While all paediatricians agree that breastfeeding is the ideal method of nourishing a child, a formula baby can still be well-fed and healthy. All Australian baby formulas are strictly regulated by the Food Standards Board and should contain all the nutrients necessary for an infant to thrive. Paediatricians say there are no general answers to what formula is best; it depends on the individual needs of each baby. Ready-to-use formulas are handy for obvious reasons, though concentrate liquid formulas tend to be cheaper and powdered formulas keep longer. As for iron-enrichment, experts recommend iron-fortified formulas over low-iron formulas, they also say there are no medical indications that iron causes problems like colic and constipation, hence low-iron formulas should not be used to treat them. Yet another choice is between soy- and milk-based formulas. Stomach problems may be due to lactose intolerance in which case soy-based formulas are preferable to milk-based formulas though experts say stomach trouble is also likely to be an allergy to certain proteins in which case soy might be equally problematic. Don’t despair, there is guidance to be had as many websites write extensively on the topic.
Raising Children Network
“Bottle-feeding And Formula”
“Infant formula is not the same thing as the cow’s milk that adults drink: all formula has added vitamins and enzymes and different fats that babies need, and which they can’t get from straight cow’s milk; this is why experts say you shouldn’t feed cow’s milk to your baby. Some expensive formulas have special additional ingredients, ditto with soy formula that has important nutrients that your baby can’t get from soy milk for adults.” …read the full article
BabyCenter Australia®
“Find A Formula That’s Right For You”
“Deciding which formula is right for your family means considering your baby’s health, age, and dietary needs, as well as each formula’s cost and preparation time. Whichever one you opt for, you’ll be choosing between two basic types: milk-based and soya-based.”…read the full article
Children, Youth And Women’s Health Service
“Bottle Feeding- All About Infant Formula”
“Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you don’t need to use a certain brand of formula. The formula your baby was on in hospital does not mean it is the “best” one to use. Hospitals can’t stock all the different types of formula, and often just keep a few brands.”…read the full article
Better Health
“Bottle Feeding With Formula”
“You will need to sterilise all bottle-feeding equipment until your baby is 12 months old. First, wash all the equipment in warm, soapy water. Use a clean bottlebrush to thoroughly remove all traces of milk, rinse and then sterilise. There are a number of different sterilising methods you can use including boiling, chemicals, steam and microwave.”…read the full article
