Sooner or later, every mother has to face the challenge of choosing the healthiest formula for her baby. There is no lack of infant foods on the market. So how can you tell which formulas are healthy for your little one? Here’s some useful information that will help you make an informed decision.

What nutrients should you look for in baby formula?

• Proteins, fats, and carbs. These are the basic nutrients every formula must contain. The exact amount of proteins, fats, and carbs depends on your baby’s age.
• Vitamins and minerals.
• Omega-6 and Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid. Your baby’s body can’t produce these super important fatty acids. This is why make sure they can get them from food.
• Taurin. Amoniacid that’s required for the proper development of an infant’s brain. This component is a must for products intended for newborns.

Note that every package must include information on calorie count and osmolality. The latter indicates the amount of salts and proteins in the formula. To make sure that infant milk doesn’t put too much pressure on your child’s kidneys, choose products with an osmolality of no more than 400 mOsm/L.

When it comes to infant milks, what you see above is the bare minimum. So what else should be there to make it optimal?

• Omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and Omega-6 ARA (arachidonic acid). Polyunsaturated fatty acids are required for the healthy development of an infant’s brain and intellect.
• Prebiotics. These are healthy intestinal microflora boosters. In baby milk, they come in the form of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), an important component of breastmilk.
• Nucleotides. They boost immunity and digestive system development.
• Probiotics. These improve intestinal microflora.
• Lutein. To make sure your infant’s eyes develop the way they should.
• Dairy fat. One of the main sources of energy for your baby’s body and brain.

Additionally, it would be best to make sure that infant formula doesn’t include any palm or canola oil.

Check out the infant formula from Holle. It`s European organic formula with cow’s or goat’s milk.

And what if your baby has special needs?

Does your baby have certain conditions that require a special diet? Don’t forget to talk to your pediatrician before buying infant food. When choosing a suitable product, pay attention to its components and stick with brands you trust.

Among specialized infant milks, you can find:

1. Fermented infant formula. These are usually prescribed as supplementary feeding to take once or twice a day. Perfect for infants with digestive issues.
2. Milks for preterm and underweight infants. These are rich in proteins, carbs, fats, and other nutrients.
3. Hypoallergenic. For babies susceptible to various allergies. They don’t include cow’s milk protein but in terms of nutritional value, they are similar to regular formulas. For example: HiPP HA formula.
4. Anti-reflux. For babies prone to frequent vomiting. These include components that make the consistency thicker and thus prevent the milk from leaving a baby’s stomach.
5. Lactose-free. This is self-explanatory. Intended for lactose-intolerant infants.
6. Soy-based milks. These include soybean protein as a substitute for cow’s milk protein. Normally, intended for infants that didn’t take well to hypoallergenic products.
7. Iron-fortified. For babies over 4 months old to prevent and treat iron-deficiency anemia.

How can you tell that formula isn’t good for your baby?

It’s worth noting that every baby’s body is unique. Sometimes, even when infant milk is perfectly healthy by all standards, moms might notice adverse reactions in babies. Here’s what you should watch out for:

• Skin rash and/or redness;
• Constipation or diarrhea;
• White specks in the stool (this means that an infant’s body is unable to digest the food properly);
• Flatulence, intestinal colic;
• Restlessness, crying, desire to eat more frequently;
• Vomiting;
• Poor weight gain;
• Troubled sleep.

If you notice any of these symptoms within the first days after you switched to a new formula, don’t rush to switch to another one. Consult with your pediatrist first. Sometimes, these issues are the result of your infant’s body getting used to a new kind of food.

When choosing the healthiest formula, remember that there are multiple factors to take into account. Choose your optimal baby foods based on your little one’s age, state of health, and the quality of nutrients included in infant milks. Whenever in doubt, consult with your pediatrician.

What types of baby formulas have you used?

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