Baby Formula
By Dr. Brown
There are many choices for feeding your infant. This article will not be about breast-feeding but rather focus on alternate ways to feed an infant.
Milk is available in three general forms: Cow’s Milk Based, Soy Based, and Elemental formulas.
Cow’s milk based formulas begin with the milk from cows and then are fortified with minerals and vitamins to make them “formulas”. A formula is a complete food for your infant; you need add nothing else (except fluoride). Cow’s milk based formulas are the choice of most parents and pediatricians. Cow’s milk based formulas have names like Similac, Enfamil, and Good Start.
Soy based formulas begin with soybean milk (liquid from the beans) and then are fortified with minerals and vitamins to make these formulas. These are the choice when a family history includes allergies, eczema or asthma. They have names like Isomil, Prosobee, Nursoy.
Elemental formulas begin with broken down proteins and elemental carbohydrates and then are fortified with minerals and vitamins to make these formulas. These are the choice for children with severe allergies, eczema and asthma. They are much more expensive and represent a tiny part of the entire infant formula market. They have names like Ailementum, Nutramigen.
How they come:
Infant formulas come as Ready to Feed. These can be given as is. They are the most expensive way and also have no source of Fluoride.
They also come as Liquid Concentrates. These need equal amounts of water to be added to the liquid in the can from the store; a one to one dilution. If you use water that is fluoridated as in our very own Chicago Tap Water, this is a very excellent choice of water. More on that in Water source below.
Infant formulas also come as Powder. Generally the scoop that comes in the can is used to measure the powder and is made with one scoop of powder added to 2 ounces of water. If you use water that is fluoridated as in our very own Chicago Tap Water, this is a very excellent choice of water.
Water source:
The next choice you should make is on source of water for other than Ready to feed formulas. While many families will choose to use bottled water or what is called Nursery water for their child, we generally suggest that you choose Chicago Tap Water from your cold-water tap. Cold water is "cleaner" than warm/hot water as it does not go through the hot water heater. Our tap water in Chicago is excellent. Also it can be 1900 times cheaper and for the environmentalists also better for the world as there are no plastic bottles needed. Chicago tap water also has been correctly fluoridated and that means your child’s teeth will be stronger and resistant to cavities.
Stooling paterns:
Stooling patterns will be different for infants on various formulas. The cow’s milk based ones are likely to begin as watery and move to pasty and by a few weeks of age will be firm pellets. Soy based formulas will be watery to begin with and move to pasty by a few weeks of age. Elemental formulas may remain watery or pasty. Smell will change if you change from one brand to another as well as from one type to another. When patterns are significantly different it may be time to call your pediatrician during regular office hours.
Fluoride:
If you choose to use a formula that is Ready to Feed you may need to have a source of Fluoride for your infant. This will be a prescription that the doctor will write and will be given daily to the infant. This is another reason to use a liquid concentrate or powder formula. If you use Chicago tap water, it already has the fluoride in it!
Summary:
Choose a formula from Cow’s milk, Soy, or Elemental.
Choose Ready to Feed, Liquid Concentrate, or Powder.
Choose a source of Fluoride as in the water you dilute the formula with or a prescription.
As always, consulting with your child’s pediatrician is suggested.
There are many choices for feeding your infant. This article will not be about breast-feeding but rather focus on alternate ways to feed an infant.
Milk is available in three general forms: Cow’s Milk Based, Soy Based, and Elemental formulas.
Cow’s milk based formulas begin with the milk from cows and then are fortified with minerals and vitamins to make them “formulas”. A formula is a complete food for your infant; you need add nothing else (except fluoride). Cow’s milk based formulas are the choice of most parents and pediatricians. Cow’s milk based formulas have names like Similac, Enfamil, and Good Start.
Soy based formulas begin with soybean milk (liquid from the beans) and then are fortified with minerals and vitamins to make these formulas. These are the choice when a family history includes allergies, eczema or asthma. They have names like Isomil, Prosobee, Nursoy.
Elemental formulas begin with broken down proteins and elemental carbohydrates and then are fortified with minerals and vitamins to make these formulas. These are the choice for children with severe allergies, eczema and asthma. They are much more expensive and represent a tiny part of the entire infant formula market. They have names like Ailementum, Nutramigen.
How they come:
Infant formulas come as Ready to Feed. These can be given as is. They are the most expensive way and also have no source of Fluoride.
They also come as Liquid Concentrates. These need equal amounts of water to be added to the liquid in the can from the store; a one to one dilution. If you use water that is fluoridated as in our very own Chicago Tap Water, this is a very excellent choice of water. More on that in Water source below.
Infant formulas also come as Powder. Generally the scoop that comes in the can is used to measure the powder and is made with one scoop of powder added to 2 ounces of water. If you use water that is fluoridated as in our very own Chicago Tap Water, this is a very excellent choice of water.
Water source:
The next choice you should make is on source of water for other than Ready to feed formulas. While many families will choose to use bottled water or what is called Nursery water for their child, we generally suggest that you choose Chicago Tap Water from your cold-water tap. Cold water is "cleaner" than warm/hot water as it does not go through the hot water heater. Our tap water in Chicago is excellent. Also it can be 1900 times cheaper and for the environmentalists also better for the world as there are no plastic bottles needed. Chicago tap water also has been correctly fluoridated and that means your child’s teeth will be stronger and resistant to cavities.
Stooling paterns:
Stooling patterns will be different for infants on various formulas. The cow’s milk based ones are likely to begin as watery and move to pasty and by a few weeks of age will be firm pellets. Soy based formulas will be watery to begin with and move to pasty by a few weeks of age. Elemental formulas may remain watery or pasty. Smell will change if you change from one brand to another as well as from one type to another. When patterns are significantly different it may be time to call your pediatrician during regular office hours.
Fluoride:
If you choose to use a formula that is Ready to Feed you may need to have a source of Fluoride for your infant. This will be a prescription that the doctor will write and will be given daily to the infant. This is another reason to use a liquid concentrate or powder formula. If you use Chicago tap water, it already has the fluoride in it!
Summary:
Choose a formula from Cow’s milk, Soy, or Elemental.
Choose Ready to Feed, Liquid Concentrate, or Powder.
Choose a source of Fluoride as in the water you dilute the formula with or a prescription.
As always, consulting with your child’s pediatrician is suggested.