Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. Choosing an Infant Formula. Page Content. When shopping for infant formula, you'll find several basic types.
Cow's milk formulas have additional iron added. Soy formulas Soy formulas contain a protein soy and carbohydrate either glucose or sucrose different from milk-based formulas. Specialized formulas There are specialized formulas for infants with specific disorders or diseases, including f for premature babies. The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. FDA may not have not reviewed these products.
Illegally imported formulas also may not have been shipped and stored properly. FDA reviews all infant formulas sold legally in the United States to make sure they meet minimum nutritional and safety requirements. Toddler milks, drinks, or formulas are not needed to meet the nutritional needs of young children. They typically have added sugars. Babies younger than age 12 months should be fed infant formulas specifically designed to meet their nutritional needs. They should not be fed toddler milks, drinks, or formulas labeled for toddlers.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. The American Dental Association says it is fine to use tap water with fluoride in it to reconstitute formula, but your pediatrician can give you specific advice about using the tap water in your area.
Using fluoridated water might increase the chance of mild enamel fluorosis, which usually changes the appearance of the enamel but doesn't affect the health of your child's teeth. If you are concerned about this, you can use a reverse-osmosis filter to remove the fluoride, but these filters are expensive. Keep in mind that some fluoride is necessary to protect teeth. Always use the exact amount of water recommended on the label. The Food and Drug Administration recommends boiling cold tap water for a minute, although the AAP doesn't say that this step is necessary.
Formula doesn't need to be heated for proper nutrition. You can warm up your baby's bottle if you like but never in a microwave since that can cause hot spots to develop in the formula that could burn your baby. It's safer to warm milk by putting the bottle in some warm water. Sprinkle a little formula on the back of your wrist to test the temperature before giving it to your baby.
Powdered Formula Formula that comes in powdered form is the least costly type you can buy. In our informal survey of stores around the country we found that Enfamil Premium Infant Formula, for example, cost 27 to 35 percent less than Enfamil Premium Ready-to-Feed formula, depending on store type. The downside is you'll have to carefully measure the water you add to make sure your baby is getting the right concentration of nutrients.
According to the FDA, it's best not to prepare several bottles at a time, which means you're in for a lot of mixing. Gerber Good Start Protect Formula, shown, is an example of a milk-based powder formula for babies up to 12 months. The formula comes in a plastic container with a scoop. You add 1 level scoop of powder for each 2 fluid ounces of water, and mix.
It comes in two sizes, We found that a Concentrated Liquid Formula Concentrated liquid is slightly faster to prepare than powdered formula since you don't have to get the powder to dissolve. You will still have to mix it with water, however, and it is more expensive than powder.
Enfamil Premium Concentrated Liquid Formula for Infants, shown here, for example, comes in cans and needs to be mixed with water. Enfamil says you should clean the can lid, shake it well, open it, and then pour equal parts of formula and water into your baby's bottle. Shake or stir well before feeding.
Liquid Formula This type of formula is extremely convenient since the water is already mixed in. It can also be the most expensive.
Similac makes a liquid formula that comes in different sizes. Their Similac AdvanceReady to Feed formula comes in a 2-fluid-ounce bottle that you can attach a nipple to, an 8-fluid-ounce "nipple-ready bottle," and a fluid-ounce bottle. The manufacturer recommends shaking them well before opening. No matter what type of formula you use pre-mixed liquid, concentrate, or powder you'll need to make sure you follow all the directions. For example, Similac warns that once its fluid ounce container is opened it should be stored in the fridge.
And most manufacturers say that if your baby doesn't finish a bottle of formula within one hour, you should toss it. During a feeding, your baby's saliva can contaminate the formula in the bottle.
Once this occurs, reheating or refrigerating won't kill the bacteria. Also, the company says that if you warm formula but your baby decides not to drink it, you shouldn't refrigerate it and reheat it again later; you should throw it out. Standard formula is based on cow's milk, but there are several special formulas, including lactose-free and lactose-reduced for babies who have problems digesting lactose, a natural carbohydrate found in milk.
