Baby Formula Is Safer Than You Might Think
Monday, March 9th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
It’s generally accepted that the best way to nourish your baby is by breastfeeding. It provides her with all the nutrition and immunity protection she needs. However, there are circumstances where it simply isn’t feasible, either for the baby or the mother. Baby formula is sometimes the only alternative for a number of different reasons.
Some parents, however, are concerned about potential problems resulting from feeding cow’s milk to babies. They’re not comfortable with the thought of giving their baby formula. In reality, though, commercially prepared baby formula is a safe and nutritious alternative to breastfeeding.
Pure cow’s milk isn’t recommended for babies under a year old. The quality and quantity of nutrients it contains aren’t as ideal as those found in breast milk. But baby formula isn’t just milk in a fancy package. The manufacturers of baby formula put considerable research into their products. It contains proteins and fats that resemble breast milk very closely.
There are also various kinds of baby formula that aren’t made from cow’s milk at all. Some newborns are lactose intolerant and can’t digest dairy products. However, there are several good alternatives.
Soy-based formula is one such choice. It’s made with soy protein and is lactose free. Be careful though, that you buy soy formula, not soy milk, which is unsuitable for babies.
Formula containing protein hydrolysate is another alternative to dairy based products. The proteins it contains are already broken down similar to what would take place during natural digestion.
All these products are available in a variety of formulations. Powdered formula is the least expensive. It’s prepared at home using boiled water. Concentrated liquid formula is also intended to be diluted with water, but is typically easier to prepare.
When preparing either powdered or concentrated products, it’s important to measure carefully. It’s essential that you use the correct ratio of water to formula for the health of your baby. Also be sure to sterilize all utensils that are used to prepare the formula.
On the other hand, ready-to-use formula is pre-mixed for instant use. It’s also the most expensive of your various options. Similar to the other formulations, you can feed it to your baby either warmed up or at room temperature, depending on her preferences.
One drawback with bottle feeding formula is that parents become more aware of the quantities being ingested. According to trusted sources of baby advice, you should never force your child to drink more than she is willing to consume. If she hasn’t drunk the full amount at the time you think she should, just wait and try again later. Your baby won’t starve; when she’s hungry, she’ll let you know.
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