Infant Formula

INFANT FORMULA

For each woman, the decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed infant formula is a very personal decision based on many things, including personal or family experiences, whether or not you are going back to work, and whether your baby has special needs. After you weigh all the factors in your life that will affect your decision, remember that breastfeeding, for even a short amount of time, can benefit your baby, you, and your family. Although infant formula can provide babies with necessary nutrients, it can never duplicate the exact chemical makeup of human milk, especially human milk’s cells, hormones, and antibodies to fight disease.

However, there are women who have problems breastfeeding due to health conditions or other personal circumstances and need to feed their babies or supplement with infant formula. Infant formula is also the only safe way to provide nutrition to your baby after you have weaned, if your baby is under the age of one.

If you are going to use infant formula, you can ensure that you use a reputable brand that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can check the FDA web site for current information on infant formula in the United States, as well as any recalls due to health and safety problems.

Current as of August 2005

The following publications and organizations provide more information on infant formula:

Publications

Feeding Baby with Breast Milk or Formula - This brochure helps parents decide on the way to feed their baby. Breastfeeding is the best, but if it's not possible, there are helpful tips for using formula.

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/feedbby.html

Infant Formula - These Infant Formula web pages from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contain information about FDA's regulation of commercial infant formulas, commonly asked questions about infant formulas, links to other relevant resources, and how to report problems.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/inf-toc.html

Infant Formula: Frequently Asked Questions - This publication answers several common questions about how infant formula is regulated and how to select and prepare formula. It also explains new ingredients added to formula and where to report any problems.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/inf-faq.html

When Should a Mother Avoid Breastfeeding? - This fact sheet describes rare exceptions when breastfeeding is not recommended, such as when the infant is diagnosed with galactosemia, the mother has been infected with HIV, the mother has untreated, active tuberculosis, the mother is taking certain medications, and more.

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/disease/contraindicators.htm

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding (Copyright © Kids Health) - This publication contains information on the benefits of breastfeeding, the pros and cons of bottle-feeding, instructions on how to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, as well as answers to common breastfeeding questions.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/infants/breast_bottle_feeding.html

Infant Formula (Copyright © AAFP) - If you are unable to breastfeed, this publication gives information on choosing and preparing infant formula. It provides information on bottle warming and also explains the different types of formula that you can purchase and how to prepare it.

http://familydoctor.org/178.xml

Infant Formula: Evaluating the Safety of New Ingredients (Copyright Copyright © National Academy of Sciences) - This book explains the need for research and regulations on the new ingredients added to infant formula in order to determine and ensure the safety of these new products.

http://www.nap.edu/books/0309091500/html/

Special Challenges to Breastfeeding (Copyright © AAP) - This publication contains information on obstacles that may create special challenges in breastfeeding, including maternal illness, plastic surgery, mastitis, and cracked nipples.

http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n:&mstr=/ZZZHCCBXQ7C.html&soc=AAP&srch_typ...

Supplementing the Breastfeeding Baby (Copyright © LLLI) - This fact sheet explains situations where it would be appropriate to supplement a breastfed baby with breast milk pumped from it's mother, another woman's breast milk, or infant formula.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVAugSep99p75.html

To Breastfeed or Not: PKU, Galactosemia, Other Rare Disorders and Possible Misdiagnosis (Copyright © LLLI) - This publication discusses the risks of breastfeeding infants with rare diseases such a phenylketonuria (PKU) or galactosemia. It also discusses the possibility of misdiagnosis and the importance of seeking a second opinion.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVAugSep98p78.html

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources