What type of formula should I use?

Question

My son is due any week now and I am choosing to breast feed but will also give him formula when needed. Until I find what formula is best for him, what is best to start with??? There are so many to choose from and don't even know where to begin. Also, to those who did breastfeed, and did not feel comfortable doing so in public, what did you do to keep the milk cold/fresh in the diaper bag while on outings???

Also, liquid or powder???

Answer 1

I agree with the above post using formula will lower your supply and be harder on your baby digestively/ nutritonally.

try not to use formula at all there should be no reason to you can pump and bottle feed if you need a break (although pumping will not give as much milk as letting the baby nurse)

if you are not comfortable nursing in public pack milk in a small lunch sized cooler with a cold pack in the diaper bag

also be aware that legally you are allowed to breastfeed everywhere you can bottle feed (you don't even have to hide under a blanket or in the bathroom)

Answer 2

There *is* no "best" formula. One manufacturer tries (and fails) to imitate the fats in human milk. Another will try (and fail) to copy the proteins. Yet a third tries (and fails) to use carbohydrates similar to those a breastfeeding baby gets. *None* of them even make an effort to imitate the vitamin and mineral balance of human milk--a baby fed such a formula would die or be permanently injured because the nutrients are poorly absorbed in formula compared to what a breastfed baby gets. It is actually in contravention of international agreements to *claim* that a formula is "closest to mother" (although all the manufacturers do it because the agreements aren't enforced in most parts of the world). And *all* major brands have had to recall formula when manufacturing errors (some of them potentially life-threatening) were found.

So...try whatever formula is easiest to buy...or cheapest...or your doctor recommends (probably whichever one pays him the biggest bribe)...or your friends suggest (ditto).

As for nursing in public, what worked really well for me was to practice until I *was* comfortable doing it. If you are nervous, pick a relatively isolated location (anywhere near a corner of *anything* is usually a good bet). Turn your back to the busiest direction to get baby started, then pull your shirt right up against his mouth before you turn back. If you are uncomfortable with nursing in public, then *don't* throw a blanket over baby--it's like standing up and screaming "I'M NURSING!!" Don't stare into baby's eyes; look up at passersby and smile. Few of them will have *any* idea you are nursing, and the ones who do will be the ones who have done it themselves.

You can find a way to keep pumped milk cold when out in public, but you can never heat it up to body temperature, so it's not very helpful.

Answer 3

Please try as hard as you can to NOT use formula. Supplementing with formula can actually LOWER your milk supply more and more, it is a very bad cycle to get yourself into. Ask the nurses, and even try to find a lactation consultant, any questions you have but really - you have all the milk you need for your baby! Your baby will nurse A LOT in the beginning but this is REALLY important to help baby build up your milk supply - actually it's crucial that baby spends this time on the breaset because it helps to bring your milk in. Just do your best in the beginning to use only breastmilk - as i said, it is a very difficult cycle to get out of supplementing with formula and it almost ALWAYS results in baby being weaned before he would otherwise wean.

Also, if baby is offered a bottle early in life, there is a high incidence of something called nipple confusion. This is when baby decides he prefers how easy it is to drink from a bottle more than drinking from the breast. The result is very painful nipples for you, and usually baby decides he doesn't want breast at all - which is also painful! The action of baby suckling on breast is the best milk stimulant and many moms find that if they pump enough, their milk supply decreases because it doesn't completley mimic the action of baby suckling at breast.

As far as nursing in public, there's almost always a quiet, low-traffic place to go and nurse. If you are self concious about it, you can bring a blanket with you and cover all up - most people don't even notice it anyway - they just see a mom holding her baby. Breastmilk can be kept out of the fridge to a maximum of 6 hours after being pumped, if this helps. I would once again strongly recommend keeping baby to breast, though, at least for the first six weeks.

Answer 4

We found that Nestle good start is great. Take this to the hospital if you are going to start the baby right away. Most hospital's have similac or infamil. I did not like either of those for my kids. My kids did not spit up as much and seemed to be easy on them. I also breastfed them and used the formula. I like the powder the best. It lasts longer after you open it. Very easy to mix. I would put the amount of formula in the bottles (dry) and then carry a bottle of room temp water with me.

Answer 5

Formula is all the same, just read the name, "formula". It's scientifically made to try to be same as breastmilk but of course that can never happen. What you can do is spend as much money as possible trying out different formulas until your poor baby finally stops puking and then you've found the right one. Or you can go begging for formula at your local WIC office like a classy lady. Or you can do the best for your baby and breastfeed, pump when you need to go out. There is lots of information. I have 4 children and work full time. My baby gets only breastmilk. Formula just ruins everything, don't bother, it isn't worth it.

Answer 6

Most parents I know favor Similac. However, remember that supplementing with formula will raise your child's risk of allergies, asthma, and diabetes, it will lower your milk production so that you have to feed more and more formula, and it likely will produce nipple confusion (inability to nurse at the breast) unless you give expressed milk or formula in an infant cup, instead of a bottle.

Also, remember that formula-feeding does interrupt bonding, and while there are many other ways to bond with a baby besides feeding, I am raising two children who were greatly damaged by poor bonding with their birthparents, and it is not a problem I would wish on my worst enemy. I'd rather get over my fear and nurse in public, than risk missing out on a possibly-vital bonding process. Lots of people do it these days, anyway, and there's plenty of support and advice on how to do it while maintaining your privacy.

Answer 7

Carnation Good Start worked well with my two sons...easily digestible for a newborn's/infant's delicate digestive system, and they both thrived on it. I bought powder because it's the best deal/cheapest. I prefer the ready to drink or the liquid concentrate though...easier to mix and fewer bubbles.

Both of my boys were formula fed, and when we went out, I had a diaper bag that came with a special holder to hold two bottles. It was insulated and came with re-freezable ice packs. This would work with breast milk, too.

Answer 8

I could not breast feed my daughter for health reasons so she was strictly formula fed. At the hospital they started her on I believe Emfamil and she began spitting up so they switched her to the soy formula of the same brand. We used that for a while, but she was excessively gassy and had bad tummy aches so I decided to try the Nestle Good Start. It worked so much better for my little one, no more gas and less spitting up. Before you leave the hospital ask for some samples (they usually give you some). After that I hate to tell you, but its just trial and error. It does get very frustrating and it seems like by the time you find the right one its time to wean them :)

Good Luck!

Answer 9

use an ice pack and an insulated bag to keep breastmilk cold while on outings

as far as the formula, I breastfed and gave my daughter formula while I was at work- I used Nestle Good Start - it was easy for her little tummy to digest and didn't give her any reactions

Good luck!

Answer 10

I tried to breastfeed did not work. si I went to similac but she was very gassy and cranky, switched to similac LF(lactose free)
she wasa much happier baby with less gas. A friend of mine had the same expereince.