• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

How to Pick Baby Formula

October 11, 2009 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

Unfortunately, babies don’t come with an operations manual. While the basics are clear (they need to eat, poop, cry and snuggle), the specifics are a little vaguer. In consultation with your physician and your baby’s health requirements you can chose the baby formula that is most appropriate for your little one.

Unfortunately, babies don’t come with an operations manual. While the basics are clear (they need to eat, poop, cry and snuggle), the specifics are a little vaguer. In consultation with your physician and your baby’s health requirements you can chose the baby formula that is most appropriate for your little one.

 

Step 1

Schedule a visit or conversation with the baby’s health care provider. Feeding an infant can be a challenging and complex job. You want to make sure your baby doesn’t have any specific or special considerations for what they should be eating. If you are starting right off with formula feeding in the hospital, ask your baby’s provider what formula you should be using while they are giving your baby their initial check-up in the hospital. If you have started off breast feeding your baby and are now switching on formula, plan ahead. Ask your provider what his thoughts are well in advance of when you plan to wean your baby off of breast milk.

Step 2

Figure out a workable budget. Formula is a significant cost for families. Decide how much you can afford to spend on formula per week. Knowing what you can afford will help you to select the formula that will best suit your needs. This will narrow your choices.

Step 3

Choose the form of formula you’re going to use. Powdered formula is the most commonly used and the least expensive. This form will need to be mixed with water. Take care in measuring so you’re sure your infant is receiving all of the nutrients she needs. Concentrated liquid form is similar to powder formula in that you have to add water. It is a little easier to measure and mix–and will be a little more expensive as well. Ready-to-feed is your most expensive option as there is no preparation making it the easiest to use. While your budget may not have room for ready-to-feed formula on a full-time basis you may want to use it when going out for the day or perhaps when you’re unsure if you’ll have a place to easily and safely mix the powdered or concentrated versions.

Step 4

Watch for reactions. Having chosen a brand and preparation of formula you’ll want to watch your baby for any reactions they may have to the formula. If the formula does not agree with your baby you may begin to see signs of irritability and discomfort. If your baby is fussy and irritable, don’t switch the formula right away. Call your baby’s health care provider to help you decide if the fussy period is due to the formula or simply coincidence. Switching a baby’s formula frequently can cause tummy upset and sleepless nights all around!

Step 5

If your baby is very fussy and showing signs of colic (inconsolable crying, pain) a visit to your health care provider is in order. If your physician determines that your son or daughter is lactose intolerant then a soy formula will be your next step. Formulas have one primary ingredient. Milk, soy and rice are three types. Soy formulas are made with soy proteins so they’re lactose free and are going to be easier to digest by little ones having difficulty with milk proteins. Soy formulas are not the only choice for children who aren’t tolerating milk based formulas well. There are several types of formula made with cow’s milk protein but do not contain lactose. Be sure to consult your health care provider if you are concerned about your baby’s lactose tolerance.

Warnings

  • Do not "formula hop." If may seem like a good idea to buy the formula that is on sale versus the brand you’ve been using all along–but at 3 a.m. when the baby is crying with an upset stomach those $2 you saved will be less than worth it! Each formula uses slightly different proteins which can be difficult for a baby to digest. Once they’re used to one kind it’s best to stick to it.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Third Child

I Want a Third Child, Except, I Really Don’t

Something strange has been happening to me lately:  I keep … [Read More...] about I Want a Third Child, Except, I Really Don’t

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Can I Use Baking Powder to Thicken Sauce

Can I Use Baking Powder to Thicken Sauce?

Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

How to Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

Can Self Rising Flour Substitute for Baking Soda?

Decoding a Man’s Hug

Decoding a Man’s Hug

Signs of PMS or Pregnancy

How to Fix a Broken Slab of Marble

how to find out your pregnancy due date

How to Find Out Your Pregnancy Due Date

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.