There is much debate between parents and medical professionals on the act of feeding a baby with formula. While breastfeeding an infant is truly a magnificent feat, one should not deny the fact that it is not the path for every mother. As parenthood is such a challenging time, the old adage “fed is best” bears repeating.
Choosing the Right Formula for Your Baby
If you’re a parent, you’re probably trying to balance it all. How difficult it is when you’re sleep-deprived and facing much heavy responsibility! The market is saturated with baby formula brands. It’s no surprise that you want the best for your kid. What do you need to consider when choosing the right milk?
Lactose Is Key!
Choose a formula with an abundant level of lactose. Why? It’s because breast milk has tons of it. Therefore, the closer the formula is to what mothers produce, the better! However, if your baby is lactose-sensitive, you can consider formula based on goat’s milk instead.
Say No to Processed Sugar Additives
There is a very good reason why processed sugar is banned from European baby formulas. Anything with corn syrup, processed sugars, syrup solids, or brown rice is harmful to little ones, especially if their family has a history of obesity or diabetes.
Prebiotics and Probiotics
A baby needs both prebiotics and probiotics from a very young age. Choose the formula that promotes natural gut bacteria, which will aid in your baby’s immune response and colic issues, as well as prevent eczema.
Early Brain Development
A baby’s intelligence is growing at tremendous speed. DHA, or Omega 3, is an additive that aids in the growth of fatty soft tissues like the eyes and brain tissue. Another crucial addition is ARA, which is a natural fatty acid that helps regulate inflammation. ARA is also found in breast milk and does wonders to connect neurological synapses in babies.
Are Preservatives Necessary?
If you’re looking at the ingredient label on a can of formula and find words that you cannot pronounce, that might be a sign to stay away. While ascorbic palmitate and beta carotene promote shelf life, they’re not easy for babies to digest.
Avoid Synthetic Nutrients
Do not give your baby formula containing man-made nutrients such as lutein, lycopene, taurine, L-carnitine, and L-methionine. Manufacturers tend to go for them as they’re cheaper to source. However, let’s not forget that they’re highly toxic!
What’s Easier to Digest?
Every baby is different. Some children digest formula with soy oil better than milk with palm oil. However, if you’re looking for a healthier option, palm oil is the wiser choice, although it does cause gassiness in some. It’s also crucial to consider evidence of soy intake leading to painful menstrual cramps later in life.
Go for Organic
Starting your baby’s life with organic formula is important, and while American brands promote their milk as organic, they’re often not. Take the time to really inspect the ingredient list before settling on what to feed your kid.
Specialty Formulas
If your baby tends to suffer from reflux or allergies, choose a formula that fits their condition. Always check with your pediatrician before switching to a particular type of milk.
Fed is Best!
Loving your baby means giving them the best, and that means feeding them with healthy milk from the very beginning. Why should you pump your newborn with all sorts of artificial chemicals? Since their digestive systems are unable to handle synthetic additives, it’s best to avoid such formulas.
Going for an organic formula from a trusted brand is vital. There are also many good choices at themilkybox.com. It’s the best start you can give your precious newborn!
