However, certain organic infant formulas are sweetened with cane sugar sucrose , which is significantly sweeter than the sugars commonly used in formula and which, some experts worry, could contribute to problems like tooth decay and excess weight gain. Not all organic formulas use sucrose, however, so check the labels.
If you still have questions, ask your pediatrician. Some formulas for babies are now fortified with probiotics, or bacteria that's supposed to prevent diarrhea in otherwise healthy children. Probiotics should not be given to chronic or seriously ill babies, and the jury is still out on whether or not they're effective in treating diarrhea or preventing any other conditions. Prebiotics are also added to some formulas in order to reduce infections in healthy children, but it's still uncertain whether or not they're effective either.
These formulas are for babies older than 4 months who are bottle-feeding and also eating solid foods. They're not a good choice for younger babies, though. You should always ask your doctor before adding them to the menu. The vast selection of formulas on the store shelves can be dizzying — and more than a little confusing.
Here are some smart tips to help you find the right one for your baby:. There's no getting around it: Formula can be expensive. Prices vary depending on the type of formula you use powder, concentrate or ready-to-feed , and specialized formulas can be up to 20 percent more expensive than the standard, iron-fortified, cow's-milk variety. The least expensive option is powdered formula that you mix yourself. Moving up the cost scale is liquid concentrate just add water and finally — at the top of the formula pyramid — ready-to-feed formula.
Looking for a way to keep cost down but not ready to give up on convenience? One approach is to splurge on ready-to-feed formula during your baby's first few weeks when sleep is hard to come by — and the last thing you want to do is measure and mix at 2 a.
Once your little one is sleeping more and your feeding routine is well-established, you may feel more up to the task of making bottles, so you can switch to one of the kinds you have to whip up yourself. Another way to save on formula? Try registering on the manufacturer's website for coupons and rebate checks. Buying generic formula will also save you some money. Ideally, you should feed your baby at the first signs of hunger.
He might be tiny, but he'll make his needs known by:. Start your newborn out slowly. For the first week or so, your baby will probably take about 1 to 3 ounces at each feeding every three to four hours or on demand. Gradually increase the ounces , adding more as the demand becomes greater, but never push your baby to take more than he wants.
A very general rule of thumb is to take your baby's weight and multiply it by 2. However, if you feed your baby only ready-to-feed formula or concentrated formula mixed with low-fluoride water, your baby's doctor might recommend fluoride supplements beginning at 6 months.
Carefully measure the amount of water and formula you add. Too much water might cause the formula to fail to meet your baby's nutritional needs. Too little water might cause your baby to become dehydrated. It's fine to give your baby room temperature or even cold formula. If your baby prefers warm formula, place a filled bottle in a bowl of warm water and let it stand for a few minutes — or warm the bottle under running water.
Test the temperature by putting a couple of drops on the back of your hand. The formula should feel lukewarm — not hot. Don't warm bottles in the microwave. The formula might heat unevenly, creating hot spots that could burn your baby's mouth. Discard remaining formula at the end of each feeding if it has been more than an hour from the start of a feeding. Resist the urge to refrigerate a bottle once you have fed your baby from it, since bacteria from your baby's mouth can still multiply in the refrigerator.
If you're using ready-to-use formula, cover and refrigerate any unused formula from a freshly opened container. Discard any leftover formula that's been in the refrigerator more than 48 hours. If you prepare and fill several bottles of liquid-concentrate or powdered formula at once, do the following:. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.
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You will need to wash bottles and nipples in hot, soapy water or run them through the dishwasher after every use. They can transmit bacteria if not cleaned properly. Prepare your baby's formula by mixing water and the appropriate amount of powdered infant formula. The packaging on the side of the formula container will tell you how much to use. Carefully follow the directions. You can use tepid room temperature tap water, as long as your local or state health departments have labeled it as safe to drink.
Test to see if the water is cool enough for your baby to drink by shaking a few drops of water on the inside of your wrist. If it stings, it's still too hot. Once water has cooled, don't let it sit longer than 30 minutes before adding it to the formula. Once prepared, the formula is ready to feed to your baby immediately without additional refrigeration or warming.
Formula that's been prepared should be consumed or stored in the refrigerator within 1 hour. This statement makes it clear that cold temperature milk is fine to give to your baby and that safety is not a concern. Infants cannot have regular milk until the age of one. There are definitely some reasons why giving your baby a cold bottle of milk might be the choice you want to make.
Here are the top 3 reasons you might give it a try. Pouring milk into a bottle straight from the fridge means you have one less thing to do to get it ready. Care needs to be taken when warming a bottle to do it safely while also preserving its nutrients if serving breastmilk.
When done incorrectly, you can overheat the milk which can create dangerous hot spots and destroy the healing antibodies of breastmilk. You probably already know that leaving the house with a baby can be quite the endeavor. Having to feed a baby on the go can make it even harder. If your baby will take a cold bottle of milk on the go, this makes your life a lot easier while traveling.
These pros might be enough to convince you to try to give your baby a cold bottle to see what happens. My baby will go with whatever I give her!
We all want one less thing to have to hassle with as new parents. Though giving cold milk to your baby is safe, it still may not be the best choice. There is an especially high chance of this if your baby has always been fed warm milk previously - whether by breast or bottle.
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