- A quick introduction to infant formula
- When to use infant formula
- The organic alternative, infant preparations from other animals
- Mixed feeding and weaning: how to proceed?
During the first months after birth, your baby only needs you—your love, your arms to protect and cuddle him or her, and your milk for nourishment. Health professionals all agree: breast milk is the only complete and essential food for proper growth in little ones from 0 to 6 months old.
However, when breastfeeding is not possible or when a mother chooses not to breastfeed, infant formula is an appropriate substitute. It does indeed contain all the nutrients necessary for a child’s good health and growth.
Available in powdered or liquid form, made from cow’s or goat’s milk, “stage 1”, “growing-up” milk, hypoallergenic formulas... the range of infant formulas is vast. So wide, in fact, that choosing the best infant formula for your baby among so many options can feel complicated. That’s why Élhée is sharing its secrets for a happy, satisfied baby with you today.
A quick introduction to infant formula
Standard infant formula is made from cow’s or goat’s milk. It comes either in dehydrated (powder) form to be mixed with suitable mineral water, or as a ready-to-use liquid formula.
Modified to achieve sufficient nutritional value compatible with exclusive infant feeding, cow’s milk-based formula is, for example, enriched with vitamins K and D, as well as iron and essential fatty acids. Its protein and mineral content is carefully adjusted.
Furthermore, its manufacture is subject to strict, demanding regulations, especially when it comes to ingredients.
When to use infant formula?
Breastfeeding is the simplest way to fully meet a child’s nutritional needs up to 6 months old, but bottle-feeding has become widely adopted. It actually offers several advantages and, thanks to the variety of available infant formulas, allows parents to provide babies with a tailor-made diet.
When breastfeeding is not possible:
- Due to a medical treatment that is not compatible with breastfeeding.
- Because of a medical condition such as severe anemia or type 1 diabetes, or when the mother has hypoplasia (underdevelopment of the mammary glands).
- After breast surgery, particularly some types of breast reduction surgery.
- Because of some rare congenital diseases in the baby.
By choice for the bottle:
- Because it’s easier when returning to work.
- So family members can also feed the baby and enjoy that special moment of bonding.
- For greater freedom of movement for the mother.
Choosing the right formula for your baby according to age
Infant formulas fall into three major categories based on the baby’s age and nutritional needs:
- 0–6 months: stage 1 formula,
- 6–12 months: stage 2 formula,
- from 12 months onward: stage 3 or “growing-up” formula.
Allergies, reflux, and indigestion: it’s all about composition
In most cases, the recommended age is enough for choosing an infant formula. Nevertheless, sometimes a specific formula is recommended by your pediatrician or family doctor. This is the case when digestive problems (constipation or diarrhea), gastric reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or an allergy to cow’s milk proteins are diagnosed.
Baby formula brands therefore offer special preparations suited to each child’s needs: hypoallergenic, lactose-free, etc.
The organic alternative: infant preparations from other animals
In recent years, babies have also benefited from alternative formulas largely made from goat’s milk. These baby preparations are recognized for a variety of benefits:
- a more easily digestible composition thanks to lower levels of lactoglobulin and casein (milk proteins),
- a formula better suited for babies intolerant to lactose,
- a different taste that is sometimes better appreciated.
For example, Junéo offers a full range of organic infant formulas made from goat’s milk, suitable for babies from birth: Junéo goat stage 1, stage 2, and “growing-up” milk.
It’s also possible to find infant formulas made from sheep’s milk, and more rarely, mare’s milk.
Mixed feeding and weaning: how to proceed?
From birth, at the start of introducing solid foods, or later on, you may choose mixed feeding for your child. However, finding the right balance between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding can be subtle, and you’ll find it more easily by listening closely to your feelings.
What does mixed feeding mean?
Mixed feeding means a baby is both breastfed (receiving breast milk at the breast) and bottle-fed with formula. The purpose of mixed feeding is, little by little, to wean the baby and help him or her move toward a more independent way of eating.
Transitioning to bottle and infant formula
When starting mixed feeding, there’s no better rhythm than your own. The routine that feels the most natural, least constraining, and most enjoyable for you and your baby is the right one.
A common problem new mothers encounter is nipple-teat confusion. To prevent this as much as possible, choosing a physiological nipple with an appropriate flow is essential. With its shape similar to the nipple and adapted to the palate, it helps babies who are both breastfed and bottle-fed to nurse easily either way.
Choosing the right bottle
When it comes to feeding infants, it all comes down to intuition and sensory pleasure. The baby’s nose, mouth, lips, tongue, and hands are soft, sensitive areas. It’s important to care for them, but also stimulate them.
To help with the transition to mixed feeding, a sensory bottle can be a real help. Shape, texture, color... today, buying a bottle can combine innovation, effectiveness, and a special something. Every aspect matters. And if, on top of that, you fall for a bottle made in France from safe materials and your baby takes to it right away, you’ll know you’ve found the one.
