The decision to breast-feed or bottle-feed an infant is a controversial, yet very personal decision. While there is only one type of breast milk, there are numerous different types of infant formulas, which come from different sources. It is important that a woman understand just what infant formula is, what it is made from and how to prepare it before she decides to use it. According to the Mayo Clinic, breast-feeding is the healthiest way to feed a baby, but those who do not feel comfortable breast-feeding or cannot breast-feed should use ABM, also called artificial baby milk, or formula.
Cow's Milk Based
The majority of infant formulas have a cow's milk base, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that they have lactose and cow's milk protein, along with added vitamins and minerals to make the formula more similar to breast milk. The Mayo Clinic states that most babies can tolerate cow's milk-based formula, but some have allergies and need to use a different type of formula.
Soy Milk Based
Dr. Bill Sears, pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at the University of California at Irvine, says soy-based formulas are the most popular artificial baby milk after cow's milk-based formulas, with around 25 percent of formula-fed babies in America on a soy formula. He recommends against using soy formulas unless the baby has a milk-protein allergy because they do not have any lactose, which the baby needs to continually be able to digest lactose as he grows older.
Hydrolyzed Formulas
The third type of formula is hydrolyzed formula. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydrolyzed formulas are designed for babies that have soy and milk allergies or who have a family history of soy and cow's milk allergies. Hydrolyzed formulas have the protein broken down into smaller branches of amino acids so they are easier to digest. They generally have the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals as cow's milk-based and soy-based formulas.
Modern Additives
A new trend in the field of developing formulas is adding special ingredients to the formulas to make them more comparable to breast milk. While companies will never be able to make formula as nutritious as breast milk, some of the additives in artificial baby milk are healthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, formulas enhanced with essential fatty acids like DHA and ARA may help aid in brain development, although the research is not clear. New "premium" formulas, with added probiotics, may help add healthy bacteria to the infant's intestines.
Forms of Formula
Baby formula comes powdered, ready to use or concentrated. Ready-to-use formulas are most often given out at hospitals. Concentrated formulas are in a liquid form, but you have to add water to them before using. The Mayo Clinic states that powdered formula is the most popular because it is the least expensive.
