Wee Go Baby Bottle, Source: www.babygreenguide.comI have decided that I should have formula on hand just in case I need it for the twins to supplement breastfeeding. Deep down inside I don't want to use it, but I want to be prepared. I realize that I may need to supplement for the twins' weight gain or for my own sanity so someone else can give them a bottle while I try to get some sleep. Given my challenges with breastfeeding one child I want to be a little more flexible and prepared.
I have no idea how to start comparing different formula brands and ingredients. How do I know which one is safe and healthy? How can I get over looking at it as a processed food?
I am hoping the mamas can help me with some suggestions and advice!
When I had my oldest daughter I was told because of the allergy risk to use soy milk formula.
ReplyDeleteAllergy risk meaning grandma, dad and some more member of his family having asthma and eczema.
With my second daughter I kept pointing it out to health care specialist. But they said to use any regular formula if I wanted to use it. Well I used some and she got terrible eczema. She has a dairy allergy. We know use a little formula for her breakfast cereal, it is a formula made of hydralized milk. We have to get a perscription from the GP. She is almost 28 months and gets nursed about twice a day. I never thought we would BF that long.
Good luck with your two.
Personally, Mama H, I had a hard time moving to formula because I, too, viewed it as a processed food. Master X was seven months old when we did the switch. It does feel quite unnatural at first, but it's something you just have to go with. It does change the stool a little and can cause more gas, but unfortunately there isn't a better option... you get breastmilk or formula. I actually have "homemade formula" recipes from cooking school, and I'm happy to pass them along if you want, but ultimately, they were time consuming and I wasn't sure I trusted them. (So I chose to trust the FDA... go figure.)
ReplyDeleteAs far as safety is concerned, they are all technically FDA approved and contain basically the same ingredients. We chose to go with a name brand and used Similac Organic. It was never a question of whether or not to use organic formula, just which one I wanted to use. I was torn between the commercial Similac and the more natural seeming ones. I did something silly and wasteful... I bought a few different cans and opened them all. The Similac smelled the best and I figured that Master X would find it most palatable. The Earth's Best was absolutely revolting. Plus, I knew that all the drug stores around here stocked the Similac, so I'd likely be able to find it in a pinch. (I ended up ordering cases from diapers.com anyway.) I know there was a whole group of moms that freaked about the fact that there are sweeteners in the Similac Organic. By that time, we were successfully using it and I wasn't about to change Master X's diet. All the formulas use some sort of sweetener, anyway.
It was my first big decision to go with milk products for him even though I don't use them myself. There were two reasons for this: 1. I don't trust soy for infants unless there is a history of allergies, and 2. Master X showed signs of soy intolerance when I was nursing... the soy milk in my lattes caused blood in his stool.
One thing I did both when I was nursing and then when we transitioned was to give him drops of Mylicon before he started feeding to eliminate any extra gas. He's never been a gassy kid, so I don't know if it helped or not.
Keep in mind that most of our generation was formula-fed, as nursing was completely out of vogue at the time, and we all turned out fine. Of course, we all want to do a better job than our parents...
Also, since you're just using it as a potential supplement, you should feel even less guilty about it. You know you'll nurse the twins as much as humanly possible, but it's good to have a backup plan.
Hi Karin and thanks for stopping by our blog. I will be following your knitty blog now too!
ReplyDeleteMama H, I can't add anything about formula. I had a bad mum experience with it. You know how we got that free tub of forumula when we gave birth? Well I didn't realise that it had a used by date. When Master R was about 8 months old I decided to give it a go. I made it up and thought is smelled disgusting but thought that was normal. Then I tried to give it to him and he wouldn't go near it. After persisting for a while I checked the used by date. Way out of date. Poor little boy! I am a bad mum...
Thanks Karin and Mama A for the good advice on formula! I really appreciate it. I feel like I have a lot more information now to make a good decision for my babies. I thought Karin might be a British mum when she noted "GP" in her comment. Happy to see you are following our blog!
ReplyDeleteI have tasted both of the organic formulas (Earth's Best and Similac) and they taste and smell pretty much the same. It is a good idea to have around just in case. And if one (or both) of your babies needs it do not beat yourself up. It was created for a reason. Sure there are many arguments against it, which I whole heartedly agree with, but it is not poison. We all probably want our kids to be completely free of processed foods but we do the best we can. The most important thing is that your family is happy and healthy with as little stress as possible.
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