Description

When it comes to feeding your newborn baby, you have only two options: breast milk or infant formula. If you choose formula, your choices are only beginning. There are so many different types of formulas available today: soy protein based, milk based, f

Transcript

Female: It's letting the day away, that’s how five months old Jordin Gellar loves to spend her time laughing and giggling with mom and her favorite toys. But what she loves even more than that is eating. Meal time now competes with playtime as the best time of the day. Rebecca: That’s become very fun because we've just started on cereal as well as formula. So, it's quite an ordeal. It's all over her, it's all over me. So, it's quite a fun time. Female: Rebecca’s smiling now. But many mothers may feel pressured when choosing a formula. So, how do you decide which one to use? Your pediatrician can help. Male: I like well pediatricians will say breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant if it is possible. But you have to look at the mother-child combination, the circumstances they find themselves in and what’s the best way for them. Female: Some of the most common formulas are those based on cow’s milk. They’re nourishing, they’re abundant and they’re affordable. One important note though, while cows milk based formulas are safe for infants, cow’s milk is not. Since and infant’s organs are not yet capable of fully digesting the unprocessed proteins in cows milk, parents should wait a full year before serving the cold white stuff to their little ones. Other common and affordable formulas are those that are soy protein based. These perform in a similar way to cows milk based formulas. So, deciding which one to give your baby depends on your personal preference. If your infant is premature and has a low birth weight however, soy based formulas are not an option. Male: Soy formulas just don’t contain enough calcium and phosphorus to allow for normal bone development. So, soy formulas are not recommended for premature infants. Female: For Jordin however, a soy formula was just what the doctor ordered. Rebecca: She’s very nasal and congested and so he thought that could’ve been some type of milk allergy so we tried the soy. And once we went unto the soy, we had no problems. Female: Hypoallergenic formulas differ from those that are soy based. The proteins in hypoallergenic varieties are broken down into very simple forms and are suitable for infants who have significant digestive problems or who are severely allergic to cow’s milk or soy. But these are also the most expensive infant formulas so you shouldn’t start your child on one without first consulting your pediatrician. Male: If there has been a severe reaction, then you really need to work with your physician because all the hypoallergenic formulas aren’t equally hypoallergenic. Female: Economics can also play a role in any family’s decisions. For parents of healthy infants, a great way to cut cost can be clipping coupons. Rebecca: Whether for the formula or any other baby products, it seems a lot of money. Female: And there are generic formulas available. They’re made by a major manufacturer, follow the same strict federal guidelines and simply bear a generic or store brand label. But be sure to talk with your pediatrician before switching from one product to another. And whichever formula you choose, make sure it's iron fortified. Male: We can prevent some of the long term developmental and cognitive disorders that have been found in babies who became iron deficient. And there has never been any scientific proof that iron containing formulas caused any ailments. Female: Jordin is a healthy happy baby who has benefited from a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Her dog Potter even takes part in feeding sessions. And now she’s looking forward to transitioning from bottles to solid.