Preparing Your Baby's Formula

Preparing Your Baby's Formula

The formula you buy will include instructions on how to prepare it, whether it is ready-to-feed, concentrated, or powder, and you should review and follow those instructions closely. If the formula is too diluted, your baby may not get enough calories, or if the formula is too concentrated, she may not be able to tolerate it.

Once you know how to make the formula, you should decide how much to make. Because you can't reuse any leftover formula, you should try to make just the amount that your baby will take in one sitting, which will be about two to three ounces the first month.

Although it is often recommended that you boil water before using it to make formula, you may not have to do this if you are sure that your water supply is safe.

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Choosing a Baby Formula

Most babies who aren't breastfeeding leave the hospital on whichever brand and type of baby formula they were started on in the nursery. And while some continue drinking this baby formula their whole first year, others change from one formula to another as their parents try to find the "right one."

Choosing a Baby Formula

If your baby is doing well, without any symptoms, such as excessive gas, fussiness, or diarrhea, then you may just want to choose between brands of baby formula. When choosing a baby formula, remember that all baby and infant formula brands that are sold in the United States must meet the minimum nutritional requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the 'Infant Formula Act') and FDA regulations.
That doesn't mean that all infant formula brands are the same, but any of the major brands, such as Enfamil, Similac, or Nestle Good Start, and store brands from Wal-Mart, Target, or Kroger, etc., should meet your baby's basic nutritional needs.

Formula Problems

If your baby is having a real problem with her formula, then choosing another baby formula is more important. Simply changing brands, unless you also change formula types, doesn't usually help though.
Keep in mind that there are several basic formula types, including:

1. cow's milk-based formula
2. "gentle" formula with less lactose than regular milk based formula
3. lactose-free formula
4. added rice starch formula for reflux
5. soy formula
6. elemental formula

Although parents often move from one type of formula to another when their babies continue to not tolerate their formula, it is almost always better to talk to your pediatrician before changing formula.
Signs of a formula intolerance might include unexplained fussiness, excessive gas, diarrhea (which may be bloody), spitting up, vomiting, and poor weight gain.

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Soy Milk versus Cow's Milk

Soy Milk versus Cow's Milk

Like soy baby formula, soy milk is becoming popular with older children, both for children with milk allergies and for parents who are simply trying to avoid cow's milk.

Soy milk is a good substitute for cow's milk, but keep in mind that soy milk is all reduced fat or low fat and so is not usually a good choice until a child is at least two years old. Until then, after your infant is 12 months old, a toddler soy formula, such as Enfamil Next Step Prosobee Lipil or Similac Go & Grow Soy, might be better choices.

Although several other "expert" websites recommend giving "whole" fat soy milk to younger toddlers under two years old, no brands of soy milk have the equivalent amount of fat per serving as whole milk. When looking, keep in mind that whole cow's milk has 8g of fat per serving, while 2% reduced-fat milk has about 5g of fat. Most brands of soy milk only have 4g to 5g of fat per serving or less. In fact, low-fat soy milk only has about 2.5g of fat, which is the equivalent of 1% cow's milk.

Remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics states, "Young children need calories from fat for growth and brain development," and that, "This is especially important in the first 2 years of life." So if you do give your younger toddler reduced-fat milk, be sure to make up for that missed fat in other parts of your child's diet.

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