A guide to choosing baby milk formula

There is a confusing array of baby milk formula to choose from. Some formula contain fatty acids DHA and AA, others are fortified in iron. Some formula is based on cow’s milk or soya, while some are low in sodium or made for babies who are lactose intolerant. So, how do you choose the right baby milk formula?

What types of formula are there?

The type of formula that you choose will depend on the appetite, age and stage of your baby. · Newborn formula milk This first stage formula milk contains all the nutrients that your baby needs for healthy development and aid easy digestion. It is designed to be a good alternative to breast milk. Some examples include Cow and Gate complete nutrition 1 first infant milk, Heinz nurture stage 1, SMA 1 first, Aptamil 1 easy digest first milk. · Hungry baby formula milk If your baby is showing signs of not being satisfied by first stage formula milk and they are too young to start weaning, the second stage formula milk would be a good choice. This formula contains a different balance of proteins that will help to keep your baby full for a longer period of time. Some examples include Cow and Gate complete nutrition 2 infant milk for hungry babies, Heinz nurture stage 2, SMA extra, Aptamil 2 extra hungry. · Follow-on formula milk Follow-on formula is designed to support the nutritional needs of your baby when they begin weaning - so, it is suitable for babies who are six months old and over. If the follow-on formula doesn’t suit your baby, the first or second stage formula milks are nutritionally fine for older babies. Be sure to include a varied amount of solid foods. Some examples include Cow and Gate 3 follow-on milk, Heinz nurture 3 follow-on milk, SMA 2 follow-on milk, Aptamil 3 follow-on milk, Nestlé cerelac. · Soya-based formula milk This formula milk is designed for babies who are allergic to cow’s milk, and should only be used if your doctor or health visitor has advised it. Some examples include Cow and Gate Infasoy, Heinz nurture soya, SMA Wysoy soya.

Choosing the right formula

Finding the formula that suits your baby is mainly done through trial and error. Once you have found a formula that your baby is happy with, try not to change it. You may talk to your family members and friends about the formula which they use and which will help. If you feel that you need more advice on formula or feeding milk using babies' bottles, talk to your health visitor. Regardless of the formula that you choose, you need to always check its expiry date.