You want the best for your baby but sometimes due to limitations of the human body you have to accept defeat and move on. The best milk for your baby is definitely breast-milk, since it contains electrolytes, fats, nutrients, and antibodies that comes only from the mother. If you can't provide breast-milk for your baby you have to feed him/her infant milk formula.
There are tons of milk formula in the market today and it can be overwhelming to choose what is the best for your baby. Baby formula are mostly based on modified cow's milk.
There are two main types of baby milk formula first milks and hungry baby milk.
First milks, are whey based that contains casein (40:60 ratio), the same ratio for breast-milk. These kind of milk are for 0 to 12 months old (birth to 1year). These milk are designed to be digested easier for your baby than casein-based milks.
Hungry baby milk, contains more casein (ratio:80 casein 20 whey), since casein is harder to digest this will keep your baby full for longer hours.
My baby's pedia recommends Enfalac A+, according to some friends the formulation is close to mother’s milk. It is also packed with essential nutrients and has higher DHA and ARA content which are necessary for infant brain development. The feeding guide is 1 scoop for every 1 oz of water. However, after a few weeks, we noticed that our baby's poop is soft and it has blood streaks in it. The pedia change the baby formula to Enfalac Gentlease. Enfalac Gentlease is easier to digest since it has partially hydrolyzed protein (for infants 0-12 months).
There are two kinds of hydrolysed milk available, fully hydrolysed formula and partially hydrolysed formula. Fully hydrolysed formula is made for babies with intolerance to cow's milk or those with allergies since the protein in the formula will cause an allergic reaction. You can only purchase this if you have prescription. It has the same nutrients as the ordinary baby formula milk. The only difference is the protein in the milk is hydrolysed, meaning it is broken down so your baby is less likely to react to it.
Meanwhile, partially hydrolysed formula are completely made from whey protein. It is easier to digest for the baby. It is also best for babies suffering from colic, wind, and stomach pain. They are also made for babies with allergies.
After 6 months, my baby's pedia recommend Hipp Organic for our baby. According to Hipp organic they use only organic ingredients for their formulation meaning they didn't use chemical pesticides and GM ingredients. We also like that the formula is packed with iron, vitamins A, C, D, Omega 3 & 6 LCPs (DHA and AA), and other essential nutrients that will help our baby's development.
Why do experts recommend organic nutrition?
"One of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to toxic substances is to eat organic food. It could be one of the single most useful thing a mother can do to give her child a good start in life." ~ Vyvyan Howard, MD Medical Toxico-pathologist, University of Ulster, UK.
"The importance of a healthy lifestyle and correct selection of the food we eat and products we use have an important role to play in determining the level of health we attain and provide for our children. We have to increase our knowledge of how the produce we consume are raised or grown. Check what possible chemicals were used and whenever possible choose better options and avoid compromising our health and that of our loved ones." ~ Laura Soledad Aguinaldo MD, DPPS, DPSCOT Pediatrician and Clinical Toxicologist
"Studies have demonstrated that pesticide exposure harms the brain and nervous system. Many of the processes that occur during brain development are vulnerable to disruption from pesticides. Dietary modifications can help lessen pesticide exposure. Consuming organic produce has shown a reduced amount of urinary pesticide levels in comparison with a conventional diet. It is very likely that with the reduction in pesticide exposure through organic produce, we will have better outcomes for health and development in children." ~ Francis Xavier Dimalanta, MD, FPPS, FPSDBP Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician
"Modification in nutrition, by promoting consumption of organic food does away with the detrimental side effects of additives and chemicals in our body and may decrease the over-reliance to pharmacological agents in controlling asthma. Asthma medications should be supplemented with a good nutrition, which can be found in organic food. These kinds of food do not have food additives and chemicals which can add to the body's toxic burden and trigger asthma attacks." ~ Maria Teresita Sandoval MD, FPPS Pediatric Pulmonologist
