Commercially prepared infant formulas are a nutritious alternative to breast milk, and even contain some vitamins and nutrients that breastfed babies need to get from supplements.
What are the nutritional differences between human breast milk and infant formula?
The iron content of human milk is low: 0.5 mg/L compared with 10 to 12 mg/L in supplemented cow-milk formulas. The absorption rate, however, is considerably higher. Breastfed infants absorb up to 50 percent of consumed iron, compared with a 7- to 12-percent absorption rate for formula-fed infants (Fomon et al., 1993).
Is formula more hydrating than breast milk?
With that said, it’s even more important to know the best way to hydrate children, especially young babies. Did you know that healthy infants who are breastfeeding or bottle feeding regularly DO NOT need to drink water? Breastmilk and infant formulas are actually more than or equal to 85% water.
Does supplementing with formula reduce the benefits of breastfeeding?
If you plan on supplementing one or two bottles a week, it shouldn’t affect your breast milk supply. But if you give your child one or two bottles of formula a day, your milk supply will begin to drop.
What are the disadvantages of breastfeeding?
Cons
- You may feel discomfort, particularly during the first few days or weeks.
- There isn’t a way to measure how much your baby is eating.
- You’ll need to watch your medication use, caffeine, and alcohol intake. Some substances that go into your body are passed to the baby through your milk.
- Newborns eat frequently.
Are breastfed babies smarter than formula fed?
Some studies suggest that children who were exclusively breastfed have slightly higher IQs than children who were formula fed. “Skin-to-skin” contact. Many nursing mothers really enjoy the experience of bonding so closely with their babies.
Is it OK to mix breast milk with formula?
If you’re wondering if you can mix breast milk and formula in the same bottle, the answer is yes!
Can I breastfeed during the day and formula at night?
Short answer – no. As mentioned above, breastmilk is so easily digested that breastfed babies will wake frequently to feed in the early months. They are biologically programmed this way for their survival. However, it is possible to reduce the amount of night waking and eventually, help baby sleep through the night.
Why is supplementing with formula bad?
Giving your baby an unneeded supplement can create the following problems: … This interferes with supply and demand – the more your baby feeds (demand) the more milk you make (supply). A baby who fills up with other foods like formula will not demand enough and your body will respond by making less milk.