When you can't or don't want to breastfeed, finding the right infant formula is essential for your baby's health and your peace of mind. Nestlé, the company most widely known for their line of chocolate foods, also makes a line of infant formula under the Gerber brand name. Understanding what's in your infant's formula can help you feel confident about what you're feeding your baby.
Varieties
The Gerber Good Start line of formula comes in several different varieties, based on your baby's individual needs and preferences. All of the varieties allow you to choose from regular or with DHA and ARA, two components naturally found in breast milk that help aid your baby's growth and development. Gerber also provides milk-based and soy-based versions of formula to help babies from ages 9 to 24 months make the transition to cow's milk as well as aid babies who may have lactose intolerance.
Ingredients
Gerber's Good Start Gentle Plus line features the main ingredient whey protein concentrate, which is derived from cow's milk. In addition, it contains a mix of various types of vegetable oils, including palm, sunflower and coconut oils. Gerber adds M. alpina oil--a source of DHA--and c. cohnii oil for ARA to help the formula best simulate a mother's natural breastmilk. Other ingredients include minerals and nutrients such as riboflavin, thiamine and folic acid.
Nutritional Data
In 100 calories of the Gerber's Good Start Gentle Plus formula, there are 5.1 g of fat, 2.2 g of protein and 11.6 g of carbohydrates. According to Merck, babies under 6 months of age should be getting about 50 calories for each pound they weigh, meaning a baby weighing 12 pounds would need 600 calories to meet his nutritional needs.
Gentle Proteins
According to Nestlé, formula made with 100 percent whey protein empties out of your baby's stomach faster, thus causing less gas and thus less irritation and fussiness as well as softer bowel movements. All of the Good Start formulas contain 100 percent whey protein, made in a process unique to Nestlé, which they call "Gentle Proteins," because it doesn't cause curds in your baby's stomach.
Preparation and Storage
Gerber's line of infant formulas come in convenient powder so you can store it in your cupboard or in any other cool, dry place. To make one standard 4-oz. bottle, mix two unpacked level scoops with 4 fl. oz. and shake vigorously. Put any un-consumed prepared formula in the fridge and discard after 24 hours. Prepared formula left out can be used up to one hour after preparing, after which it should be discarded.
