Is There A Formula Shortage?
With food hoarding problems that have arisen with the spread of Covid-19 and resultant changes that have made in society, there have been issues in obtaining formula at places where shoppers used to never have any issues with empty shelves. Producers of formula have said that they are steadily producing formula, and there is no shortage of raw materials to make formula, so the issue of empty shelves should hopefully become a memory to everyone soon. Check the website of your usual formula manufacturer to locate stores that have the product you need in stock.
How To Decide Which Formula Will Be Best?
It is essential to talk to your obstetrician or the baby’s pediatrician to make the decision of what formula is the best in their experience. They have insights based upon years of study to help them recommend types of baby formula to you. There will be people who mean well that might give opinions about this issue, but the main thing is that your baby does well on the formula you choose and that your doctor thinks it is a good choice for the baby. You can also check blog.sellformula.com for more tips on feeding your baby.
The Main Choices
- Cow’s Milk Formula: This is the most prevalent formula out there. (The most produced kind). It differs from cow’s milk that children and adults drink in that it has been altered to make the milk proteins more digestible for a baby. There are subcategories of this type of formula, including a variety that has dietary iron added.
According to Zivile, although a common concern about iron supplements in formula causing constipation, doctors say that the amount of iron in this formula should not cause that problem under normal circumstances. There is also a cow’s milk-based formula called “Extensively hydrolyzed” or “predigested” because the proteins are broken even further down to prevent an allergic response. These formulas are more hypo-allergenic but are much more expensive to buy
- Soy-Based Formula: This vegan option is not widely used, and is only recommended by most doctors on the rare occasion that a baby has an allergy to certain proteins in cow’s milk. There is some debate over giving newborns soy formula simply because the mother or parents desire a vegan diet for the child. This kind of formula is sometimes suggested as a lower-cost alternative to the more specialized formula for infants who display a “true milk allergy” – displaying colic, bloody stool, or a failure to thrive on other milk-based formulas, but many doctors would likely recommend breast milk over this if it is possible.
- Specialized Formula: There are formulas for infants with special needs, such as particular allergies (or the disposition to develop allergies more than other infants), or premature infants – that have specific nutritional challenges.
How Are They Prepared For Use?
There are essentially also three ways to get whatever formula you and your doctor decide is best. There is a powdered kind that is mixed with water and then prepared with sterile water in a sterile bottle and cooled to an acceptable temperature before feeding. Secondly, there is a liquid concentrate of formula that is prepared with the same aseptic technique as the dry formula before given to the baby. Lastly, there are pre-filled bottles to help the parent save time.
An Important Decision
If breastfeeding is absolutely not an option for your child(ren), then the choice of formula you make with your baby’s doctor is incredibly important to ensure that they thrive: eating well and gaining weight at a normal pace. By providing the easiest to digest nutrition for your baby, you will help to prevent symptoms of colic and thus have a happier, healthier baby.
Larry Alton is a blogger and passionate writer at knowledgesworld.com. He loves cooking and is fond of travelling.
