There are so many baby formula brands to choose from. However, for those with cow milk sensitivity or with pre-existing conditions, moms need to pay particular attention to the actual content of the formula. Just because a formula is organic, it does not guarantee that it won't trigger any allergic reactions and your baby will not react to it. So how do you decide on which formula is the best? Let's take a close look!
There are four types of baby formula:
Cow's milk-based formula.
Goat's milk-based formula.
Hydrolyzed protein formula.
Soy-based formula
Here are some common brands:
Similac - Cow milk-based formula, including a formula with added rice to help decrease spit-up. Most of their formula also contain pre-biotics, which may decrease gas and symptoms of colic.
Enfamil - Cow milk-based, Enfamil AR has added rice to their formula to help decrease spit-up.
Gerber - Cow milk-based, but also have 100% extensively hydrolyzed formula called Extensive HA. Their Good Start formula contains probiotics that may decrease gas and symptoms of colic.
Earth's Organic Dairy Infant Formula - Cow milk-based, but also have sensitivity formula where the milk is lactose-reduced, but the allergy-causing protein is NOT hydrolyzed in their formula.
Happy Baby Organics - Cow milk-based, but also have sensitivity formula where the milk is lactose-reduced, but the allergy-causing protein is NOT hydrolyzed.
Extensively hydrolyzed protein, as well as amino acid-based formulas are known as “predigested” formulas because the protein in the formula is already broken down. Extensively hydrolyzed protein formulas contain small peptides, and in amino acid-based formulas, proteins are broken down completely to the protein building blocks, known as amino acids. Both of these formulas are options for babies who have cow’s milk protein allergies. While they do not taste as good as the complete cow’s milk-based formulas, the taste buds are not fully developed during infancy, and babies will gradually adjust to the new formula.
Hydrolyzed proteins are less allergenic (or immune-response-inducing) for babies who are at risk for food allergies or immune diseases. In fact, there has been good research to show that infants fed hydrolyzed baby formula develop fewer atopic diseases such as eczema! The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends that infants who are at risk for atopic di
seases, which are skin conditions like eczema, be fed hydrolyzed formula.
So which brands make hydrolyzed formula? Both Nutramigen and Alimentum make extensively hydrolyzed formulas. It is important to know that the formula is not completely hydrolyzed. Do you think your baby may need fully hydrolyzed formula? Please contact LEMYKA and we'd be happy to send more information your way!