What Formula Do You Choose?

Parents, especially those who are first timers, sometimes get confused in selecting the infant formula for their babies. With the variety of brands, formulation and flavors, buying the right baby formula has become a challenge. Aside from the price, it is more important to note the nutritional contents and the ingredients of the milk product.

The first thing to watch out for in buying infant formula is the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its formulation. Minimum requirements for baby formula in the US is that it should contain the following nutrients: protein, fat, niacin, folic acid, linoleic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamins : A, C, D, E, K, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6, and B12, minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, phosphorus, iodine, sodium chloride and potassium chloride.  If the infant formula is not sourced from cow's milk, it should also contain biotin, inositol and choline. These recommendations come from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition.

Aside from the basic nutrients listed, newer formulation have additional nutrients such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) which are said to be beneficial in the baby's brain development and achieves a higher resistance to common diseases.

In choosing the right infant formula, the parents or care giver should note the specific condition of the baby. If the child has lactose intolerance, or is deficient in certain nutrients, a specific brand or formulation may be more apt for that baby. There are baby formula that are fortified with certain vitamins and minerals to supplement the milk's nutritional content.

Babies with allergies can now be fed with formula that does not contain allergens. The common allergy is cow's milk protein allergy, where babies develop an allergic reaction to the protein in cow's milk. Symptoms of this allergy are skin rash, stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea. An option is to switch to infant formula made from soya beans. Babies with this type of allergy may still drink cow's milk and eat dairy products when they grow older, as their bodies would have also developed resistance to the allergens. But a doctor's go signal is needed to make sure that the child will safely transition to cow's milk.

Updates on milk manufacturing should be watched closely, especially after the milk formula scare that hit in 2008, about milk products containing melamine that is used to make the protein content appear to be high. While these products have been recalled from the market, consumers should be vigilant in finding out what the ingredients are, especially the food products given to infants and children.

For older babies, milk formula have different flavors, most common are vanilla and chocolate. Other milk products and baby foods can also be given to infants that are starting on solid foods. Baby foods such as fruit mixes and yogurt have different varieties and nutritional contents, which should also be scrutinized for the baby's best interest.

In baby feeding, utensils, bottles and cups should be sterilized and cleaned to avoid contamination.