Protein-hydrolysate formulas are available for babies with a cow's milk or soy allergy. There are also formulas to reduce spit-up, diarrhea, fussiness, gas, and colic, and for pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. Just because there are many varieties available doesn't mean you should repeatedly switch the formula you give your child. You should discuss it with the pediatrician instead of picking a formula you think will solve the problem.
We encourage people to talk to their doctor and not just go randomly changing the formula. In addition to the varieties of formula available, most brands on the market now contain several standard additives. And even formulas with DHA and ARA aren't a perfect match for breast milk because breast milk contains hundreds of components that can't be replicated. Iron The formula that you buy should be fortified with iron unless your pediatrician says otherwise.
Although there are low-iron formulas available, the AAP strongly discourages using them because they can increase the risk of infant iron deficiency. Organic There's a growing selection of organic formulas on the market as well as organics offered by larger companies, such as Earth's Best Organic Infant Formula, or Similac, which makes Advance Organic Formula in powder and liquid form.
Organic costs more than nonorganic, but there are deals to be had online and by buying store brands. A four-pack of Probiotic and Prebiotic Infant Formula Many formulas now come with probiotics, the friendly bacteria that normally reside in the gut, where they help break down food and medicine and keep disease-causing bugs in check.
Several studies have suggested that infants on antibiotics or those suffering from diarrhea may get some relief when they're fed infant formula containing probiotics. To produce any benefit, a serving must contain at least million live cultures.
Talk with your pediatrician to see if you should try a formula with probiotics. If you supplement breast-feeding with infant formula, a probiotic formula isn't necessary since breast milk is a natural source of probiotics. You may also see formula with a "prebiotic" added, says Steve Abrams, a member of the AAP nutrition committee and a neonatologist at the Baylor College School of Medicine. Prebiotics stimulate and support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
They are naturally found in many foods such as fruit and vegetables. Don't stock up before the birth. If you're planning to use formula, ask your pediatrician for a recommendation, but don't buy much of it until after your baby is born. Many companies are generous with free samples, and the hospital may load you up with samples when you go home. If you register at a baby store for gifts or word gets out that you're expecting, you may receive unsolicited samples or money-saving checks in the mail from formula companies right around your due date.
Your baby may prefer one type of formula or be able to tolerate only a particular brand, so be prepared to experiment. No matter what brand you settle on, if your baby shows signs of intolerance, such as gas, a rash, persistent vomiting, bloody stools, diarrhea, or any other unusual symptom, consult your pediatrician. You may need to switch brands or change to a hydrolyzed or soy-based formula, or to a formula specially formulated to combat your baby's condition.
Shop at mass merchandisers. Here's what you need to know about infant formula. Three major types are available:. In addition, specialized formulas are available for premature infants and babies who have specific medical conditions.
Infant formulas come in three forms. The best choice depends on your budget and desire for convenience:. Be sure to wash your hands before handling formula and carefully follow any mixing and storage instructions. Although manufacturers might vary in their formula recipes, the FDA requires that all formulas contain the minimum recommended amount of nutrients that infants need.
Your baby needs iron to grow and develop, especially during infancy. If you're not breast-feeding, using iron-fortified formula is the easiest way to provide this essential nutrient. These are omega-3 fatty acids found in breast milk and certain foods, such as fish and eggs. Some studies suggest that including DHA and ARA in infant formula can help infant eyesight and brain development, but other research has shown no benefit.
In addition, many infant formulas include pre- and probiotics — substances that promote the presence of healthy bacteria in the intestines — in an effort to mimic the immune benefits of breast milk. Early studies are encouraging, but long-term benefits of these substances are unknown. Don't buy or use outdated infant formula. If the expiration date has passed, you can't be sure of the formula's quality. Infant formula is generally recommended until age 1, followed by whole milk until age 2 — but talk to your child's doctor for specific guidance.
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