With there being so many different types of baby formula milk out there on the market, it can be difficult for new parents to know which one to use for their baby, and they are likely to have lots of questions, such as are the most expensive ones worth the money? Or are there vegan options available? Well keep on reading to find out the answer to all these plus more.
What is baby formula milk?
Baby formula milk is an artificial substitute for breastmilk that is given to babies that either cannot be breastfed for whatever reason or in combination with being breastfed. Formula milk gives babies all of the nutrients that they require in order to develop and grow in a way that is healthy. That being said, it does not have all of the same benefits that breast milk has, which is why you should always try and breastfeed your baby wherever possible. For instance, formula milk does not prevent babies from getting infections like breast milk does.
One of the best first infant milks out there is the HiPP UK Stage 1, organic certified baby formula that is GMO free, gluten free, and is completely organic, thus making it ideal for new born babies all the way up to the age of one year old.
How does baby formula compare with breastmilk?
As long as the baby formula is prepared correctly and safely, it will provide your baby with all of the nutrients that they require in order to be healthy. Despite that, it does not have all of the same health benefits that breast milk has, such as giving protection from illness and infection. The reason for this is because breast milk contains friendly bacteria, hormones, and living cells that continually change in order to meet the needs of your baby.
Is ready made or powdered formula best?
Baby formula typically comes in two different forms – either a ready to feed to your baby liquid formula or a dry powder that is mixed with water. While one is often touted as being better than the other, any differences that there are really comes down to the production methods that have been used. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that there are any differences between these two types of baby formula milk.
It is usually the case that ready to feed liquid formulas are more expensive to purchase and use more packaging. Where the ingredients in them come from varies from brand to brand, and there could even be some differences between batches. These ready to feed formulas are much less likely to be halal, so if you are Muslim it is important to check the packaging before feeding it to your baby.
How do you make up a powdered baby formula?
With powdered formula not being sterile, it is vitally important that each and every time it is made up correctly. You should use boiling water and allow it to cool down for no longer than thirty minutes. In order to ensure that all of the bacteria within the formula has been killed, the water should be 70 degrees celsius at very least.
It is important to remember to prepare the formula safely is key to ensuring that things are kept safe for your baby. For instance, it should be made using the exact right amount of powder because diluting it using either too much or too little powder could potentially make your baby sick.
What ingredients are contained in baby formula?
Most of the time, the ingredients that are in baby formula are based on those found in cow’s milk – so it contains the same kinds of proteins etc. Various minerals, vitamins, oils (including fish), vegetables, carbohydrates, and lactose are all added to baby formula in order to make it nutritious.
Regardless of whether a baby formula is a ready to feed liquid or a powder, it will always contain minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. No matter the brand that you feed to your baby, the formula milk will always contain these things, just in different amounts. Take a look at the packaging in order to see the full list of ingredients that are included in the formula milk.
Is it OK to change my baby’s formula milk?
It has always been the case that parents were advised to stay with the same type and brand of baby formula. However, there is no scientific reasoning for this as changing your baby’s formula will not cause them any harm; it will not benefit them in any way either. In light of this, do not be scared to try out different formula milks on your baby in order to find the one that they appear to like the most.
Because brands can slightly change the ingredients that they use from batch to batch, it could quite easily become the case that a certain formula no longer agrees with your baby and so you need to try a different one.
Some babies may need to be fed a specialist type of formula rather than the regular stuff. If you believe that your baby is having a reaction to the formula that they are being fed, then pay a visit to a registered medical professional to get their specialist advice.
Are there vegan or vegetarian baby formulas available?
All formula milk that is made for babies under the age of 6 months old is made using animal milk protein; therefore it is not vegan.
Baby formulas that are soya based are suitable for vegetarians but should not be given to babies that are younger than 6 months old. The only exception to this is when it is advised by a medical professional and you are under their supervision. Finding vegan formula milk can be very difficult given the fact that even those that do not contain animal proteins are likely to contain vitamin D that comes from the wool of sheep.