Monday, August 11, 2008

Baby Formula - What to Use?

After all my hours spent on doing research about what I should feed my baby, I came to this conclusion: There is no one answer. There are lots of decisions to be made when trying to decide how to feed: Do I breastfeed? Do I use formula? If I use formula, should it be milk based or a specialty type? How often do I feed? Etc, Etc. So basically, the goal of this article is just to get all the different types of feeding option out on the table so readers can make an informed decision.

First, many swear by this, and many say it's just a myth, but breastfeeding should probably be your first option. My wife and I were unable to devote the time necessary to breastfeeding, so we used formula. Breastfeeding is a very time intensive activity, and it will require a lot of patience by the mom, and by the rest of the family, the baby, the job, etc.

When it comes to formula, there are two types: Milk based and specialty based. We used milk based as our child did not have any adverse affects from the basic formula. The specialty brands include organic, soy, lactose-free, hypo-allergenic, low iron and preemie formulations. Luckily for us, and many other parents, baby formula has progressed a long way since it was first produced. Almost all new infant formulas contain DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and ARA (Arachidonic Acid), which are nutrients that are found in breast milk. You need to make sure that the formula has these two nutrients as they are vital for mental and visual development in your child. It is important to follow the instructions provided with the formula. You want to make sure you are feeding your baby the correct amount and not diluting the formula too much. Also, storing of the formula is crucial so please read the directions provided by the manufacturer.

If you have any further questions, please visit my website at http://www.cutebabyaccessories.com where we have more easy to read guides along with great products.

Mark Maloney is the creater and owner of http://www.cutebabyaccessories.com On his website there are many more easy to read articles and products for sale. They specialize in being a one stop shop for all your babies' needs.

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