed for parents and caregivers to mix only the amount needed for a
specific feeding, which help sin reducing waste. Cans generally have a
one-month shelf life after they’ve been opened.
Liquid concentrate infant formula is more expensive than the powdered
variety, but almost always cheaper than its ready-to-use counterparts.
Preparation typically requires parents or caregivers only to mix equal
parts of the concentrate and water, which makes the process a bit less
labor-intensive than preparing a powdered formula variety. Like
ready-to-use products, liquid concentrate formula is commercially
sterile when it arrives in your home.
Ready-to-use or ready-to-feed formulas are generally the most
expensive commercial option, but they require no mixing or measuring.
Parents or caregivers that are concerned about access to safe, clean
water to mix a powdered or concentrated formula can opt for ready-to-use
because it eliminates such worries. Containers of ready-to-use formula
require more space for storage, as well as more room in landfills if
consumers don’t have access to recycling programs. Furthermore, the
formula only has a shelf-life of 48 hours after opening, and may be more
likely to stain than other feeding options.
Types of Available Formula
In addition to the three main forms that infant formula is available
in, there are a variety of options regarding nutritional content and
allergens. Parents should speak with their pediatrician before switching
an infant’s formula, but should also have a basic idea of the different
options on the market.
The most common type of commercially available infant formula is
cow’s milk based, though the proteins are altered in order to make it
easier for babies to digest. As a general rule, babies tend to thrive on
a diet of cow’s milk based formula; carbohydrates, protein and fat
levels are balanced almost perfectly for the majority of tiny tummies.
Some infants may have difficulty digesting cow’s milk formulas, or
parents that are hesitant to place their new baby on a diet that
contains animal proteins. In such cases, soy-based formula may be the
best option. Lactose intolerant babies also do better with soy-based
formula, which is also often suggested to the parents of colicky babies.
Evidence supporting claims that soy-based formula improves symptoms of
colic is largely anecdotal, however. Roughly half of babies that have
milk allergies are also allergic to soy, so be prepared for the chance
that a switch to soy-based formula makes no discernible difference.
Babies that have a number of allergies or aren’t able to absorb the
nutrients in formula well may benefit from being switched to an
extensively hydrolyzed formula, in which the proteins have been broken
down into smaller parts. These formulas may also be suggested by your
pediatrician if your child is suffering from eczema or other irritating
skin conditions.
Low-birth weight and premature babies require specialized formulas
that are higher in protein and calories than other varieties, containing
medium-chain triglycerides that are more easily absorbed than other
fats. Formulas thickened with rice starch are generally suggested for
babies with reflux problems, which often aid in the prevention of reflux
symptoms.
While the advertising budgets of nationally recognized infant formula
brands may help to boost their visibility, they do not contribute to
improving the quality or nutritive value of the formulas themselves.
Because infant formula is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration,
generic brands are held to the same standards as their designer
counterparts; more often than not, parents shelling out extra money for
name-brand formula are only paying for that name. Comparing the
ingredients and nutrition information on the labels, parents can make an
informed and frugal decision about the formula to feed their brand new
bundle of joy.
P.S. This post was created and proposed to me for publication by Kaitlyn Johnson. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and
under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:
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