Formulas to Consider
Commercial formula first became available
in the 1930s. Today, we have many types and brands of formula available
to feed baby. Ask your pediatrician about the type of formula you
should feed your baby.
When choosing formula, there isn’t much
difference among the brands of regular formula available. Most babies
do well on milk-based formula. Basic infant formula comes from cow’s
milk and is modified to make it more similar to breast milk. It’s also
easier to digest than regular cow’s milk. Most formulas are iron
fortified. A baby needs iron for normal growth; a recent study showed
that too little iron can lead to problems.
Formulas are packaged in powder form,
concentrated liquid and ready-to-feed. Powdered formula is the least
expensive. The end product is the same. When choosing formula, go for
the powdered type in cans. Cans containing liquid formula often are
lined with plastic containing BPA. To avoid BPA exposure, many
companies sell products in glass or BPA-free containers.
All formulas sold in the United States
must meet the same minimum standards set by the FDA, so they are all
nutritionally complete. You don’t need to worry about contaminated
formula. Formula production is strictly controlled, so the risk of
contamination is very low. It’s illegal to import formula from other
countries. If you know of a grocery store selling foreign formula,
don’t buy it!
Many formulas on the market include two
nutrients found in breast milk—DHA and ARA. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
contributes to baby’s eye development. ARA (arachidonic acid) is
important in baby’s brain development. Studies show babies fed with
formula supplemented with DHA and ARA do better on cognitive tests than
babies fed formula without them. They also have better visual sharpness.
If you make formula from tap water, use
cold water. Many pipes can contain lead; heated tap water releases lead
from pipes. If you want to warm up the formula, use hot water on the outside of the bottle.
The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends a baby be fed iron-fortified formula for the
first year of her life. Feeding for this length of time helps maintain
adequate iron intake.
Feeding Equipment to Use
Don’t buy plastic bottles or containers with the number 7
on the label or bottom. This helps avoid exposing baby to BPA. When you
feed her a bottle, you may want to use a slanted one. Research shows
this design keeps the nipple full of milk, which means baby takes in
less air. A slanted bottle also helps ensure baby is sitting up to
drink. When a baby drinks lying down, milk can pool in the eustachian
tube, which may lead to ear infections.
You’ll also have to choose a
nipple for baby’s bottle. A wide, round, soft flexible nipple helps
baby latch on with her mouth opened wide, similar to nursing. Another
type of nipple allows formula or pumped breast milk to be released at
the same rate as breast milk flows during nursing. A twist adjusts the
nipple to a flow that is slow, medium or fast. In this way, you can
find the flow that works best for your baby. The nipple fits on most
bottles. Check your local stores if you’re interested.
Bottlefeeding Pointers
Bottlefed babies take from 2 to 5 ounces
of formula at a feeding. They feed about every 3 to 4 hours for the
first month (6 to 8 times a day). If baby fusses when her bottle is
empty, it’s OK to give her a little more. When baby is older, the
number of feedings decreases, but the amount of formula you feed at
each feeding increases.
If baby pulls away from the bottle, it’s
usually a sign she’s finished feeding. However, you may want to try
burping her before ending the feeding.
You know baby’s getting enough formula if
she has 6 to 8 wet diapers a day. She may also have 1 or 2 bowel
movements. Stools of a bottlefed baby are more solid and greener in
color than a breastfed baby’s.
If your baby poops after a feeding, it’s caused by the gastrocolic reflex.
This reflex causes squeezing of the intestines when the stomach is
stretched, as with feeding. It’s very pronounced in newborns and
usually decreases after 2 or 3 months of age.
After baby drinks 2 ounces, burp her.
Burp baby after every feeding to help her get rid of excess air. If
baby doesn’t want a feeding, don’t force it. Try again in a couple of
hours. But if she refuses two feedings in a row, contact your
pediatrician. Baby may be sick.
