Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Infant Formula for Your Baby
If for some reason, your baby is not breastfed, you have to reach for the best infant formula for your little one. It may be challenging to choose the right option, but this task is critical for your baby’s health. Unfortunately, there is no universal formula that would be suitable for all babies. Each infant requires an individual approach to food selection.
Therefore, it does not make much sense to rely on the advice and reviews of other mothers. Only a pediatrician who observes your baby can help you make the right choice. However, here is the basic information that will help you get an idea of the classification of baby formulas.
Baby Formulas for Different Ages
As the child grows and their digestive tract develops and strengthens, they are recommended a mixture that is exactly suitable for their age since the need for useful substances begins to increase.
The number “0,” or “PRE” marking on the package means that the formula is intended for weakened and premature babies. It is processed in such a way as to meet the little organism’s needs, contains all the critical vitamins and minerals, and has a sufficient amount of calories. Baby formulas marked with the number “1” are designed for newborns up to six months. As your baby grows, you should switch to formula stages “2,” “3,” and so on.
Products for Different Nutritional Needs
The leading baby formula manufacturers produce formulas for babies with varied nutritional needs, such as the following:
- products for premature babies;
- mixtures for babies with digestive disorders;
- hypoallergenic nutrition for babies with allergies;
- mixtures with a high concentration of iron;
- lactose-free formulas for babies with severe lactose intolerance;
- anti-reflux products for babies suffering from regurgitation.
The baby formulas may come with a dry or liquid consistency. The first must be mixed with purified water heated to a specified temperature. Liquid or ready-to-feed baby formulas just need to be heated in a water bath and can be given to the baby right away.
Regular cow milk-based formulas are suitable for healthy infants. To select the optimal composition, you should check with your baby’s doctor. If the baby has any problems with digestion, you will have to choose an optimized composition.
Baby formulas based on goat milk are suitable for both healthy children and children with cow milk allergies. Goat milk-based formulas are easier to digest and slightly less irritating to the baby’s stomach. The main disadvantage of such formulas is a narrower product range and a higher price.
Points to Remember When Choosing the Baby Formula
To avoid mistakes, you can use the following selection criteria:
- consider the baby’s age;
- familiarize yourself with the composition: it may contain substances to which you or your baby’s siblings are allergic — in this case, intolerance may be detected in the infant;
- do not buy many packages or large packages of a new product at once;
- smell the powder before preparing it for the first time — it should not have a repulsive, unpleasant, or alarming smell.
