The nourish of a baby is one of the most important things to help them grow healthy and develop the best way possible.
It’s known that the best option of nourishment is the most complete and magical food in the universe: breast milk.
Most doctors follow the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation that newborns receive their nutrition exclusively through breastmilk till they’re six months old though not all parents can provide this diet to their baby, and not all of them want to.
For those who can’t or simply don’t want to nurse, science has given us baby formulas, the solution for parents and hospitals that saves lives every day. The ingredients in these are similar to these found in breast milk, but while not all formulas are created equal, you have to make sure that there are a few things you know before you choose the best baby formula for your child.
Table of Contents
About Breastmilk and Nursing
Before we jump to baby formulas, here is everything you need to know about breastmilk and nursing.
Why is Breastmilk the Best Option?
More than the most complete and magical food in the world, the act of nursing has many benefits to both mom and baby.
Nursing your baby helps develop the bond between you and makes the little one feel safe, loved, protected, and happy during the hardest moments of their development.
Child development theories believe that humans have the exterogestation moment, where babies finish their development outside the womb. This period is believed to last three months and is the age when the baby wants to be on the breast the whole time, which can be very exhausting and physically hurt some moms.
You don’t have to keep your baby on the boob all the time, but if you can, it’s best that you try to nurse them for the minimum time recommended by WHO, as its the healthiest option for both of you.
Between the many advantages of breastmilk, the most important ones are:
- Your milk is made by design, providing antibodies matching your baby’s immune system needs. Your body will get this information during the nursing moment through receptors located at the mother’s areolas.
- You have good bacteria at your nipples, and they prevent both you and the baby from diseases that could be caught during lactation
- Differently from baby formulas, breastfeeding provides three different types of milk during nursing, each of them is rich in protein, fats, vitamins, and other nutrients that help the development of body and brain functions.
- Studies confirm that babies who are nursed on the breast are less likely to develop obesity, allergies, and other health conditions.
- Breast milk is more easily digested by the baby’s sensitive stomach and digestive system.
If you have the desire to nurse your baby but are facing troubles, don’t give up! You can always look for the help of midwives, nurses, doulas, and lactation consultants; those professionals are trained to help you overcome the challenge that is breastfeeding.
Problems You’ll Probably Have When Breastfeeding
Unlike most people say, breastfeeding isn’t easy, natural, or instinctive, and to many mothers can be more than a challenge but a source of pain and frustration that ends up in premature weaning. The challenges mothers are likely to find are:
Sore or hurt nipples: this is the most common complaint to mothers have about nursing they’re little ones. The wrong attachment to the breast causes this.
Solution: The solution is simple as it can be, simply correct the latching and wash your nipples and areolas with breast milk before nursing that the cracks and pain should end in little time. The Global Health Media Project has some videos that teaches how to position your baby and help them attach correctly.
Pain during nursing: This may once more mean that the latching is wrong if the baby is gripping only on the nipple. This may hurt during nursing.
Solution: Once more, you have to adjust the latching of the baby on the breast.
Engorged breasts/ Blocked duct: This hurts a lot, make your breasts painfully and sensible that even touching makes you wanna cry, this can happen for many reasons, and it’s not a rare situation.
Solution: There are many possible solutions, you can try some of those
- Breastfeed on your hands and knees
- Sterilize a needle and carefully use it to clear the duct
- Massage the breast to stimulate the area and undo the constriction
Baby not getting enough weight/Non-nutritive suckling: This is when many parents end up at baby formulas, the non-nutritive suckling is once more the result of the wrong attachment. Some people and unfortunately, even doctors may tell you that you have “poor milk” and suggest you supplement your baby’s nutrition with formula. Let me tell you a secret: this is not true, there is no poor milk! Your milk is perfect and THE BEST source of nutrition and antibodies to your child, so don’t let them fool you just because they want to sell you formulas.
Solution: If we tell you that the solution is the correct latch, would you believe us? It’s incredible how this simple solution may solve most of your breastfeeding problems.
Not enough milk: The lack of stimulation usually causes this, once most of the milk is produced during nursing with stimulation of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin and usually takes from 3 to 5 days to start after labor to reach its full potential. It’s essential that during this time, your baby is put on the breast at the first hour of life to drink the colostrum and stimulate your milk production and don’t receive the formula while in the health center they were born.
Solutions: There are synthetical forms to use those hormones to stimulate the production, but it’s always better to use the natural forms of stimulating, but the best way is to put your baby on the breast to suckle. The other very used solution is the massage; you can use the same technique to fix engorged breasts.
Baby doesn’t know how to suckle: The same way nursing isn’t instinctive to you, suckling isn’t instinctive to the baby, and this can make the establishment of breastfeeding a challenge.
Solution: Stimulate the suckling reflex with your finger or a glove.
