Girlfriend's Reviews

The first time I started giving my baby infant formula, I almost didn't think when I chose the brand. I simply just call my girlfriend, and ask her what she gave to her babies. That simple. No searching about price, comparing the compositions and figure out which one is best.

But later, I started to think that as a good parent, we should do a small research about this. At least standing in front of 'baby foods aisle' in supermarket longer than usual ;)

In our experience, 'formula research' means: asking more other parents, searching in the internet, comparing prices in the supermarket, and including buy several brands to see whether our baby fine with it.

After those research, we came up with 2 brands of follow-up formula (they named 'infant formula' for formula that special made for baby below 6 months, and 'follow-up formula' for baby between 6 months to 3 years). It's Similac Gain Advances “Follow-up Formula” and Nestle Bear Brand “Follow-up Formula".

If you're doing 'formula wanted' research, you might want to know what matters to infant or follow-up formula. Here is a summary source from parents magazine written by Jennifer Kelly Gedes. The idea is: those formula try to replace breastmilk.

Of course breast milk is the best. It helps protect babies from infections, allergies, obesity, and adult heart desease. But breastfeeding isn't always possible, and many moms both breast- and bottle-feed.

When it's time to pick a formula, the choices can be overwhelming. Here's what to know to cut through the confusion:

• Generic vs name brand: similar. By law, all formula is stricly regulated to support infant growth


• Iron-fortified: essential. All babies need formula with iron ("Low Iron" formula puts infants at risk of anemia and should be taken off the market, expert says)
  


• "Special" fats: increasingly common. In 2002 formula was first allowed to be enhanced with certain fatty acids (DHA and AHA) found in mother's milk. Now most standard formulas contain these fatty acids, which play role in brain and eye development and may have cardiovascular benefits. Preemies in particular do better on these formulas.
  


• Whey to protein ratio: trivial. All brands mimic the balance in breast milk; differences are minimal.
  


• Ready made vs. concentrated vs. powdered: convenience vs. cost. There's no nutritional difference. Powder is the least expensive, but you have to mix it, as well as concentrated form, with water.
  
  
• Soy: talk to your peditrician. Soy formula is good choice if your baby has milk allergies (symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, or a skin rash)
  
  
• Hydrolyzed (predigested or amino-acid formula): some babies with rare digestive problems or severe allergies may need these. But don't decide yourself. You'll need the doctor to diagnose the problem and help you choose what's best for your baby.