Baby Milk Guide: How to choose the right milk for your baby

Breastfeeding is the ideal way of feeding babies, however commercial milk is quite common.

Baby milk is regulated by a framework of rules to ensure the best protection of baby health and there are strict specifications regarding the composition of the products.

What are the types of baby milk?

Types of baby milk are divided according to infant age:

• First: for babies up to 6 years old
• Second: from 6 years old up to 1 year
• Tuesday: for over 1 year

Early baby milk is a complete food and the only one that should be given up to six months. Second infant milk has some differences as the baby starts eating solid foods and senior milk has additional modifications as the baby’s diet changes after 12 months.

Until the end of infancy you should not give cow’s milk to your baby because it causes gastrointestinal problems, allergic reactions and does not contain all the necessary nutrients for its development. When your baby is one year old, he can start drinking whole cow’s or sheep’s or goat’s milk, as long as it is pasteurized.

Forms of baby milk

There are two types of baby milk available: water-soluble powder and ready-to-drink liquid. While liquid formula is more convenient, it tends to be more expensive and as soon as you open the milk it should be used faster. The powder is not sterile and in order to kill any germs, the water must be boiled. When it cools to 70 degrees Celsius, dissolve the powder, let the milk cool to 37 degrees and give it to your baby.

Baby milk and nutrients

Baby milk is usually made from cow’s milk that has been processed to be as close as possible to breast milk.

Cow’s milk contains the two types of breast milk protein, whey protein (serum albumin) and casein but in reverse proportions: in breast milk the ratio is 4 to 1 while in cow’s milk it is 1 to 4. The ratio in cow’s milk not suitable for babies who can not easily digest casein, so treatment corrects this difference.

The processing also concerns the fat which is of special importance and should provide 35-54% of the total calories. Most companies are replacing cow’s milk fat with vegetable oils. They also add vitamins, minerals, amino acids such as taurine, vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics (oligosaccharides), omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. On the other hand, sodium and some other elements are reduced.

Note that cow’s milk contains less taurine, an amino sulfide. Taurine is added to baby milk because it improves fat absorption and plays an important role in brain maturation. Newborns in the first weeks of life use taurine to bind bile acids.

What is the best milk for your baby?

There are many options and what you choose depends on the needs of the baby and his age.

There are also milks on the market for babies with special nutritional needs, such as for premature babies, for those who are underweight or lactose intolerant, as well as milks designed to prevent allergies, treat colic, constipation and diarrhea. The choice is not easy and the advice of your pediatrician is valuable.

1. Anti-reducing

One problem that can occur in infants is reductions. Parents often notice that their baby expresses a small amount of milk even a few hours after feeding. This is usually a reflex of the stomach. Contraceptive milks are intended to prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease, vomiting and vomiting. Use this formula on the advice of a healthcare professional. Some people recommend a special preparation that contains locust bean gum. If a baby has esophagitis this type of milk is not indicated because it can make the condition worse.

2. Hypoallergenic

To be classified as hypoallergenic, infant milk should not cause (in clinical trials) allergic reactions in 90% of infants with a confirmed allergy to cow’s milk. If your baby is allergic to cow’s milk, your pediatrician will recommend a suitable infant formula with fully hydrolyzed (dissolved) proteins.

What is hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is the process by which proteins are broken down into their building blocks (peptides and amino acids), making them, in theory, less allergenic and free of eczema. There are indications that formulas with extensive hydrolyzed proteins may have protective benefits, however a French study published in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology in 2019 found something unexpected, that partially hydrolyzed milks are more likely to cause wheezing and food allergies] [1] .

3. Goat’s milk

In addition to cow’s milk, goat milk is also available, which is produced according to the same dietary standards.

Are they suitable for babies who are allergic to cow’s milk?

The proteins in both types are similar, although there are some differences [2]. One of the reasons why parents switch from cow’s milk to goat’s milk is the higher presence of oligosaccharides (prebiotics). Another difference is that goat’s milk contains more phospholipids than cow’s milk [3].

4. Soy milk

Usually this type of milk is chosen by parents who follow a vegetarian diet. It is also occasionally used as an alternative to cow’s milk formula for babies who are lactose intolerant or intolerant – these milks have soy proteins and do not contain lactose.

However, concerns have been raised about soy because it contains phytoestrogens, plant compounds whose chemical structure is similar to that of estrogen. Because of this, the reproductive development of a baby who drinks exclusively this milk could be affected. Soy also contains phytic acids that can reduce the absorption of certain nutrients, although no studies have shown this at present [4]. This formula should not be used for premature babies [5].

5. Lactose free

This formula is suitable for babies who are lactose intolerant, meaning they cannot break down lactose, a disaccharide found naturally in dairy products. Lactose intolerance is rare in babies. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating.

6. Specialized

There is also the “therapeutic” or specialized milk intended for infants with increased nutritional needs having different content of nutrients depending on the needs of the baby. There are formulas for low birth weight babies, for metabolic problems, constipation and diarrhea.

7. Organic milk

Finally, there are infant formulas that are made from organic milk and therefore contain fewer pesticides.

How safe is it?

Many mothers wonder how safe baby milk is. You should know that commercial milks provide babies with the nutrients they need to grow, but they do not have exactly the same benefits as breast milk. For example, they can not protect the baby from infections because they do not contain the mother’s antibodies.

Choosing the milk to give your baby is not easy and requires the advice of a well-informed pediatrician. For example, one study found that not all infant formulas had the low sodium levels listed on the label [6]. It should also be noted that a study published in the journal BMC Pediatrics in 2013 by researchers at Keele University in the United Kingdom found that infant milk had higher levels of aluminum than in drinking water [7].

One issue is the water that you will use for milk powder. Even if boiling kills germs, both those in the water and those that may be in the powder, sometimes tap water is not completely clean. Water filters may be a solution. If you use bottled water, you need to make sure it is free of microplastics.

At Vita4you.gr you will find a variety of milks for every baby age!

References

1. Use of partially hydrolysed formula in infancy and incidence of eczema, respiratory symptoms or food allergies in toddlers from the ELFE cohort.
2. Allergenicity of goat’s milk in children with cow’s milk allergy.
3. Is Goat’s Milk Powder A Good Option For Toddlers With Allergies?
4. Safety of soya-based infant formulas in children.
5. Infant Formula.
6. Salt Toxicity (Sodium Intake): A Serious Threat to Infants and Children of Pakistan.
7. The aluminium content of infant formulas remains too high.