I am glad to bring back another helpful article written by the lovely Andrea Postal. In her follow up of part one, she will move onto the matters of formula feeding. With so many issues on BPA, lead, and other chemicals, it is very important to educate yourself about your options. For any mom out there who has questions about bottle feeding and formulas, this article will give you a good head start. Thank you Andrea for passing along you knowledge and experience! - Cheers, Lindsay
The many benefits of breastfeeding were mentioned in Part 1 of this article, and in Part 2 I would like to discuss the options when choosing formula and bottle feeding. There are many, many different choices when it comes to formula, below are a few important ingredients and factors to look for in your formula to ensure optimum nutrition:
DHA/ARA – These are important fatty acids that are in abundance in breast milk, but more recently have been added to some formulas. These fatty acids are important for brain and vision development, and should be added to the formula you choose.
Hydrolyzed Milk Formula – is also a factor to be considered, especially as a first formula. Cows milk contains proteins that are quite large and difficult for babies to digest, as well as being highly allergenic. Hydrolyzed formula contains proteins that are broken down into smaller pieces that are more easily digested. This raises the pricepoint of the formula, but is a factor to consider.
Add acidophilus to your baby’s diet. This will help the health of their intestinal tract and reduce the incidence of intestinal illness that is often more common in formula-fed infants. Consult your pediatrician before adding this and any supplement to your baby’s diet.
Avoid soy based formulas, especially as a first formula, unless your baby has an intolerance to dairy and you have been instructed by your pediatrician. There are a number of reasons soy is not best milk substitute for your child.
* The plant based protein is an inferior protein when it comes to infant nutrition, and does not nurture baby the same as animal protein.
* Soy contains 33% more sodium than cows milk.
* Studies have shown that early exposure to soy can increase the incidence of soy allergies later in life, which can be quite detrimental – seeing as much of what we consume uses soy as a filler. Also, between 30-50% of infants allergic to cows milk are also allergic to soy.
* Soy is naturally lactose free, which is beneficial for those babies that are lactose intolerant, but human milk, and all other mammal milk contains lactose, which is a sugar that benefits the intestinal tract, helping absorb calcium and contributing to good bacteria in the intestines. Babies need and benefit from lactose!
Bottles, bottles, bottles…
Plastic can be safe, but do your research before buying. BPA (Bisphenol A), is a toxin that was found in about 90% of baby bottles recently. Many bottles no longer contain this chemical, and others tend to leach less of this into babies milk, but there are other options to put these worries to rest. For a list of safe plastic bottles see this link.
Pros:
* Light weight
* Indestructable (although watch for cracks and wear, this can cause chemicals to leak into liquid. Time to throw it away!)
Cons:
* Many contain BPA or PVC
* Even without BPA, all plastic contains chemicals that are unhealthy for your baby and will leach into their milk
Glass is a great alternative to plastic, and you’re guaranteed to avoid the chemical leeching like many of the plastic bottles. Silicone covers are available for a more comfortable grip and less slippage when feeding baby, and they look cute too!
Pros: No toxic chemicals
Cons: Heavier, breakable. Covers will protect from some breakage.
Stainless steel is not just for mountaineers and workout buffs, it’s for babies too!! Eco Baba is a stylish and affordable stainless steel bottle that, in my research, had great reviews and customer satisfaction.
In my opinion, stainless steel steals the medal for best baby bottle on the market.
Pros:
* BPA free
* Naturally resistant to bacteria growth
* Eco Baba brand specifically – liquid does not touch any plastic, nipple is made from silicone, and they are 100% recyclable.
Cons:
* Pricier than plastic
* Will dent and scratch easily
* Nipple selection is minimal
A note on choosing a nipple …
If you are exclusively bottlefeeding, nipple choice is less important. The best choice is an orthodontic nipple that baby sucks at the widest part of the nipple, with the tip deep into their mouth.
If you are breastfeeding and bottle feeding, choosing a nipple becomes a more important task, as it comes along with the risk of nipple confusion. KellyMom, a site directed at everything breastfeeding, also offers advice on bottle feeding, says this about nipple selection .
“…It is important to use nipples closest in form to the human breast… perfectly round nipples, with a broad base, best facilitate tongue and jaw motions most similar to suckling at the breast. Artificial nipples that mothers have used with success are the Avent nipple (newborn slow-flow), the Playtex Natural Shape or Natural Latch nipples, and the Evenflo Ultra or Elite. It is also best to use a nipple that is silicone, rather than latex, to protect the baby from latex allergens.”
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