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Feb 7, 2024 · You will find five main ingredients in your formula. Protein: whey/casein, nonfat milk protein, whey isolate or concentrate, hydrolyzed milk protein, or soy protein isolate. Protein helps build and repair tissue, fights infection, and provides energy. I prefer a formula with added whey/whey protein isolate because whey is easier to digest than ...
Jan 3, 2021 · Sarah Sobik, pediatrician, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. The codex specifies that formulas should have 1.8–3.0 g of protein, 4.4–6.0 g of fat, and 9.0–14.0 g of carbohydrates ...
- Overview
- Let’s begin with the basics
- Types of protein
- Carbohydrates
- How to choose formula
- Formula for specific considerations
- What about extra ingredients?
- What about organic? Or store brand?
- How to switch formulas
- Frequently asked questions about choosing formula
A mom of two with a doctorate in perinatal nutrition, I’m known as the “Baby Formula Expert” — here to help demystify the process of choosing a formula and the ingredients that really matter.
Standing in the baby formula aisle for the first time can feel like a game of Russian roulette.
I know firsthand the overwhelming intensity of that choice and how high the stakes are. We’re talking about your precious baby’s nutrition and comfort! Parenting is hard enough — and then you find yourself in the formula aisle.
Many parents admit feeling anxious about how to go about choosing a formula. Maybe they’re totally overwhelmed by the choices. Or they’ve tried a formula and wonder if it’s causing their baby digestive distress. Or breastfeeding isn’t working out how they’d hoped, and this isn’t what they expected.
Protein, carbohydrates, and fat make up 98% of infant formula. Protein and carbohydrates have the most impact on your baby’s comfort while digesting, so I always recommend parents choose a formula based on these ingredients.
You can literally ignore the front of the formula label. What a relief! These labels are full of competing messages. Words like “sensitive” and “gentle” are not regulated and don’t mean anything.
Standard (full-size) protein formula
Standard formulas do not break down the protein at all. They are exactly the size they were when they came out of the cow or soybean. That size is big. Cow’s milk and soy proteins are much bigger than breast milk proteins. If they were a car, they’d be a monster truck. You will see full-size proteins on the list of ingredients as: “nonfat milk”, or “milk protein isolate,” or “whey protein” (a component of cow’s milk protein), or “soy protein isolate” in soy formulas. These formulas are the standard formulas with full-size proteins. Most healthy babies handle these big proteins just fine! However, they do take more digestive work to absorb.
Examples of standard protein formula
Shop now at Amazon: •Similac Advance •Enfamil Infant •Enfamil ProSobee •Similac Soy Isomil Was this helpful?
Partially hydrolyzed protein formula
Partially hydrolyzed protein is smaller. Hydrolyzed literally means “broken apart.” The proteins in partially hydrolyzed formulas are broken down to be smaller in size, closer to the size of breast milk proteins. If these proteins were a car, they’d be a Honda Civic. On the list of ingredients, you will see the words “partially hydrolyzed” in front of the protein. For example, Enfamil Gentlease is a partially hydrolyzed formula, and the list of ingredients includes “partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk.” The only real way to know if a formula is partially hydrolyzed is to look for those words on the ingredients list. For instance, Gerber Good Start Soy formula is a partially hydrolyzed protein, which is different than the full-size soy protein in Enfamil ProSobee and Similac Soy Isomil.
Lactose is the carbohydrate source in breast milk, and all healthy babies are able to digest lactose. If your healthy baby is starting off on formula for the first time, I say start with a lactose-based formula and see how it goes.
There are reasons that some babies thrive on a formula that is lactose-reduced. Babies who were born early or who have immature or irritated digestive tracts may make less of the enzyme that digests lactose.
Babies recovering from diarrhea or babies who have been consuming low-lactose formulas for a long time will also have less lactose-digesting enzymes and may be more comfortable on a lactose-reduced formula.
If lactose is removed from a formula, some other carbohydrate must be added to ensure babies get enough carbohydrate energy. There are only two other carbohydrates small enough that infants can digest them well. These are sucrose (table sugar) and glucose sugars.
While both are deemed safe for babies, my personal preference is glucose sugars. There are several different types of glucose sugars used in formulas these days, including corn syrup, corn syrup solids, brown rice syrup, glucose syrup, and maltodextrin.
The only way to know if a formula is lactose-reduced is to look for these other carbohydrate sources on the list of ingredients.
The variety of protein options layered on top of the variety of carbohydrate options results in the large number of formulas that overwhelm you at Target. But now you know how to choose your formula based on the protein and carbohydrate ingredients.
Prioritize your protein choice first since protein is the most likely factor affecting digestibility and comfort. From options with the protein source you are looking for, pick the formula with the carbohydrate blend closest to what you want. Then give it a shot.
I can’t emphasize enough that there is no “perfect” formula. Every baby is unique! This means the “best” formula for your baby is likely totally different than the “best” formula for your neighbor’s kid or your favorite celebrity.
If you want to start or switch formulas, talk to your pediatrician. Here are some suggestions that might help that conversation.
Extra ingredients are… well, extra. This article focused on the main ingredients (protein and carbohydrate) since they impact digestion the most.
However, we’ve all noticed that most formula marketing focuses on all the other sexy, extra ingredients (DHA, MFGM, lactoferrin, HMOs…. to name a few). While these are all nice to have, they are all nonessential extras. And they will not be the deciding factor in whether or not your baby gets into Harvard.
