Overview

Deciding to supplement with formula can be a challenging decision for many new parents, especially when it comes to selecting the right one. With so many options available, it can be tough to decipher what truly represents the best quality for your baby. This episode discusses the intricacies of choosing an infant formula that prioritizes high-quality ingredients, evaluating organic options, and avoiding corn syrup and seed oils.

Listen Now

Transcript and Resources

This week’s questions come from Debbie:

I am giving my baby breastmilk and formula right now. Can you tell me more about what formula is best? I am torn about breastfeeding and want to know what formula is best if we switch over to formula only. 

p.s. What I mean by “best” is the best quality ingredients (i.e. organic, no/limited seed oils, no corn syrup). Thanks!

Infant Formula

The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with the World Health Organization and many pediatric associations worldwide, recommend you exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first six months. At around six months, you should introduce your baby to solid foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. Two years may sound like a very long time. Any amount of time your baby is getting breastmilk will benefit them greatly. If you stop breastfeeding before your baby’s first birthday, you must supplement with infant formula.

Despite the recommendations, data shows that most babies are not exclusively breastfed. By three months, 54.7% of babies receive formula; by six months, that increases to 75.1%. Those figures include babies who may also be breastfed and supplementing with formula. At 12 months, 35.9% of babies receive some amount of breastmilk, which could include some that also get formula. That means 64.1% of babies are exclusively on formula before their first birthday. What I am attempting to highlight here is that you are not alone if you are supplementing breastfeeding with infant formula or if you stop breastfeeding before your baby’s first birthday.

Ingredients in Formula Mimic Breastmilk

The global infant formula market was valued at USD 73 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 178 billion by 2032. Since the inception of infant formula in 1867, manufacturers have spent a pile of money and resources trying to mimic breastmilk as closely as possible. All the ingredients that go into formula are, in one way or another, mimicking what is actually in breastmilk. Formula today is the best we have ever had available, and it continues improving over time.

Organic Formula

The argument for buying organic formula is the same as purchasing organic food. For infant formula to be labeled organic, 95% of its ingredients must come from sustainable agriculture practices. That means they don’t use conventional pesticides, no fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, no bioengineering (non-GMO), and no ionizing radiation. Organic also applies to any animals used to produce organic foods. For something to be labeled as organic, animals must not have received antibiotics or growth hormones. The significant drivers to buying organic formula are to avoid GMOs and pesticides.

I am guessing your desire to avoid corn syrup is to avoid genetically modified ingredients. In the United States, about 94% of soy and 89% of corn are genetically modified. Corn syrup is one ingredient derived from corn; there are also other ingredients that could be corn-derived, like “glucose syrup solids.” If you want to avoid GMOs, buying organic or looking for a non-GMO product is the easiest way.

The only downside to buying organic formula is that it is almost always more expensive. The good news is that your baby only needs formula until their first birthday, so you don’t have to buy it forever.

Seed Oils

Breastmilk is high in fat and contains monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fat. Formulas use various oils to try to match breast milk’s fat makeup. Formula can include soy, coconut, palm or palm olein, high oleic sunflower, and rapeseed – which is canola oil. Although formula companies widely use palm and palm olein oil, some research shows that these fats can reduce fat and calcium absorption. The only way to avoid seed oils is to avoid formula. If there was a better alternative to mimic the fat in breast milk, formula companies would use it. You can look at ingredient lists to see what oils are used, and most formulas use a blend of multiple oils.

Breastfeeding and Formula are Not Mutually Exclusive

There are ingredients in breast milk that cannot be replicated in a laboratory. Breast milk contains living cells to inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses. It has antimicrobial proteins and peptides, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative factors. Your milk contains antibodies you produce in response to germs your baby transfers to your breasts. Any amount of breastmilk that your baby gets is fantastic, even if it isn’t at every meal. It is essential to understand that your milk supply depends on the demand from your baby (or breast pump) and milk removal. When you replace a meal of breastmilk with a formula, you will decrease your supply if you do not pump. If you aim to replace breastmilk with formula at some or all feedings, this works great. Just know that with the introduction of the formula, you will decrease your supply.

That said, I support your choice to stop breastfeeding when you are ready. There is an episode on weaning without stress and anxiety with more in-depth information.

Putting it Into Perspective

Debbie, it is so easy to stress out over choices like what formula to buy, and it is great that you want the best for your baby. The truth is that there isn’t a best formula for all babies. Remember that there are healthy babies on every brand of formula on the market. Parenting is constantly making choices for your child without always knowing if it is the right or best decision. All you can do is make the best decision with the information you have right now.

You could spend weeks looking for the perfect formula, which may not agree with your baby. You may need to try a few different types or brands of formula to ensure your baby likes it and has no allergies or digestive issues. I suggest going on Amazon and searching for organic baby formula. I would pull up what looks like the best five or six options, compare ingredient lists and prices, and buy one. You can do this in person if you prefer to buy formula at a physical store.

Additional Resources

Guide to Bottle Feeding and Infant Formula: This episode covers everything from introducing a bottle to choosing the right formula.

Pregnancy Podcast Breastfeeding Resources

Thank you to the amazing companies that have supported this episode.

Save 40% off the Zahler Prenatal +DHA on Amazon with the code PREPOD40. (Valid through October 31, 2024, code must be used with Apex Nutrition as the seller.) You can always see the current promo code for the Zahler prenatal vitamin here.

It is challenging to meet your increased nutrient requirements during pregnancy with your diet alone. Taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin is one of the easiest things to ensure you have all the vitamins and nutrients you and your baby need. Zahler goes above and beyond to use high-quality bioavailable ingredients like the active form of folate, bioavailable iron, and omega 3s.