Health

Can Bottle-Feeding Be a Good Alternative to Breast Milk?

Pediatricians from around the globe prove the value of breast milk for a newborn. It is a perfect combination of nutrients that a baby needs to grow and acquire a strong immune system. However, breastfeeding is not an option for all parents. Who usually cannot breastfeed?

  • adoptive parents
  • gay couples
  • career-oriented mothers
  • mothers with health problems
  • mothers who must take medicine that contradicts breastfeeding

So, such parents have to select baby formula to bottle-feed their infant until it is ready to eat solid food. Can baby formula replace breast milk? To answer this question, one needs to compare the composition of breast milk and baby formula and read about the available options on this source link.

What does Breast Milk Contain?

Breast milk is the only food and drink a baby needs till it is six-month-old. The secret is the healthy nutrients a mother’s organism develops mainly for a baby’s requirements. Some moms complain of having “blue” or, in other words, “not fatty enough” milk. In fact, a lactating organism produces the milk that a concrete baby needs at the current moment. So, a mother’s organism gives the required quality of milk that doesn’t need to be changed.

What does breast milk contain?

  • Two main proteins (60% of whey and 40% of casein) and some that are impossible to replicate, but they help the growing organism withstand viruses and bacteria. Besides, whey proteins are easier to digest, so such a proportion is perfect.
  • Fats are essential for the nervous system, brain, and retina development.
  • Carbs provide a baby with energy, and breast milk is rich in lactose which is easy to digest.
  • Babies need vitamins, but a mother can promise them only in case her diet is well-balanced or if she takes supplements.
  • Infants require water to stay hydrated and cool down the body in hot seasons. Breast milk consists of 80% water, just like the human body. That’s why there is no need to offer water to babies until they try their first lure.

To conclude, a mother’s milk is perfect for a baby. That’s why pediatricians recommend breastfeeding for as long as it is possible.

What does Baby Formula Contain?

The composition of the baby formula depends on the manufacturer that can produce organic and non-organic products. Companies that try to copy breast milk make an organic formula, and this decision influences the price. Others use basic components but try to cheapen products and add harmful substances such as preservatives, taste enhancers, and thickeners.

What should you look for when buying baby formula?

  1. All ingredients must be natural because mother’s milk doesn’t have any chemicals.
  2. There must be no antibiotics and artificially-derived flavors, coloring, or stabilizers.
  3. A baby formula mustn’t contain GMOs.
  4. Hormones and pesticides are not the components of the best baby formula.  
  5. Cow’s or goat’s powdered milk is the primary source of whey and casein, and it’s better to search for the formula that prevails in whey if a baby has digestive problems.
  6. It must have all the required vitamins, minerals, carbs, fats, and proteins.
  7. The mixture mustn’t have sugar, flavors, and taste enhancers.

Parents mix baby formula with water, so it replicates breast milk to some extent. Consequently, bottle feeding can be a good alternative to breast milk. 

What Types of Organic Baby Formula are Available?

Store shelves are full of various types of baby formula from different brands. What are they?

  • First infant formula, or the one called Pre or Stage 1, is on the European market.
  • Formula based on goat’s milk causes fewer health complications and allergic reactions.
  • Cow’s milk formula is the most popular in Europe and US and fits babies of all ages.
  • Staydown formula prevents frequent regurgitation in babies.
  • Comfort formula is suitable for babies with gasses and constipation.
  • Hypoallergenic or vegan formula is for babies who have lactose intolerance.
  • Follow-on formula is for 6+month-old babies.
  • Good night formula is for comfortable night feeding.
  • The growing-up formula is for 1+ or 2+ children.

Due to the available types of formula, a baby can avoid gastrointestinal problems. The parent’s job is to select it correctly, and one can hardly do that without a pediatrician’s assistance. A professional examines a baby and decides what it requires to stay healthy. 

 

Zeeshan

Writing has always been a big part of who I am. I love expressing my opinions in the form of written words and even though I may not be an expert in certain topics, I believe that I can form my words in ways that make the topic understandable to others. Conatct: zeeshant371@gmail.com

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