Getting the right start in life is important to your baby. Healthy and happy babies and children is a result of getting the right nutrition. As a parent, you need to determine how best to provide that nutrition in the feeding of your child. Whether you use baby formula or breast feeding is the first major choice that must be made

Baby feeding, baby formula and breast feeding

Some of the factors that enter into that decision include whether or not the mother is working outside the home.

Breast feeding

In nearly every instance, breast feeding is the ideal food for infants. This gives the child the best start in life. Human breast milk contains all the nutritional advantage needed to provide optimum growth and development. Mother's milk gives immunity to many of the common ailments of childhood. Choosing natural baby feeding when possible is the best choice. It is understandable that breast feeding is not always possible to do, but it should be the first option.

Cow's milk formulas

The pediatrician when asked will almost always recommend a baby formula made from cow's milk. It is important to realize that regular cow's milk is not the same as a formula made of cow's milk. When infants are normal full-term babies, conventional formulas made of cow's milk are perfectly acceptable. Research into the factors that make up breast milk increasingly are narrowing the components and matching them with commercial formulas. A high percentage of breast milk is made up of fat. This helps the infant get the best energy for ounce of formula.

Soy milk formulas

When formula made of cow's milk is causing baby feeding problems such as nausea, excessive gas, bloating, pain and diarrhea this is known as lactose intolerance. When the infant shows signs of lactose intolerance, the pediatrician may recommend switching to soy milk formulas. In the United States about one-fifth of the formals sold are made of soy protein. Lactose intolerance is the major reason for moving to the formula made of soy milk.

Elemental formulas

Elemental formulas take a baby formula down to the basics necessary for growth and nutrition. The elemental formula is made up of all the minerals, vitamins, fat, sugar and protein that the baby needs to thrive. These nutrients are broken down to the most easily digested units. These infant formulas are useful when the baby cannot tolerate cow's milk or the mother is unable or unwilling to provide breast milk for the infant. Elemental baby formula is sold under various brand names in the United States.

How much is enough?

When you are making decisions about baby feeding, one of the major things you need to know is how much baby formula to feed the infant. This will be a matter to be discussed with the pediatrician. Taking cues from the baby's behavior is important. The healthy baby usually will not overeat if the nutrition is adequate. The baby will be hungrier than usual during the typical growth spurts that occur at fairly recognizable stages during infancy.

Burping

Whether the new parent is using breast milk or baby formula it is inevitable that during feeding a certain amount of air is swallowed by the baby. Unless the parent is able to help the baby release the air, it can lead to discomfort and actual pain in the baby. The baby's organs are not fully developed to deal with the trapped air without parental assistance. Different methods work for different infants, but usually gentle patting on the back will release the trapped air.

Hypoallergenic formulas

When the original baby formula is not helping the infant to grow and develop at a rate consistent with the size and age, it may be due to allergies to the ingredients in the formula. Usually this is based on 100% amino acid profiler that is similar to breast milk.

Cost of formula

Providing average cost for baby feeding units will depend to a large extent on the type of formula. The formula can be purchased in powder form and mixed with liquid. It can be premixed for convenience. Some formulas even are prepackaged in measured units so that they can be carried along easily.

Sterilizing and cleaning

One of the most critical aspects in baby feeding is to be absolutely certain that the bottles are sterilized and cleaned before each use. If the parents choose to use glass bottles, they can be sterilized in a number of ways. In the past, parents tended to boil bottles to sterilize them, but today, a dishwasher will help to make sure that the infant is not exposed to germs and other harmful substances. The nipples also must be completely cleaned before using.

Bottle Feeding problems

No matter how carefully designed the bottle and nipples are for the job of baby feeding, they never quite have the look and feel of human breasts. When the baby swallows excess air while feeding, it is probably the major problem due to bottle feeding. Most parents will experience some problems when giving the infant a bottle. Hold the bottle in the correct position to reduce the problems of swallowing air.