As a parent, you want the best for your baby — starting with what to feed them. For some moms, that means breastfeeding. For others, bottle feeding is the right decision. If you decide to use baby formula, you should know not all baby formulas are created equal.
Rachel Gwertzman, DO, a pediatrician and doctor of osteopathic medicine with Atlantic Health, explains what parents should know about baby formula, what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a formula.
What is baby formula?
Baby formula — also called infant formula — is a manufactured food for babies used in place of human milk. It is available in liquid and powdered form and given to babies through bottle feeding.
“Infant formula is an excellent substitute for breast milk,” says Dr. Gwertzman. “It provides all the nutrients your baby needs in the right ratios to grow and develop properly.”
What should parents know about formula?
According to Dr. Gwertzman, the first thing parents should know is that formula-fed babies turn out just as well as breastfed babies.
“Breastfeeding isn’t easy for most mothers,” she says. “It can be stressful and painful. There’s no shame in using formula, whether because you can’t breastfeed or you choose not to. It’s a personal decision.”
The second thing to know is that baby formula is 100% safe.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews all infant formulas sold in the United States. The FDA regularly inspects the products and the facilities where formulas are made to guarantee they are properly packaged and labeled and meet all safety and nutritional requirements.
Currently, the FDA requires all infant formulas to be iron-fortified and contain 30 specific nutrients, such as protein and fat, with minimum and maximum amounts to ensure safety.
“Ratios are important,” says Dr. Gwertzman. “Too much of certain nutrients can be toxic to babies.”
The FDA also checks that the water used to create liquid formulas meets safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What you should look for in a formula
To ensure you’re buying a safe formula for your baby, make sure the formula you select meets the following criteria:
- Labeled “FDA-approved”
- Labeled “For Infants,” not toddlers
- Contains iron (“iron fortified”)
- The expiration date hasn’t passed
- The container is sealed and hasn’t been tampered with
“All non-expired, iron-fortified cow’s milk-based formulas with FDA approval — whether liquid or powder, store brand or name brand — are equally good,” Dr. Gwertzman says.
A note about specialized formulas:
If you suspect your baby has an allergy to cow’s milk, talk to your pediatrician. You can try safe, FDA-approved alternatives such as soy-based formula, goat’s milk formula and extensively hydrolyzed formula.
What to avoid when choosing a formula
In addition to avoiding non-FDA-approved options that aren’t fortified with iron or have expired, Dr. Gwertzman strongly advises against using homemade baby formula.
“Homemade baby formulas can easily become contaminated if the ingredients aren’t clean,” she explains. “Homemade formulas may also contain too much or too little of certain ingredients, putting your baby’s health at risk.”
Bottom line
Whether breastfed or bottle fed, what’s most important is that your baby gets the nutrients they need to reach their full potential.
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