How to choose a formula for a newborn

Of course, we all know that there is nothing healthier for a newborn baby than mother’s milk. But what if for some reason breastfeeding is impossible? How to choose the right baby food for your baby?

Lactose-free formulas for newborns

Problems with digestion of food are increasingly common in newborns. Parents blame this on low-quality products or the characteristics of the baby’s body. But often vomiting, loss of appetite and gas accumulation in the intestines are explained low digestibility of lactose. In this case, it is better to feed the baby a lactose-free formula.

Nutrition based on a lactose-free mixture is classified as therapeutic. You cannot switch your child to such formulas on your own, since lactose is an important component of baby food. The differences between regular food and lactose-free formulas are as follows:

• Lactose is excluded only for a certain time. At the end of the course of treatment, a check is made to see how much the child’s body has improved the absorption of milk sugar.
• Only parents should decide which protein formula is suitable for their baby.
• Lactose-free foods don't taste very good. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that the child may refuse it.
• Prolonged feeding of such food can lead to colic, imbalance of intestinal microflora, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.

Lactose-free formula should not be immediately introduced into a child’s diet. Such a sudden transition to a new diet can cause constipation. On the first day, it is enough to add only 30 ml of the new mixture. On the second day, the amount of mixture is doubled and added to the child’s diet twice. Then the new food will be well absorbed. In the same way, you should transfer your baby to regular formula.

Fermented milk formulas for newborns

Baby food based on fermented milk mixture also belongs to the medicinal category. The composition of these mixtures helps to normalize the baby’s condition during an exacerbation of the disease or disorder. This mixture is prescribed by a pediatrician taking into account the child’s health, existing individual intolerances and age.

Fermented milk mixtures contain bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. They feel great in the child’s intestines, improve his microflora and normalize the digestion process. They are prescribed for such child conditions as colic, lack of appetite, constant constipation, and difficulties with digesting food.

The attending physician should choose the fermented milk mixture. At the same time, he bases his choice on the child’s age and state of health. Fermented milk formulas are divided by age into fully adapted, which can be given to the baby from birth, and partially adapted, recommended from the age of 6 months.

When feeding your baby with this diet, you should take into account what increases regurgitation. Therefore, it is optimal to alternate feeding with fermented milk mixture and fresh milk. If a child has constipation, it is also recommended to alternate regular unleavened formula with fermented milk. If the disturbances are severe, it is recommended to completely switch the baby to fermented milk mixture. Therapeutic nutrition is introduced gradually, starting with 30 ml. Then this volume is doubled every day, gradually replacing one or more feedings with a new food.

Rating of formulas for newborns

If you are feeding your baby artificially, then you need to choose baby food in such a way that its composition is as close as possible to natural breast milk. From this point of view, the best infant formulas are the following:

• A Nutricia company product called Nutrilon 1 Premium. Its composition is exactly the same as that of human breast milk, containing lactose, protein and fat. Whey proteins and casein are contained in the same proportions as in natural breast milk. In addition, there are all the vitamins and minerals required for the baby, amino acids, nucleotides and prebiotics are additionally included. The disadvantages include the lack of probiotics and the marginal ratio of linoleic and α-linoleic acids.

• Humana Expert 1 infant formula from Humana has the same basic characteristics as the previous one. The difference is that the protein content in it is slightly higher than in breast milk. Positive aspects include the optimal ratio of linoleic and α-linoleic acid, the presence of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, nucleotides and prebiotics. The downside of this diet is the lack of probiotics.

• Baby food NAN-1 Optipro produced by Nestle has an optimal amount of protein, is suitable for feeding newborns, and does not contain palm oil. In addition to essential vitamins and minerals, it contains amino acids, nucleotides and probiotics. The negatives are that this mixture has a sweeter taste due to the high lactose content, it does not contain prebiotics, and it can put additional stress on the kidneys.