Newborn babies should always be fed breast milk, but mothers often have to complement their nutrition with special formulas. There are many different types of baby milk available. Today, we’re going to find out which are the best, how to use them properly, and when they should be introduced.
Nowadays, we have many possibilities and types of infant formulas to replace breast milk when it is not available or when the baby has some special need. Depending on the age and medical indication, you will find different formula options. Check out our tips!
Best food for newborns: breast milk
Newborns should primarily be fed and protected by breast milk, which contains all the nutrients for the baby’s development. According to the World Health Organization, this practice would be best done through exclusive breastfeeding until at least 6 months.
And it is not always possible to breastfeed the baby on breast milk only; there are various circumstances beyond our control. Infants have forms that can safely replace or complement breastfeeding.
How to choose a breast milk substitute?
When exclusive breastfeeding is possible, the choice between the types of baby milk available should consider how similar it is to breast milk. This is very important to adapt the diet to the different stages of development.
In addition to nutrition, different types of baby milk are also indicated for more specific medicinal purposes. This is the case when there are allergies, reflux, gastrointestinal disorders or even food intolerances. Therefore, this supplement is sometimes essential to ensure good health.
Types of infant formulas
With so many types of baby milk available, how do you choose the most suitable one? The best option is always to seek advice from qualified professionals, such as doctors and nutritionists. They are trained to assess nutritional progress and provide other recommendations for this type of food.
As mentioned, formulas are essential in exceptional situations. They should be considered, for example, when the mother cannot offer breast milk or the baby has some food intolerance due to metabolic diseases. The WHO also recommends infant formula as a supplement up to 2 years of age.
Premature formula
The nutritional needs of premature babies are even more specific and different than those of babies of normal weight. In these cases, medical monitoring is especially strict, and milk for premature babies must be adjusted even more closely by health professionals.
Formula for babies from 0 to 6 months
We might recommend starter formula containing more micronutrients, for example, amino acids and iron, for healthy infants up to 6 months of age. But babies must have follow-on formulas for babies from the second six months of life and contain high amounts of iron.
In general, the milks that are manufactured contain nutrients like probiotics, proteins, lipids, minerals, iron, zinc, vitamins, and water in their composition. For this reason, they come with a nutritional value more or less like breast milk and cause no problem or lack for the baby.
Formula for reflux
Another very common condition among babies is gastroesophageal reflux. This is quite normal in healthy babies because their esophageal sphincter is quite immature, regulating the food passage between the stomach and esophagus. Therefore, spitting up and hiccup are common things at this age.
Without proper control, reflux can even cause malnutrition, so controlling reflux is an important issue. There are anti-reflux formulas whose composition is more viscous because they contain another type of starch usually corn, potato, or rice, and other things that prevent this symptom.
Lactose free formula
Cow’s milk protein allergy is one of the most common allergies both in childhood and adulthood. In babies, the immune system has not yet fully matured to the antigens and reacts to the presence of cow’s milk protein, causing stomach symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to use lactose-free milk for babies until their immune system is fully developed, at least. Currently, there is a wide variety of types of baby milk for this purpose, both with fragmented cow proteins and also derived from soy.