The Main Facts About Formula Feeding

Today, on Redhead Mom, I’m sharing a partnered guest post about formula feeding.

With the onset of pregnancy, a lot of questions arise in a woman’s mind. How do behave in such a sensitive state, where to deliver the baby, breastfeed or formula, exercise, or lead a passive lifestyle? All of these questions are logical because there are so many unknowns ahead.

Not all women can breastfeed their baby because there are cases where health or other serious reasons make breastfeeding impossible. So do not worry about it – milk formula will not do your baby any harm. Feelings of guilt are irrelevant here, too, because babies on milk formula grow just as well as they do on breastfeeding. And if your baby is fed and developing according to age standards, no one has the right to condemn you.

Interesting facts about baby formula

Most baby formula is the same. This is because the formula is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which requires manufacturers to include mandatory nutrients in every serving of formula. And while different brands have different names, packaging, and prices, none of them are allowed to change the right ingredients.

Infant formula is made up of whey and casein proteins, vitamins, and nutrients. More specifically, more than 25 vitamins and minerals are vital to your baby’s health. But they don’t contain the antibodies found in breast milk. Breast milk contains more whey, which is easier to digest, therefore, babies digest it faster than casein. Whereas, formula contains more casein, which infants digest more slowly.

The digestion rates of formula and breast milk are different. Milk formula takes longer to digest, so the frequency of feeding is different. An artificial baby should be fed on demand. You can not force them to eat all the formulas or refuse to add more.

Most babies are easily digested by formula, but some of them have an allergic reaction to cow’s milk protein contained in the baby formula. In such cases, you should contact your pediatrician and choose a hypoallergenic formula.

The stool of an artificially-fed baby is different from that of a breastfed baby. The contents of your baby’s diaper are directly influenced by what she is fed. The smell, texture, consistency, amount, color, and frequency can vary. The reason for this is the body’s ability to adapt to what it eats. The flora of the gastrointestinal tract changes depending on what food goes through it. And the baby formula, even though it is close to breast milk, is still a different food.

Let’s pay attention to the popular Holle brand

Holle brand is one of the first manufacturers of organic baby food in Europe. The company was founded in 1933 in the expanses of Switzerland. Initially, the range of baby food included a few grain products for feeding on a bottle and cereal, which could be used in combination with fresh milk or fruit.

Now, the product line of this brand has a wide range of products. As for the dairy formulas, there are variations in cow’s and goat’s milk. The whole range of products has Demeter certification. And this indicates that the biodynamic products meet international standards in production and processing. Demeter is considered the highest degree of quality for organic farming in the world. The certification needs to be confirmed annually, and it proves that the standards are met by the farmers, guaranteeing a high quality of food for consumers.

Today, many parents recommend this particular dairy formula.

What should be the raw materials for baby food?

For the production of baby food, only raw materials from certified organic areas can be used.

The construction of industrial and other chemical facilities, negatively affecting the agroclimatic and ecological situation, is prohibited in special raw material zones. The use of pesticides and agrochemicals in special raw material zones is carried out according to technologies that ensure the production of products that meet sanitary and hygienic requirements for children’s nutrition.

Raw materials intended for the production of baby food products must meet mandatory safety parameters and minimum quality specifications. Ingredients used in the manufacture of baby food products may not contain hormones or genetically modified organisms. The safety of raw milk supplied for processing must be confirmed by the following documents: a veterinary certificate on the absence of infectious diseases and monthly renewal of mastitis at the supplying enterprises and; a hygienic certificate.

Recommendations of pediatricians

In the first 2-3 weeks of life of a baby on artificial nutrition, it is recommended to appoint a highly adapted milk formula, and then combine milk and sour milk. In this case, the most appropriate is their equal ratio in the diet, as an excess of sour milk mixtures can cause (or increase) regurgitation, disturbing the acid-base balance in the body.

When selecting a formula for artificial feeding it is necessary to consider the following factors: the age of the baby (taking into account the age-specific needs formed the protein content of the formula); the baby’s health (the presence or absence of functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract), the individual characteristics of the baby and the financial situation of the family.

If there is a negative reaction to the formula within 4-6 days, you should consult a doctor and replace the food. Infant complementary foods for children on artificial feeding are introduced in the same sequence as for breastfeeding.

When buying the formula, look carefully at the package. It should not be misshapen or open. Check the expiration date particularly carefully. Do not forget that the product should be selected according to age. For the tiniest babies, from one month to three, take a mixture of “1”, then move on to the older ones: 2, 3, etc. Pour the remaining formula immediately after feeding, it should not be stored. It oxidizes quickly and becomes a nursery of bacteria. And while different brands from well-known manufacturers like HiPP and Holle have different names, packaging, and prices, none of them are allowed to change the right ingredients.