The baby formula aisle at your grocery store might seem a little intimidating at first. There are, after all, many, many choices when you’re considering formula, but Dr. John LaCount, a pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Florence office, said you really can’t go wrong.
“The Food and Drug Administration regulates all formula and is doing a good job of regulating it,” LaCount said.
What does that mean for you?
All formulas must meet the same FDA guidelines for nutrition, so you can pick and choose from the offerings to determine what works best for you. (Just make sure you check the expiration date and don’t accidentally pick up a damaged can or bottle.)
The bigger concern, LaCount said, is that you give your infant breast milk or formula and not milk; milk doesn’t contain adequate amounts of the essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, babies need during their first year of life.
When cruising the formula shelves, keep in mind there are three forms to choose from:
- powders ““ typically the least expensive option and generally mixed with water
- liquid concentrates ““ usually diluted with water
- ready-to-use ““ more expensive and can be poured straight into a bottle
Within those three forms, formulas also can comprise different ingredients, depending on whether they’re milk-based or soy-based.
Milk-based formulas are made with cow’s milk, vegetable oils, vitamins and minerals. They usually contain iron and are made for healthy, full-term babies.
Soy-based formulas are made with soy protein, vegetable oils, corn syrup and/or sucrose, and, sometimes, iron. Soy-based formulas are best for babies with lactose intolerance or milk allergies. They aren’t recommended for babies who were low birth weight or babies who were preterm.
Also, there are wide range of more expensive, specialty baby formulas ““ from low-sodium formulas to formulas enriched with DHA and ARA omega fatty acids from algae (that have been found to help a baby’s brain and nerve development and improve vision).
When making a decision about which formula to choose for your baby, talk to your pediatrician and request a sample so you can try it out before committing to a certain formula. And remember, don’t buy too much of one kind at the beginning. You might find that the formula doesn’t agree with your baby.
