Formula Food

Mothers who are not able to breast feed their babies can feed them with infant formula food or baby formula food. Some mothers also prefer formula food as a choice over breast milk or as a supplement to breastmilk. The formula food is also used during the weaning process by many mothers who have initially fed their babies exclusively with breast milk.

The main ingredients in a baby formula food are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in the proportions needed by your baby. Each brand of baby formula food differs from its competitor in the source of the ingredients it contains, as well as any other additional ingredients present. Two supplements DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) usually come included in the infant formula food to aid in better brain development of the baby. This is already present in breast milk. You must follow the mixing instructions carefully. Once the formula food is prepared, it must be fed to the baby within an hour. A formula food mixed for a feeding session should not be reused for the next feed as it can get contaminated. Throw away any remaining formula food after a feed.

Ideally, the right time to start your baby on formula food is after breast milk feeding has been well established. Although you can start giving her formula food when she is about six months old, it is usually recommended not to stop breast feeding your little one till she is atleast a year old. The more you feed her with formula food, the lesser breast milk she is likely to drink.

If you find the baby allergic to any particular formula food, you must change the infant formula food to another one that suits her. Do remember that goat's milk or home-made formula food cannot be used as an alternative to baby formula food. This is because it does not contain all the essential nutrients that your baby needs such as Vitamin B12 and folic acid. So, goat milk is not an ideal infant formula food for babies less than a year old.

What forms of baby formula food are available in the market?

The kind of baby formula food available in the Indian market is Powdered formula food. To feed this to your baby, you have to mix the powder with sterilized water. Some common brands of formula are Lactogen and NAN.

How do I select the right formula food baby food?

It is generally advisable for you to check with your baby's pediatrician about the kind of formula food that is right for her and the nutrition that she needs. Most formula food contain either processed cow's milk or soy protein based formula food. Processed cow's milk is ideally a better choice. After choosing a brand, select the type of infant baby food depending upon the following types - casein, whey, soy, hydrolyzed, lactose, sucrose and lactose-free.

I am using powdered formula food for my baby. Please tell me how I can prepare it?

Boil water for about 5 minutes (that is 5 minutes after it has started to boil well – rolling boil) and cool it before mixing it with powdered formula food. If you are using bottles with disposable liners, do not use a liner more than once. Once the formula food is prepared, it must be stored in the refrigerator if you are not planning to use it immediately. However, it must be used within an hour if it is at room temperature.

How much formula food can I feed my little one and how often?

The amount of formula food that you can feed your little one depends on a lot of varying factors such as her age, weight, and what she is fed - if it is only formula food, or if the formula food is used along with breast milk or solids. Usually her appetite changes from day to day. She will eat as long as she is hungry and stop when she is full. Once she is full, she will turn away from the bottle herself. She is also likely to vomit if she is over-fed.

Feed your baby only when she is hungry. In the initial days she tends to sleep most of the time. Do not allow her to skip a feed. You must wake her and feed her so that she does not get dehydrated or malnutritioned.

A general rule of thumb is to start with about 30 to 60 ml for each feed as a new born and then increase the amount gradually. When she is about a year old, you can feed her about 350 ml a day so that she gets all the essential nutrients.

Can I add additional food to the formula food?

No! Do not add any additional ingredients such as vitamins, milk or oil to the formula food. This is because the formula food contains the right set of nutrients in the right amount. Altering the proportion of the baby food could affect the health of your baby.

Is there any expiry date for the baby formula food?

Yes, there is! Remember to check for the date on the formula food. Do not use the formula food after this date. It is not safe to give to your baby the formula food after this date.