Why Formula Milk Is A Perfect Alternative to Breast Milk?

What Should You Know About Formula Feeding Before Changing Your Baby’s Diet?

Formula milk or baby formula is a good alternative for mothers who can’t feed their milk to the infant. It is suitable for infants and babies under 1 year of age. If you are planning to change your baby’s diet, you should choose formula milk. This post will answer most of your queries regarding formula feeding and baby formula.  

How Much Formula Milk You Should Add to Your Baby’s Daily Diet?

It can be confusing for new moms to know how much formula milk they should feed their babies. Prepare extra milk for the child and observe how much he consumes to soothe his hunger. Thus, you will know the right amount of milk you should prepare for the baby every day.

Newborn: Newborn babies don’t need a lot. Calculate 50ml per KG weight of your baby. So, if your baby weighs 3KGs, he will need 150ml formula milk each time!

1-6 months: A two-month-old baby would need 120ml-150ml milk each time. His diet will increase 150ml-180ml after 4 months of age. The baby will need up to 240ml milk each time as he gets 5-6 months old. Feed him once every four hours.

7-12 months: Even though your baby has started consuming complimentary food, he will still need 500ml-700ml formula milk. You should feed him 3-4 times a day!

1-2 years old: Your baby will consume 400ml-600ml formula milk daily once he is 2 years old.

3-5 years old: A 3-5 years old child drinks only 350ml-500ml milk in a day.

Make sure the milk is not too thick. It should be exactly like mother’s milk so that the baby can easily digest it.

When You Should Feed Formula Milk to Your Baby?

Every breastfeeding mother has this question. It is a well-known fact that babies consume only breast milk until they are six months old. However, if your baby keeps crying for more food after feeding him, you should add formula milk to his diet. The baby might fall seek if you can’t soothe his hunger. Therefore, you should add formula milk to his diet.

If you have physical issues to fulfil your child’s needs, formula milk is a reliable alternative. WHO only recommends mother’s milk before the age of 6 years. Add formula milk only if breast milk is not sufficient to fulfil your baby’s food demands.

What Is Formula Feeding?

Adding artificial milk to a baby’s diet is known as formula feeding. Companies formulate formula milk by using milk powder and other nutrients. The best formula milk will meet all the nutrition needs of your child.

Formula milk contains less quantity of casein and more quantity of whey protein. There are no fatty acids, DHA, vegetable oil, arachidonic acids, and other such nutrients in formula milk. It is perfect for feeding children up to 12 months old. It does not contain anything that may harm your child’s kidneys.  

What Is Formula Milk?

It is artificial milk formulated to provide the nutritional value of breast milk. Brands carefully develop this product so that the baby can easily digest it and absorb all the essential nutrients. Companies add various special nutrients to this milk to aid in the absorption of other vital nutrients.

Top-quality formula milk contains the following:

1. Nucleotide

Nucleotides are naturally found in breast milk. These organic molecules promote the good health of cells. These molecules ensure the rapid growth of the child and proper development of every body part.

2. Essential fatty acids

The rich supply of essential fatty acids ensures the proper growth and good health of a child. Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids are not naturally produced in the human body. Therefore, these are consumed with food. That formula milk supplies these fatty acids to improve your child’s overall health.  

3. DHA and AA

Linoleic acid and fatty acids are precursors of DHA and AA. Many newborn children experience health issues due to a lack of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. DHA belongs to a group of many polyunsaturated fatty acids and it is quite essential for your baby’s brain development.

AA is eicosatetraenoic acid and it is quite essential for the overall growth of the child. Both AA and DHA are required for a baby’s growth during the neonatal period. Therefore, these are added to formula milk in the right quantity.

4. The ratio of key nutrients in formula milk

• Baby formula contains essential nutrients in the following ratio:

• Calcium and phosphorous are available in a 2:1 ratio

• linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (ALA) are available in a 5-15:1 ratio

• Whey protein and casein is included in the 60:40 ratio

The milk also contains vitamin C and polyunsaturated fats, which are quite vital for a newborn child.  

What Should You Do If Your Baby Does Not Consume Formula Milk?

It will be quite a troubling situation if the baby does not consume formula milk. Some babies take time to switch to a new diet. Therefore, you need to find some effective methods to encourage the child for formula milk.

Your baby will quickly adapt to the new taste and smell of the milk if you use a milk bottle with a soft nipple. Use a breast pump to blend some breast milk into formula milk. It will gain the smell and taste of breast milk and your baby will enjoy his new diet.

Suppose your child doesn’t adapt to his new diet, you can try the following solutions to entice your child.

Make it sweeter: All babies love sweet things. You should sprinkle a small quantity of sugar into the formula milk to make it more delicious. Your baby will demand more once he tastes it.  

Offer the baby formula as a breast milk alternative to the child: Babies do not know much about our world, but they know what to eat and what they shouldn’t. Your baby will find it quite tough to switch to a new food if he has consumed only breast milk till now. Introduce formula milk as a tempting product. Entice your baby so that he can seek what you want him to consume.

How Much Formula Milk Your Baby Should Consume In a Day?

It can be tough to estimate the right amount of milk your baby needs each time or in a day. So, pay attention to the following signals to learn about the right diet for your child.

• Feed your baby the formula milk and observe his expressions when he stops for a while. The baby won’t suck more milk if he is full.

• Observe the level of milk bottle after each intake. Thus, you will know the right quantity of milk your baby consumes at once.

• Provide the milk in the bottle according to your baby’s age. We have already explained an estimated quantity of milk different age babies consume each time in a day!

Follow the above-suggested three steps to be familiar with the amount of formula milk your baby needs every day.

How Often You Should Feed Formula Milk to Your Baby?

Babies do not follow a strict diet schedule. They eat whenever they wish to feel full. Therefore, you should provide formula milk whenever the child demands. Babies usually consume milk ever 3-4 hours. You must prepare 3-4 servings for a day before the baby goes to sleep. That would be enough to satisfy your child’s hunger cravings.

What’s The Right Way To Heat The Baby Formula?

Pour the right amount of baby formula into a milk bottle. Put a pot filled with clean water on the gas stove and heat it. Now, put the milk bottle in that hot water pot to heat the milk. The milk should be slightly hotter than the room temperature. Thus, he will enjoy the taste and quality of the milk.

How to Ensure The Baby Is Enjoying His Formula Milk Diet?

Check the baby’s stool consistency and color to ensure he is digesting the milk properly. If it looks similar to breast milk stool, your baby is digesting milk conveniently. Besides, you should always keep the milk bottle at a 45° angle. Make sure the baby is consuming the milk quietly. If not, then he is sucking a lot of air and you should adjust the bottle’s angle.

How to Make Sure the Formula Milk You Are Feeding to the Baby Is Safe for His Health?

Pay attention to the following facts when buying formula milk for your child. These steps will ensure that you pick top-quality baby formula!

• Check the shelf life of the product.

• How does the retailer store the milk powder in his store? It is perfect if stored in a cold place!

• Check the user ratings!

Check these three things whenever you buy formula milk powder for your child. You will never pick a poor quality product!

Conclusion

Formula milk is perfect for 6 months old babies. You can also feed it to a newborn baby if the mother can’t feed him. This nutrient-rich milk will ensure the baby is full and growing healthy like other children.

---