Baby formula is a substance that contains all of the essential vitamins and nutrients that an infant needs for growth and development, even in the absence of other foods. They are designed to provide optimal nutrition and as such, contain lots of ingredients that sound like labels on bottles in a crazy scientist’s lab. To replicate breast milk as closely as possible, manufacturers add animal and plant bi-products to ensure adequate consumption of fats, carbohydrates, sugars and proteins.

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When you first start giving solid food to your baby, it is more of an introduction to solids rather than giving him full-blown meals. A taste here and there is advised for starters so that he can grow accustomed to the new sensation of food as opposed to drink. There will be new flavors to discover and eating from a spoon instead of sucking from a bottle is a brand new experience all on its own.

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Some babies will be hungrier than others, and some will be keener than others to try whatever is put in front of them.

There are babies who fuss and cry even after their bottle, and continually put their fist in their mouth and they just seem, well, hungry. From about four months of age, you can start introducing little tastes of solid foods, but before that, a baby’s digestive system simply is not well enough developed to cope with breaking them down. The recommended age for beginning solids is around six months but some will be happy with formula for longer, and breastfeeding for up to a year.

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All babies are not created equal, therefore, individual nutrition needs vary from child to child. For this reason, it’s a good idea to follow an example of ounces of formula per pound of body weight.

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When something is not 100% right with our babies, we want to find the cause as quickly as possible. But pointing the finger inappropriately can mean we miss out on the real cause. It’s long been assumed that the iron content in baby formula is responsible for constipation. After all, even we grownups can experience this problem when taking iron supplements. However, a study was done to determine if it were true of baby formulas. Half of the babies were fed with low iron, half with regular, and as it was a blind study, only the professionals conducting the research knew which babies received which formula. Constipation was reported at the same rate in both groups, proving that for most children, the formula didn’t make the difference. What is known for sure is that iron is essential for growing babies, so to blame the constipation on the iron levels in the formula, and to subsequently discontinue formula as the baby’s main source of nutrition would be counterproductive.

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Neocate is a special formula designed for infants who have a milk protein allergy or multiple food protein intolerances. It contains all the necessary nutrients infants need for growth and development.

Cow’s milk allergy is the most common food allergy found in infants. Happily, the majority of children grow out of it by the time they’re two or three years of age. Although milk allergies are not ‘curable’, the symptoms can be controlled with a dairy-free diet. Sufferers will exhibit symptoms such as skin rashes including eczema, and/or vomiting, tummy ache and diarrhea. Less common symptoms are anaphylactic reactions such as swelling in the face, mouth and tongue which can lead to breathing difficulties; hives and severe vomiting.

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Baby formulas are manufactured to include all the vitamins, essential minerals and other elements a baby needs to one year of age. They are highly specialized recipes that ensure that your baby receives all his nutrients as recommended by infant health authorities. Babies must not be fed cow’s milk for the first twelve months of life because their digestive systems simply are not equipped to digest the complex proteins. This is why baby formula is vital to their growth and development.

For the first four months of life, babies consume solely breast milk, or formula and sometimes drinks of water. The introduction of solid foods after the fourth month is an exciting time, as little ones experience new tastes and textures. However, regardless of the foods they’re eating, it’s still essential that they receive adequate quantities of formula each day, otherwise they could be missing out on important nutritive elements.

As baby gets older, being spoon fed gives way to finger foods and his interest in drinking from a bottle may wane. It’s far more fun to splosh around in bowls of mushy vegetables and to pick up interesting tidbits of fruits and breads. Parents have to be vigilant about continuing the formula regime and ensuring that bottles are finished before encouraging eating solids.

Once that wonderful first birthday party is held, you can start introducing cow’s milk into your child’s diet. It’s also a great time to wean from the bottle to a sipper cup and encourage your littlie to be more independent. Gradually replace one formula feed per day with a cup of cow’s milk and keep an eye out for any signs of intolerance such as rashes, changes in bowel movements or tummy aches. If any of these symptoms occur, it could just be that his system is not adequately developed to process cow’s milk proteins and you might be best to wait another month. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor to exclude any food intolerances.

The difference in flavor between formula and cow’s milk may or may not be an issue for your child. Don’t be tempted to add sugar, chocolate or other flavorings to milk because it will ultimately be difficult to get your child to drink unadulterated milk at all. Try a fun and colorful sipper cup, or different methods of drinking such as with a straw.

You can also try adding cow’s milk to other dishes while introducing it slowly to the diet. A little mixed in with mashed potatoes is a good idea, as is making up cereal with milk instead of formula. Custards are usually popular with tiny tots, and you can also start buying yoghurts, cheeses and ice creams that are made specially for such little children.

The most important thing to remember is to not begin your child on cow’s milk until they are at least one year of age. Formula is of course, more expensive and a little inconvenient at times, but it truly is the best food to give babies until their first birthday.

No doubt, you’ve been advised that breast milk is best for your baby. Yes, this is true, but in some cases, breast milk isn’t an option, or it’s the choice of the mother to use formula instead.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing a baby formula. You should consult your family doctor or other health professional before commencing formula feeding as it’s important to select the right one for your baby’s needs.

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