How To Choose The Best Baby Formula For Your Little One?

Mother’s milk is obviously the best milk for babies. It contains the ingredients necessary to support proper baby development and gives the newborn a healthy start. According to the experts’ advice, babies should be breastfed for as long as possible.

Milk for a Newborn

The best food for a newborn baby from the very first moments is the mother’s milk, which ensures its healthy development and provides all the necessary nutrients. This is why breastfeeding is recommended for at least the first six months of a baby’s life. However, it is also worth continuing further. It has even been proven that babies who were breastfed have a lower risk of obesity, overweight, diabetes, or allergies in the future.

When the baby is not fed naturally, the parents face an important decision — choosing the baby formula that best meets their infant’s needs. It is worth consulting your pediatrician, who will advise you on which milk will be the most appropriate for your baby.

Baby Formulas — Inspired by Mother’s Milk

The organic European formula of modified milk for babies was created to support moms in composing the optimal diet for their babies. Manufacturers of such formulas are constantly improving their compositions so as to bring them as close to human milk as possible, which is the best food for infants.

The modified milk for babies is based on cow’s or goat’s milk in such a way that it resembles the mother’s milk as closely as possible. Such formulas include reduced amounts of protein, potassium, chlorine, sodium, and saturated fat. Instead, they are enriched with unsaturated fatty acids, iron, iodine, and vitamins A, D, E, and C necessary for the proper development of the infant.

This milk may also contain other ingredients valuable for the growing organism, such as probiotic bacteria cultures or prebiotics. Contrary to breast milk, the composition of the modified milk does not change, therefore it is necessary to choose the product according to the child’s age so that it best meets its developmental needs.

Types of Baby Formulas

When choosing milk for your baby, you should have several considerations in mind. The first one is your baby’s age. There are several types of mixtures with the following numerical markings:

1 — a formula for infants up to 6 months of age;

2 — a formula for babies between 6 and 12 months of age;

3, 4, 5 — Junior products, adapted to the nutritional needs of children over the age of one year.

All types of milk are described on the packaging. The numbers from 1 to 4 are also supplemented with descriptions from which month of life the child can be fed with a given mixture.

The market also offers various types of baby formulas dedicated to kids with special needs. The most common kinds of such products are the following:

HA is milk for allergy sufferers. It reduces the risk of an allergic reaction to cow’s milk protein.
AR is special milk for babies who spill the milk. It contains special thickeners to prevent the regurgitation of food from the stomach.
GR or R is milk for infants with appetite problems that contains a filling gruel that is more caloric than a formula made from milk alone.

The doctor may also prescribe special lactose-free milk if he or she suspects your baby does not tolerate lactose.

How to Choose the Right Product?

Dairy protein is not the only ingredient that must be present in a high-quality product. Here are some more components to look for when selecting a baby formula:

Omega-3 fatty acids and LCPUFA are critical for nervous system development;
probiotics are natural bacterial cultures that support the body’s immunity;
prebiotics, a medium for the aforementioned live bacteria cultures;
vegetable fats such as rapeseed, sunflower, or milk fats;
vitamins and minerals, including vitamins D and K, are especially important for toddlers who are not fed naturally.

Which ingredients shouldn’t be included in baby formulas? Avoid mixtures containing palm oil, glucose syrup, soy lecithin, and maltodextrin. They are intended to improve the taste and texture of milk, but they are known for potentially harming the baby’s body.

Some More Points to Consider

Make sure to keep in mind the following when choosing a baby formula for your kid:

Be aware of possible consequences. If you choose to feed only with the bottle, you may experience some difficulties when you wish to return to breastfeeding. Before making a final decision, check with your healthcare provider, who will explain how your decision will affect you and your baby.
Take care of the quality. Always use only milk that is specially designed for babies, as it meets the highest quality standards. Remember that feeding an infant with regular foods that are not intended for babies may harm your baby’s health.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. When storing and preparing baby formula, pay special attention to hygiene. Prepare the mixture according to the instructions on the packaging and immediately before serving it to the baby. Remember never to give your baby any unused portion of food again.