Most mums, especially the first time ones, have some questions about how and why we give our babies milk formulas, below is a list of the most common ones:
Is Formula Good Enough?
The advantages of breastmilk are unparalleled because it contains every nutrient your baby needs, is digested easily, boosts immunity, and is connected to lower rates of asthma and other illnesses later in life. However, some women can't nurse for one reason or the other and countless others supplement their breast milk with infant formula.
There is no reason to feel guilty as formulas contain a comparable balance of sugar and protein and match the calorie content in breastmilk. And like mother's milk, formula gets about half its calories from fat which is important for brain development. Infant formulas are also supplemented with different vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, and vitamins C, D, and K.
Are Store-Brand Formulas as Good?
Although there are some differences, the generic formulas are definitely adequate. That is because all formulas must comply with minimum health standards set by the DFA (Drug-Food Administration). But unlike brand-name infant formulas, store brands are not continually changing their recipes such as adding extra ingredients or making changes to the protein makeup or even the ratio of one nutrient to another. And this tinkering, which is solely to make formula more like breast milk, might add benefits in terms of infant's growth and development.
However, none of the evidences definitively proof that the newer formulas are better, therefore, if parents want to save money, they can choose to buy the store brands.
Should I Switch to Low-Iron Formula because my Baby is Constipating?
The answer is No. Iron deficiency is one of the top nutritional deficiency in the country and is the most frequent cause of anemia, so it is important that a baby get enough of it. It is rare for a pediatrician to prescribe low-iron formulas. Studies have shown that children who were fed low-iron formula as infants usually tend not to do as well on standardized developmental tests as children who had iron-fortified formula.
Are Soy Formulas as Good as Milk-Based?
The answer to this is Yes. Soy based infant formulas are made nutritionally equivalent to milk-based formulas. Although, soy formulas of years past were questionable as they didn't have the same quality of protein as cow's-milk formula, doctors consider this day's versions perfectly healthy for infants. Also, babies seem to like soy based formulas because they usually taste a little sweeter than regular formula.
Could Switching Formulas Help Colic?
Colic is the frequent inconsolable bouts of crying and it can sometimes be a sign of milk allergy, most especially if the baby's crying spells come right after feedings and he has some other symptoms, like digestive difficulties and blood-tinged stool. A pediatrician may suggest that you switch formulas so as to rule out an allergy, since cow's-milk based formula is the most common allergy trigger in infancy. It may be recommended that you switch to a hypoallergenic formula, usually made with hydrolyzed protein. Another alternative is soy formula but infants who are allergic to cow's milk are often allergic to soy too, so this option may be skipped by the doctors.
After all this, if your baby's colic does turn out to be an allergy, the good news is that most babies outgrow milk allergies and can tolerate regular cow's milk when their digestive system is mature enough for it.
Tip: You can check your baby has milk allergy by taking this Allergy Screener Test.
The advantages of breastmilk are unparalleled because it contains every nutrient your baby needs, is digested easily, boosts immunity, and is connected to lower rates of asthma and other illnesses later in life. However, some women can't nurse for one reason or the other and countless others supplement their breast milk with infant formula.
There is no reason to feel guilty as formulas contain a comparable balance of sugar and protein and match the calorie content in breastmilk. And like mother's milk, formula gets about half its calories from fat which is important for brain development. Infant formulas are also supplemented with different vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, and vitamins C, D, and K.
Are Store-Brand Formulas as Good?
Although there are some differences, the generic formulas are definitely adequate. That is because all formulas must comply with minimum health standards set by the DFA (Drug-Food Administration). But unlike brand-name infant formulas, store brands are not continually changing their recipes such as adding extra ingredients or making changes to the protein makeup or even the ratio of one nutrient to another. And this tinkering, which is solely to make formula more like breast milk, might add benefits in terms of infant's growth and development.
However, none of the evidences definitively proof that the newer formulas are better, therefore, if parents want to save money, they can choose to buy the store brands.
Should I Switch to Low-Iron Formula because my Baby is Constipating?
The answer is No. Iron deficiency is one of the top nutritional deficiency in the country and is the most frequent cause of anemia, so it is important that a baby get enough of it. It is rare for a pediatrician to prescribe low-iron formulas. Studies have shown that children who were fed low-iron formula as infants usually tend not to do as well on standardized developmental tests as children who had iron-fortified formula.
Are Soy Formulas as Good as Milk-Based?
The answer to this is Yes. Soy based infant formulas are made nutritionally equivalent to milk-based formulas. Although, soy formulas of years past were questionable as they didn't have the same quality of protein as cow's-milk formula, doctors consider this day's versions perfectly healthy for infants. Also, babies seem to like soy based formulas because they usually taste a little sweeter than regular formula.
Could Switching Formulas Help Colic?
Colic is the frequent inconsolable bouts of crying and it can sometimes be a sign of milk allergy, most especially if the baby's crying spells come right after feedings and he has some other symptoms, like digestive difficulties and blood-tinged stool. A pediatrician may suggest that you switch formulas so as to rule out an allergy, since cow's-milk based formula is the most common allergy trigger in infancy. It may be recommended that you switch to a hypoallergenic formula, usually made with hydrolyzed protein. Another alternative is soy formula but infants who are allergic to cow's milk are often allergic to soy too, so this option may be skipped by the doctors.
After all this, if your baby's colic does turn out to be an allergy, the good news is that most babies outgrow milk allergies and can tolerate regular cow's milk when their digestive system is mature enough for it.
Tip: You can check your baby has milk allergy by taking this Allergy Screener Test.
I hope you find answers on these most common questions regarding infant formulas. Feel free to ask other questions on the comment's box below. We will do our best to answer them and will definitely update this post.
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