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Whether you are raising your first baby, or even your seventh, it can be difficult to know at what point your should switch from breast milk to baby formula, or even if you should switch at all. You might be struggling to produce milk, or perhaps you have an illness that could affect your baby should you continue. It may be that breastfeeding simply isn’t for you and you would like to move on. Perhaps you are planning to return to work and breastfeeding would be impractical.
There may be a hundred reasons that breast milk is best, but if you do switch to formula, or supplement your feeds with formula, what are the benefits and how can you make sure that your baby gets the best?
How to Choose the Right Formula
Formula can be bought as a powder, a liquid or a ready-to-eat milk. This may affect your choice as powder tends to be cheaper and ready-to-eat milk is more expensive and bulky. All formulas have to be FDA approved so whichever you choose, you know that your baby will be getting the right nutrients.
If you are already considering formula, have a look at a list of organic formulas via soundbodylife.com to see which one appeals to you the most and then return to your baby’s pediatrician with some suggestions. They will be able to advise you on the right formula to cater for your baby’s needs.
What are the different types of baby formula?
There are 3 basic types of formula.
Milk Based
This type of formula is made with cow’s milk and supplemented with vegetable oils, vitamins and minerals. For full term, healthy babies, this type of formula is great, however if your baby is lactose intolerant you should steer clear of this one.
Soy based
If you plan to raise your baby on a vegetarian diet or they are lactose intolerant, this type of formula is ideal. It is also made using vegetable oils and sometimes iron is added too. However, if your baby is underweight or preterm, this formula won’t be appropriate.
Speciality
There is a lot of variety in speciality formulas as each one caters for different special needs. Perhaps you are looking for a low salt intake or you want your formula to be enriched with DHA or ARA fatty acids. If so, these formulas are the place to look.
Why Choose Organic?
Choosing organic formula over regular is a good idea if you are worried about the use of pesticides or you are a firm believer in an organic lifestyle. Organic formula is more environmentally friendly as it doesn’t use pesticides and there is no genetic engineering involved in the production.
Like every mommy, you want to choose the best for your baby and if you choose to move on from breastfeeding or just want to supplement from time to time, organic is probably the best way to go. Talk to other mommies and to your baby’s pediatrician for more advice and then make your decision based on what you know instinctively is the right thing to do. That’s what being a mommy is all about!
