Choosing the right formula for your baby is very important, but it’s hard with so many options. Here are 10 tips to choose the best baby formula.
Your little bundle of joy is your world. Of course, you want to give her the best baby formula around.
During your baby’s first six months of life, she needs formula to develop properly. With the right formula, you set the stage for her to experience easy digestion, healthy growth, brain development and protection from sickness.
However, with so many options on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Here are 10 tips for choosing the best baby formula for your little munchkin.
Let’s dig in!
1. The Best Baby Formula May Be Cow’s Milk
It’s best to start with a regular cow’s milk-based formula when it’s time to feed your newborn for the first time. The majority of babies will tolerate this type of formula quite well.
Why cow’s milk? Because it’s typically the least expensive formula. Plus, they have variations designed to help babies who are fussy or have digestive issues.
2. Formula for Baby with Cow’s Milk Allergy
But what if your child is allergic to cow’s milk?
No need to worry. Extensively hydrolyzed formula is made specifically for children in your baby’s situation.
This is essentially a cow’s milk-based formula in which the majority of the symptom-causing proteins have been broken down using enzymes.
3. Soy Milk
An alternative to extensively hydrolyzed formula for a baby with a cow’s milk allergy is soy milk.
Soy milk can certainly come in handy if your baby develops a rash or is especially gassy after using cow’s milk. However, soy milk has also sparked some controversy due to concerns that too much consumption of soy may have unwanted hormone-like impacts.
Still, if you speak with your pediatrician about soy milk and receive the green light to use it for your child, it may be the best option for your child come feeding time.
4. Formula for Baby with Both Cow’s Milk and Soy Milk Allergy
If your child ends up being diagnosed with an allergy to both cow’s milk and soy milk, there’s yet another option on the market that will make mealtime easier for her. It’s called amino acid formula.
Free amino acids — the most basic protein source around — won’t trigger an annoying allergic reaction by your baby’s immune system. It’s for this reason that amino acid formula is tolerated by nearly all babies with a cow’s or soy milk allergy.
5. Lactose-Free Formula
Perhaps your baby’s problem is not a soy or cow’s milk allergy but lactose intolerance.
This condition happens when your child’s body cannot break down the sugar known as lactose. In this situation, your baby’s doctor may recommend switching to a lactose-free baby formula.
And even though this type of formula may be a little more expensive than regular formula, it’s clearly worth it if it helps to alleviate your little one’s gassiness and fussiness.
6. Add-Ins
When on the prowl for the best baby formula, be on the lookout for add-ins, too. By add-ins, we’re referring to the likes of iron, arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and fatty acids. All of these add-ins are critical for your baby’s development.
Specifically, iron, which is naturally found in breast milk, is critical for proper brain development. Fortunately, even if you’re not feeding your baby breast milk, she can still get plenty of iron with an iron-fortified baby formula.
The other add-ins we mentioned above — fatty acids, ARA and DHA — are also paramount for eye and brain health.
7. Organic Products
When you enter your local supermarket, you may notice quite a few products sporting “organic” labels. And if you’re health conscious, you understandably may get excited. After all, organic foods are free of pesticides and may make your baby more resistant to unwanted allergies.
But did you know that organic formula is also available for your baby? Take, for instance, Formuland Hipp organic formula, which offers the nutrients that your child needs to grow up healthy and strong when he is not being breastfed.
This particular formula is suitable for your child to drink from birth. In addition, the protein levels in this formula match the most up-to-date nutritional research.
With the right organic formula, your child could be well on his way to sleeping better, longer and deeper, as organic products are easier for the body to process. In addition, he may enjoy better reaction times and mental development due to the Omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids present in this type of formula.
8. Brand Names
In addition to springing for an organic baby formula, try to stick with brand-name products versus generic products when looking for the best baby formula.
Although brand-name formulas and generic formulas feature similar lists of ingredients, the brand-name companies conduct extensive research on how babies’ brains respond to their formulas — something that generic companies do not do.
So, if you want to save money, feel free to use name-brand powdered formulas rather than ready-to-drink ones. Just stay away from generic formulas.
9. Ages
Be sure to buy a formula that is appropriate for your baby’s age as well.
A newborn formula has a completely different mix of minerals and vitamins than formulas for 6-month-olds or toddlers do. Get the right one to make sure that your child is getting all of the nutrients he needs at each stage of his development.
10. Thickened Formula
Thickened formulas may also come in handy for your cutie-patootie if she struggles with reflux.
Thickened formula may quickly reduce your baby’s volume and frequency of vomiting. However, your child might also require medication if she still feels irritable and refuses to eat due to intense reflux.
How We Can Help
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Get in touch with us for guidance that will help you to make the best decisions for your child from Day 1.