The Scoop on Baby Formula

In this article:
Which Brand Should I Buy?
Powdered, Liquid Concentrate, or Ready-to-Serve?
Iron vs. Low-Iron
Cow's Milk vs. Soy-Based
DHA and ARA
Heating Formula

If you've decided to formula-feed your child, you may feel overwhelmed by the many choices available. Here's the information you'll need to find the type best for your baby!

Today's baby formula choices present consumers with such an assortment of products that it can be confusing and frustrating deciding what to buy. Besides brand choice and powdered vs. liquid concentrate vs. ready-to-serve, parents must also decide whether iron, low-iron, lactose-free, soy-based, DHA- and ARA-fortified formulas are best for their baby.

The first step to understanding your baby's needs is to consult with your child's pediatrician. Most babies will thrive on cow's milk formula, but some who are sensitive to lactose may do better on soy-based formulas. When babies show serious trouble digesting both cow's milk and soy formulas, special hypoallergenic formulas may be recommended. Your baby's health care professional is the most qualified person to contact before deciding what's right for your baby.

Which Brand Should I Buy?

If you have decided to formula-feed your baby, the last thing to be concerned about is brand name. In the United States, all baby formula manufacturers must adhere to very strict provisions set forth in the Infant Formula Act of 1980. Formulas must contain minimum and maximum levels of proteins, fats, and specific nutrients designed to be a complete source of nourishment for infants. The Food and Drug Administration strictly reviews and enforces these guidelines.

The most noteworthy difference in brands is in their marketing efforts. You may find numerous coupons in your mailbox from one company or a case of formula at your front door from another. Pediatricians' offices have samples for you to try, but doctors are less concerned about brands than simply what is working best for your baby. X-brand is not necessarily better than Y-brand, as they must all conform to the guidelines if they are produced and sold in the United States; however, your baby may show a preference in taste or seem to have fewer digestive problems with one brand over another—something to pay attention to and discuss with your child's doctor.