ATTENTION: Any difficulty on the baby’s side may mean a tongue-tied problem; in this case, you should ask for the help of your pediatrician or lactation consultant.
Myths About Breastfeeding
Here are some myths that you may have heard about breastfeeding that are not true, so when you hear these, just ignore and stay strong and confident.
- Breastfeeding is natural and easy
- Your milk may be poor in nutrients, and your baby needs formula
- It’s painless
- If you can’t do it soon, you should give up
- You can’t breastfeed
About Baby Formulas
While there are so many options on the market, soy formula, organic baby formula, formulas that consist of cow’s milk and more, it’s pretty hard for one to decide which one is the best baby formula for your child. As there is no one best formula for everyone. Before we move to the best formulas, here is all the information you need to know how to decide which baby formula is the best for your baby.
Types of Formula: Picking the Main Ingredient
There are three main types of baby formula, the ones based on cow milk, soy milk, or the ones that are made for children with some kind of special nutritional needs.
Cow Milk
Most formulas parents will find on the market are based on cow’s milk; those options are modified so it won’t affect the baby’s stomach and make the digestion process easier for the child.
Soy Milk
The only available option that is not animal-derived for parents who decided to offer their baby a vegan diet, it will be rarely recommended by doctors, except in cases where the baby has some special need, such as casein (milk protein) allergy or lactose intolerance.
Special Formulas
Those have more than one base, and they can be
- Lactose-free: contains lactase that is the broken lactose or corn syrup for children who are allergic to casein (cow’s milk protein)
- Hydrolyzed: the protein is broken into smaller molecules so the baby can digest it easily
- Metabolic: generally used at hospitals is intended for premature babies or children who are ill and must be recommended by a doctor
- Hypoallergenic: made to babies who have some kind of allergy, are usually the most expensive type of formula and must be recommended by a pediatrician. Beware! Not all the formulas are equally hypoallergenic!
How does the formula come?
The formula can be found in three forms and are in most cases easy to prepare
- Powder: the most commonly found, the powder formula must be diluted in water
- Concentrate (liquid): usually offered in bottles, the liquid concentrate must also be diluted in water
- Ready-to-drink: that formula, differently from liquid concentrate formula comes already diluted and ready to be feed
Complements on baby formulas
Some baby formulas have complements to make your baby stronger, and the best baby formulas will have some kind of it, you should prefer formulas that have:
- Iron: a very important component of our blood and essential to fortify the bones and help muscles develop.
- DHA/ARA: those are the synthesized fatty acids found at breast milk
- Probiotics: those are nothing more, nothing less than nice bacteria that helps the baby in the digestion process, they’re present at breastmilk and aren’t needed when the child has access to it naturally.
Top 10 Baby Formulas
Ranking the best baby formulas is something very hard, and in some way relative, once each person has their concept of what is “best”.
That’s why we decided to list the best formulas based on some of its characteristics: most similar do breast milk; digestibility; most recommended by doctors; price and popularity.
1. Enfamil Enspire
This formula contains the ingredients Lactoferrin and MFGM making this the closest baby formula to breast milk of the branch and consequently, one of the best formulas. In case you don’t know, Lactoferrin is a protein found in colostrum and breast milk that provides immune support and intestinal development. The differential about this formula is also the MFGM (Milk Fat Globule Membrane) than supports brain development. This formula also counts with Omega 3 DHA and Choline supplements that are also found on breast milk.
Why we recommend
- It’s the complete baby’s formula when it comes to supplements
- Contains Lactoferrin and MFGM
- Most similar to breast milk
- Contains other supplements such as Omega 3 and DHA
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- Highly recommended by doctors
Why we don’t recommend
- Can be very expensive
2. Similac Pro-Advance
The most similar formula of the branch to breastmilk, it’s one of the most popular choices for both parents and doctors. This formula covers all the requisites to good baby formula, and it is complete in its composition. It’s the only formula that contains 2′-FL HMO (Human Milk Oligosaccharides), a probiotic similar to the one found in breastmilk that helps increasing immunity besides the other supplements that help with brain and eye development. This is also one of the best baby formula options for parents.
Why we recommend
- Contains Lutein and Vitamin E
- Contains DHA & ARA
- Highly recommended by doctors
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- Non-GMO formula
- Can reduce fussiness and gas
- Organic Formula
Why we don’t recommend
- Can be expensive
- Slightly strong smell
3. Gerber Good Start Gentle Infant Formula
This is the brand’s closest formula to breast milk, and it’s one of the first and only formulae with prebiotics – HMO (Human Milk Oligosaccharides) and probiotics, which helps on the development of the immune system.