When considering these extras, I suggest parents first focus on finding a protein and carbohydrate blend that keeps their baby comfortable and happy.
Once there, if there is an option with that blend and some sexy extras, and you can easily afford it… go for it! If these ingredients are out of your price range, then do not give them another thought.
Now you know that ingredients should be the number one factor in a formula choice. If you can find your dream ingredients in a store-brand formula… celebrate! That’s what I call shoe money! But let’s be honest, we both know you’ll spend it on diapers.
Similarly, organic ingredients are desirable to many families. However, the ingredients matter more. If full-size proteins cause your infant to be uncomfortable and sleep less, then an organic full-size protein formula is not the best choice for your unique baby. The ingredients are all that matter.
If you are switching formulas, I always recommend going slowly. Over a few days, slowly decrease the amount of old formula in each bottle as you increase the amount of new formula.
This is especially important if the new formula has a larger protein or more lactose. Your baby will have to make more digestive enzymes to digest bigger proteins and more lactose.
Don’t worry — your baby is a rock star — they can totally do that. But giving them a few days to ramp up these enzymes will help the transition go more smoothly.
Most importantly, love your baby and yourself. All babies have gas. All babies fuss. Is your baby loved, fed, and cared for? Then you are doing an amazing job. Be kind to yourself. Trust your intuition… and parent on!
How do I know which formula is right for my baby?
The good news is that according to the AAP, all formulas sold in the United States have to meet FDA standards and should provide adequate nutrition for your baby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “No brand of infant formula is best for all babies.” As daunting as it can be, finding the right formula for your individual baby is often a process of trial and error. If your baby has a known milk protein allergy, colic, gas, or other specific concerns, you can start with a formula made for those issues and see how your baby reacts. Otherwise, you can choose a formula that fits your budget and ingredient preferences and see how your baby tolerates it. Things to watch for as your baby starts a new formula include: •changes in sleep pattern •changes in stool •daytime fussiness •spit up •acceptance of bottles If you’re not sure where to start, call your pediatrician and ask for a recommendation.
What is the closest formula to breast milk?
In reality, no formula can completely mimic human breast milk. However, scientific and nutritional advances have come a long way in recent years, and there are some great options available. The formulas sold in the United States should be FDA approved and meet your baby’s nutritional needs for the first year of life, providing your baby doesn’t have a special medical condition. Generally speaking, the formula with ingredients most similar to human breast milk is Similac 360 Total Care. This formula contains an unprecedented five HMOs, which are prebiotics found in breast milk that should help babies digest and absorb nutrients. The formula also contains DHA (which is found in varying amounts in human milk), ARA, carbs, fats, and vitamins that are meant to mimic those found in breast milk. However, this formula does contain cow’s milk proteins that aren’t hydrolyzed, so they are still quite a bit larger than the proteins found in human milk. A formula with high lactose content and partially hydrolyzed whey protein, such as Gerber GoodStart GentlePro, may better mimic the digestibility of human breast milk.
What is the most recommended formula?
Cow’s milk-based formulas, such as Similac Advance and Gerber GoodStart GentlePro, are among the most commonly recommended. Often, pediatricians’ offices are provided with free samples of Similac and Enfamil formulas, so these tend to be among the top recommended products. These companies have a long history of researching and producing quality infant formulas. They also offer many types for you to try (such as full-size cow’s milk protein formulas, formulas with partially broken down proteins, and hypoallergenic formulas). However, it’s worth noting that the ingredients in a formula are much more important than the brand, or even how many people recommend the formula. If you do a little research (like reading this article!) and read the ingredient labels on the container, you’ll be well on your way to choosing a great formula for your baby. Your pediatrician may be able to give a more specific recommendation for your little one, too. Bridget Young, PhD, CLC, is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester where she studies how variation in breast milk composition and infant formula ingredients impact infant growth and development. As the founder of BabyFormulaExpert.com, she has supported countless families working through formula tolerance issues, helping them find the perfect feeding solution for their baby. You can learn more about working directly with Dr. Young here.
Fat & Fatty Acids: DHA for the Developing Brain. About 50% of the calories in breast milk and infant formulas come from fat. All baby formulas contain a blend of different fats or oils that provide important fatty acids (like DHA) for brain and eye development. Similac formulas have no palm olein oil to support excellent calcium absorption for ...
3 days ago · Baby Formula Ingredients and Labels to Look For. When you’re glancing at that baby formula ingredients list on brands made in the United States, here are the main points you want to look for: 1. Lactose should be the first baby formula ingredient. First, scan the can to find the baby formula nutrition facts label, then locate the list of ...
May 17, 2024 · Water: Breast milk is made up of around 87-90% water. Protein: Breast milk contains approximately 60% whey and 40% casein milk proteins. These are easily digested proteins for babies. Fats: Breast milk is rich in healthy long-chain fatty acids. Fat is essential for brain and nervous system development and healthy vision.
People also ask
What are the ingredients in baby formula?
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What vitamins & minerals are included in infant formula?
The cows' milk in formula contains 2 types of proteins – whey and casein. First infant formula is based on whey protein which is thought to be easier to digest than other types of formula. Unless a midwife, health visitor or GP suggests otherwise, first infant formula is the only formula your baby needs.
