How to Choose the Right Infant Formula for Your Baby?
Whether you plan to feed your baby exclusively formula, use a combination of breast milk and formula, or just want to stock up on formula “just in case”, chances are you will be overwhelmed with the variety of options out there. But know this: While no infant formula is perfect, there is one that will meet your child’s unique needs ad that is Furilac Stage 1, Stage 2, and Furilac LBW produced by Furious Nutritions, the top manufacturer of infant formula in India. Here’s everything you need to know to choose the best baby food for your sweet peas.
What is infant formula?
It is true that the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding your baby only for the first 6 months of life. But it’s also true that exclusive breastfeeding or even bottle feeding isn’t always ideal for everyone. Infant formula is the best partial or complete breast milk substitute for babies under 12 months. Between birth and 1 year, babies become three times larger, bringing their nutritional needs to an all-time high. This ensures that every formula — regardless of price, brand, or form — meets certain federal nutrition guidelines.
What’s in baby’s milk?
Despite different labels, colors, and prices, all infant formula must contain a certain number of calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Here’s what’s sure to be in every baby formula on the market:
- Calories: Toddlers need a lot of calories to support healthy brain growth. Typically, baby food contains 19 to 20 calories per ounce.
- Carbohydrates: No low-carb diets here! Carbohydrates are your baby’s main source of energy – and can come from corn syrup, maltodextrin, sucrose, or lactose, sugars found naturally in breast milk.
- Protein: Cute baby strands and tiny nails need protein to grow. It is the basic building block for cells, hair, skin, and organs. The main sources of protein in infant formula are skim milk, milk protein isolate, whey, casein, soy, and amino acids.
- Fats: Healthy growth and development depend on fat. This is known as vegetable oil, palm oil, coconut oil, canola oil, or corn oil in your baby’s milk.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Infant formula contains vitamins A, D, K, C, choline, calcium, iron, and more to help prevent deficiencies and give your child the healthiest possible start. All infant formulas must contain a minimum of 29 nutrients and a maximum of nine of these nutrients. (However, this rule changes for some “special care” formulas, such as preterm, metabolic, and amino acid-based formulas.) If you are not breastfeeding at all, it is recommended that you give your baby iron-fortified formula. with 4 to 12 milligrams of iron for the first year.
How to choose the right milk for the baby?
Start with commercial baby food. Unless your baby’s pediatrician recommends otherwise, it’s a good idea to start with standard cow’s milk formula — most babies cope just fine.
- Consider the cost – The price of formula milk will make you nervous because you don’t fill your baby list with 1000 packs of formula! Therefore, it’s a good idea to consider your budget before choosing the formula of your choice. Be aware that powdered baby milk will always be cheaper than liquid milk.
- Choose convenience– Choose baby food that is easy to find in the nearest stores. Of course, there’s always online ordering, but at the risk of late delivery, you may want to shop locally to avoid the added stress.
- Try not to be swayed by advertising claims. If you’ve ever read the claims on baby milk packaging, you know that some people praise its ability to boost the brain, while others insist that their products protect babies’ immune systems. Unfortunately, there is not enough scientific evidence to support most of these claims.
- Get decision support– While it can be helpful to get information about formula milk from, for example, your sister, your neighbors, social media, and Google, you should seek formula advice directly from your pediatrician. You are the most knowledgeable about your baby’s health and medical history, so you are in a great position to guide you through the decision-making process. (They may have some free formula samples in the office too!)
Take a deep breath – Remember that your baby has unique needs and there is a formula to help meet them. And if your lover starts having problems — like severe gas, colic, reflux, vomiting, or diarrhea — never hesitate to talk to your pediatrician to see if your formula may be to blame.