Why we recommend
- Formula modeled after breast milk
- Contains other supplements such as Probiotics and HMO
- Contains DHA & ARA
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- No artificial growth hormones
- Good price
Why we don’t recommend
- Can cause constipation and gases
4. Earth’s Best Organic Infant Formula
Earth’s best organic baby formula is one of the best organic options for parents, this formula is certificated by USDA and is very popular on the market, this one is the closest formula of the brand to breastmilk. However, they also offer options with reduced lactose and no addition of DHA/ARA
Why we recommend
- Contains supplements such as iron, lutein, and prebiotic fibers
- Contains DHA & ARA
- No added corn syrup solids
- Meets all FDA requirements for baby nutrition.
- Certified by USDA
Why we don’t recommend it
- Can cause constipation
- May be hard to mix
- Contains added sweetener
5. Plum Organics Infant Formula
One of the best organic formulas on the market, this one is made to look as closely as possible to breastmilk, and it’s an excellent option for parents who are looking to provide organic-based nutrition to their child.
Why we recommend
- Formula modeled after breast milk
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- Organic lactose as the sole source of carbohydrates – no corn syrup solids added
- No genetically engineered ingredients
- Contains DHA & ARA
Why we don’t recommend
- Expensive product
- The smell is strong, and some babies may not like it
- May cause diarrhea
- Not always easy to find
6. Nutramigen with Enflora LGG
A hypoallergenic formula by Enfamil designed for babies with allergies, colic, reflux, intolerances, and upset stomach caused by cow’s milk-based formulas. It’s one of the hypoallergenic formulas that are most close to breastmilk.
Why we recommend
- Trusted brand
- Contains DHA & ARA
- Incudes Iron
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- Dairy-free
- Works fast on baby’s organism
- Comes both in powder and ready to drink forms
Why we don’t recommend
- Expensive product
- Can be hard to find
- The smell and taste are strong, and some babies may not like it
7. Similac Alimentum
A hypoallergenic formula by Similac designed for babies with allergies, colic, and upset stomach. As Nutramigen, Similac Alimentum is one of the hypoallergenic formulas most like breastmilk on the market. It has broken proteins, which means it’s pre-digested and goes very easy on baby’s tummy.
Why we recommend
- Trusted brand
- Contains DHA & ARA
- Incudes Iron
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- Dairy-free
- Works fast on baby’s organism
- Comes both in powder and ready to drink forms
Why we don’t recommend
- Expensive product
- Can be hard to find
- The smell and taste are strong, and some babies may not like it
8. Honest Company Organic Non-GOMO Premium Formula
This organic baby formula is a bit different from the other ones, and this baby formula skips the use of some traditionally found ingredients in formulas such as DHA and Corn syrup. Honest Company also has a preoccupation with the cows that provide the milk used as the base for the formula and their feeding. One of the best baby formulae for those who care about transparency and animal care.
Why we recommend
- Non-GMO
- No DHA
- Iron, Vitamins, Calcium, Choline, and Folic Acid supplement
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- No corn syrup or gluten
Why we don’t recommend
- Expensive product
- Can be hard to find
- Contains soy ingredients and palm oil
9. The Honest Co. Organic Non-GMO Sensitive Infant Formula
This organic formula is another option made by Honest Company, but this time focuses on babies with some kind of allergies, colic, reflux, intolerances, and upset stomach. What makes this one of the best baby formulae is the fact that none of the ingredients are extracted with hexane and has reduced lactose, so it can be easily digested.
Why we recommend
- Non-GMO
- No DHA
- Iron, Vitamins, Calcium, Choline, and Folic Acid supplement
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- No corn syrup or gluten
- 74% reduced lactose
Why we don’t recommend
- Expensive product
- Can be hard to find
- Contains soy ingredients and palm oil
- Can’t be given to babies that are entirely lactose intolerant
10. Vermont Organics Infant Formula
A good option of organic baby formulas on the market. Although this one of the most affordable formulas offers all the nutrition your baby may need, it isn’t flawless. Besides its flaws, this formula comes from a company that cares about environmental issues and sustainability.
Why we recommend
- Contains DHA & ARA
- Omega fatty acids including and Choline
- Can be switched with breastmilk without harming the baby’s stomach
- Easy on baby’s tummy
- Non-GMO and Organic
- Affordable
- Good packing
Why we don’t recommend
- DHA extracted with hexane
- May be hard to mix
- Contains a lot of sweeteners
Conclusion
In this article, we covered the most important aspects of breastfeeding, it’s benefits for both the baby’s development and the bond between parent and baby.
However, for different reasons, some mothers’ cannot breastfeed. In this case, we wanted to make sure that you have all the information you need to find the best baby formula that is most similar to the ingredients found in breast milk.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you have information and options to decide what is the best baby formula for you. Here you’ll find a list of only the best baby formulae on the market, both normal, organic, and hypoallergenic, that can help you nourish your baby and support the development of both brain and eye functions.
We looked for formulae that are similar to breast milk so you can provide the most significant number of substances found in the breast.
We hope you enjoy our tips and let us know your thoughts about it!
