The Science Of Baby Formula And Why You Should Consider It

More and more mothers are looking to the convenience and nutrition of baby formula to provide for their newborns. While there is a great deal of debate over whether or not breastfeeding is superior to formula feeding your child, there is certainly a great deal of scientific evidence to suggest that baby formula can contribute to the healthy development of your baby.

If you are a new mother and are considering making the switch to formula feeding your baby, we’ll lay out the scientific benefits you can glean from doing so. Perhaps you will be convinced to use baby formula after learning the facts.

Let’s take a closer look at the scientific reasons that make baby formula a consideration for providing the best environment for your newborn.

What Is Baby Formula?

Perhaps the best way to begin a scientific investigation of baby formula is to narrow down precisely what it is in order to demystify it. Essentially, baby formula is a manufactured food that is designed for feeding babies who are less than twelve months old. It serves as a replacement or supplement for breast milk for a developing baby. Generally, baby formulas are derived from some cow’s milk whey with the addition of supplementary carbohydrates and fats, as well as vitamins and minerals.

What Scientific Benefits Can Baby Formula Provide?

One of the biggest scientific and/or nutritional benefits that baby formula can provide is that most brands contain several vitamins and minerals that your baby would have a difficult time getting otherwise. These include Vitamin D, which is usually absorbed from sunlight as well as omega fats for healthy brain and heart development. Vitamin D is very low in breastmilk, so it’s recommended that nursing mother’s take a Vitamin D supplement.

Baby formulas can also come specially prepared to meet your baby’s unique dietary needs. While breastmilk is a one-size-fits-all sort of substance, there are organic baby formulas, vegan baby formulas, and even gluten-free baby formulas. If you know that your baby has a difficult time with certain types of nutrition, you can simply select a baby formula that will be easy to digest. This flexibility is a real advantage of formula-based feeding.

Formula feeding your newborn can also be a solid option if you are unable to breastfeed your child. Perhaps there is a ‘mechanical’ problem which is causing your child to receive insufficient nutrition from breastmilk or perhaps it is too painful for a new mother. In any case, baby formula has been scientifically verified to be acceptable to use.

What About In Comparison With Breast Milk?

While some people will continue to argue about this point due to prevailing cultural norms, a baby can be adequately and properly fed with formula milk in lieu of breastmilk. Naturally, there are subtle differences between the two substances, but baby formula has been heavily regulated for many decades. There are some studies which suggest that breastmilk contains additional immunity-boosting substances that are important for newborns; however, babies who are unable to breastfeed for a variety of reasons can develop perfectly normally if fed with formula.

If you have any questions or concerns about feeding your newborn with formula, please consult with a physician before making any changes in his or her diet.

Baby Formula Is Safe And Convenient

If used properly and under the supervision of your family physician, baby formula can assist in the development of a strong and healthy baby. By choosing a formula brand that is right for your baby’s needs, you can be sure that your little one is receiving adequate nutrition for normal growth.