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Breast milk is the best choice for infants and young children, so mothers should be encouraged to use breast milk-based products to ensure the healthy growth of newborns. However, if breast milk is unavailable, fortified infant formula is a good option for feeding the child in the first year. Infants and young children grow extremely rapidly in their early years, and at that time, they need sufficient vitamins and minerals to develop strong bones and healthy organs. Nowadays...Infant formula milk powderIntended to provide infants with the specific dietary needs of breast milk, experts today fortify infant formula with key nutrients to maintain the overall health and development of infants and young children. Whether an infant formula can completely or partially replace breast milk depends on the product you choose.

Some infant formula milk powders include:

Milk or soy infant formula (iron fortified)
Hypoallergenic infant formula
Other formula milk powders designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants and young children

This article focuses on introducing some common types of infant formula milk powder, and also provides some tips for formula feeding for every mother.

Types of infant formula

1. Milk-based infant formula

The most common infant formulas are modified from cow's milk, typically fortified with added carbohydrates (usually lactose), rapeseed oil, vitamins, and minerals. Note that casein is an important protein in cow's milk; however, the main protein in breast milk is whey protein, not casein. Therefore, some cow's milk-based infant formulas are modified by adding more whey protein. Despite this change, the proteins in infant formula still differ significantly from those in breast milk due to their different amino acid and protein composition. In cow's milk-based infant formulas, protein provides 91 TP4T of calories, fat provides 451 TP4T, and carbohydrates provide 401-451 TP4T. These formulas have lower fat content than breast milk but higher levels of carbohydrates, protein, and minerals.

2. Iron-fortified infant formula

Iron is a vital nutrient for infants under one year old, promoting brain development and aiding in the lungs' transport of oxygen to other parts of the body. Today, iron deficiency is linked to poor cognitive function and developmental delays in infants. Some pediatricians believe that iron-fortified infant formula is best suited for infants under one year old who are not breastfed or are only occasionally breastfed. They believe that feeding iron-fortified infant formula and cereal-based foods to infants under one year old can prevent iron deficiency. Using iron-fortified infant formula ensures that formula-fed infants get enough iron; standard iron-fortified formula typically contains 10-12 mg of ferrous sulfate.

3. Low-iron infant formula

Low-iron infant formula refers to formulas containing less than 4 milligrams of iron. The most common cow-based infant formulas also offer low-iron options, typically containing around 5 milligrams of iron. Some mothers prefer low-iron formulas, believing the higher iron content might cause gastrointestinal problems such as colic, constipation, abdominal pain, or vomiting. However, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that iron-fortified or low-iron formulas cause gastrointestinal problems in infants. Therefore, iron-fortified infant formula can be considered as an option for occasional breastfeeding or non-breastfeeding to ensure that the infant's iron needs are met.

4. Soy-based infant formula

Soy-based infant formula is specifically designed for infants who are intolerant to cow's milk formula. These formulas contain soy protein isolate, derived from soy, as a protein source. They also contain canola oil as a fat source and are fortified with carbohydrates (usually sucrose or corn syrup solids), vitamins, and minerals. Most soy-based infant formulas are typically fortified with an essential amino acid called methionine, as soy contains only small amounts of methionine. Note that these soy-fortified formulas also contain 5 mg of iron. More importantly, soy-fortified formulas are safe and can be considered a viable alternative to cow's milk-fortified formulas.

5. Hypoallergenic infant formula

This type of formula is primarily designed for infants who are prone to allergies, intolerant to cow's milk or soy formula, or have a family history of allergies. Hypoallergenic infant formula is more expensive than cow's milk or soy formula, and its taste differs, which may cause babies to reject it. Therefore, you should only give your child this type of formula when recommended by a pediatrician.

6. Lactose-free infant formula

Lactose is an important carbohydrate in cow's milk infant formula, but a small percentage of infants cannot fully digest lactose from dairy products because their bodies do not produce enough lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose. Please note: Although this is rare, it is still recommended to use lactose-free infant formula for these infants as a precaution. Additionally, soy-based infant formula is also lactose-free and can be used for infants with a history of lactose intolerance.

Basic formula feeding tips:

Wash your hands with soap and water before feeding your child;
Always check the expiration date on the infant formula label, bottle cap, or bottom of the bottle. If it has expired, do not use it.
Always sterilize water and bottles. Infants under 3 months old are very likely to get sick if bottles and nipples are not cleaned properly or become contaminated;
Store your infant formula in a cool, indoor place, not in your vehicle, garage, or outdoors.

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