Topik memilih formula memang selalu berulang, karena selalu ada bayi baru yang membutuhkannya. Ini saya kirimkan artikel tentang susu formula, semoga berguna. Mamanya Dafi Choose a Formula That's Right for You Breast milk may be nature's perfect baby food, but some women cannot nurse, and other women choose not to. That's why scientists and medical experts have spent years developing high-quality, nutritional infant formulas. In fact, in 1980, following recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics'Committee on Nutrition, Congress passed the Infant Formula Act to establish quality, nutrition, and safety standards for formula. Deciding which formula is right for your family means considering your baby's health, age, and dietary needs, as well as each formula's cost and preparation time. Whichever one you like, you'll be choosing between two basic types: milk-based and soy-based. Here's what you need to know: Milk-based formula Cows' milk is the standard base for infant formula. Manufacturers modify cows' milk for human babies by adjusting carbohydrate, protein, and fat levels and adding vitamins and minerals (most milk- and soy-based formulas provide 20 calories per ounce). The quality of traditional infant formula has improved tremendously in the last decade. However, researchers have yet to reproduce the unique qualities that make breast milk the ideal food for babies. Soy-based formula Soy protein is plant-based — from soybeans — and, like cow's milk, is modified for use in formula with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. While some experts — and parents — swear by soy, others say it may lack some compounds such as amino acids that help a baby thrive. Infants who are allergic to lactose, a sugar found in cows' milk, may be less sensitive to soy-based formula. However, up to half of all allergy-prone babies also react negatively to soy and may fare better with a special hypoallergenic formula (see below). Experts have no evidence that soy-based formulas can help soothe a colicky baby. With or without iron? Both cow's milk and soy formulas are available in low iron (less than 6.7 mg/L; usually between1.5 mg/L and 4.5 mg/L) and iron fortified (from 4 to 12 mg/L) varieties. The AAP strongly suggests that babies who are not breastfed or who are partially breastfed should be given an iron fortified formula from birth to 12 months. According to the AAP, breastfed babies absorb more than 50 percent of iron from human milk, about 12 percent from cow's milk formula, and up to 7 percent of soy formula. Experts agree that the fortified formulas sufficiently boost iron levels in babies and young children. Types of Formula Powdered Combine with a specified amount of clean water. Use a blender or vigorously shake the bottle to thoroughly mix before feeding. The most time-consuming of all formulas to make, powdered formula is the least expensive to buy. Concentrate Dilute with equal part of water.More expensive than powdered formula but cheaper than ready-to-use. Ready-to-use Simply pour into a clean bottle, or open a pre-measured bottle, and go. You'll pay more for the convenience of premixed formula. You may notice specialty formulas labeled hypoallergenic or follow-up on the shelves of your local supermarket or pharmacy. These formulas are designed for babies with specific medical or nutritional needs, so ask your healthcare provider before using one. Here's the lowdown: Hypoallergenic and other special formulas. These formulas are designed to trigger fewer allergies and be easier to digest than standard varieties. Experts know less about them than traditional blends, and since they are relative newcomers to the market, their long-term effects on babies are still being evaluated. One thing's certain: Hydrolyzing, the process used to make the formula more digestible, also leaves it tasting bitter, even after sweeteners have been added. Specialty formula also tends to be saltier than soy- and milk-based products — and four to five times more expensive. Follow-up formulas The United States is beginning to follow a European trend of developing calcium-, iron-, and protein-packed formulas specifically for babies 6 to 12 months old. However, follow-up formulas are sweetened with corn syrup, which some experts say is nutritionally unsound. Instead, they recommend meeting your child's increasing nutritional needs by giving her more of her standard formula, plus calcium- and iron-rich foods. So far, only milk-based follow-up formula is available in the United States. You'll pay about 20 percent less for it than for regular formula. Formula Dos and Don'ts • Do use formula before the expiration date on the label. • Do prepare formula exactly as stated on the label. Formula that is too weak or diluted can stunt growth or lead to nutritional deficiencies. Formula that is too strong can lead to dehydration or kidney problems. • Do wash your hands before handling baby bottles or feeding your baby. • Do ask your pediatrician if bottles and equipment need to be sterilized. • Do use refrigerated ready-to-feed or prepared formula within 48 hours of opening. • Do throw away any formula left in a bottle after a feeding. Germs and bacteria from your baby's saliva will live and breed in the warm liquid. • Do refrigerate unused, but prepared, formula. • Do ask your pediatrician or healthcare provider about adding fluoride supplements to your baby's formula. Ready-to-use formula is fluoride-free, so unless your water supply has added fluoride, you'll need to use supplements. • Don't heat formula in a microwave. The temperature of the liquid may be uneven, and could scald your baby even if the bottle feels cool to the touch. • Don't leave bottles of formula out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. • Don't put cereal in a bottle — it makes choking more likely. . Don't let your baby fall asleep while bottle-feeding. The sugar in formula can collect on his teeth and cause tooth decay. • Don't prop your baby's bottle — it increases his risk of choking. Also, drinking while lying down can force formula from your baby's throat through his Eustachian tube and into his middle ear, making an ear infection more likely. ---end----- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! 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