According to Wikipedia, a baby is born in the United States every 14-60 seconds. In the year 2007 there was a record number of babies born in the U.S, a total of 4,315,000 births were reported by the National Center of Health Statistics, giving just a glimpse of what's ahead for the future. In lieu of the increasing numbers of births per year, the need for education and awareness of infant formulas is ever increasing. It is vital that parents are aware of the proper type of formula for their newborn, in addition to the fact that what may be good for one baby, might not be good for another. Here are the top 5 infant formula brands recommended for newborns.
Enfamil is a brand that has been around and used by pediatricians since 1959. There are 11 types of formula under the Enfamil brand: PREMIUM with Triple Health Guard, Gentlease, A.R lipids, ProSobee, Nutramigen, Lactofree, Next Step, Next Step ProSobee, Enfacare Lipil, Pregestimil Lipil, and Enfagrow Soy. Now with so many types of formula, choosing one may be quite confusing. The great thing with Enfamil is they provide a brief and understandable description with each type of formula. On occasion your baby may not tolerate the type of formula you or your pediatrician may have chosen. It's great to know that there are so many type of formula with one brand, so the change would not be too harsh on your newborn. The consistency of Enfamil is also a bit different from other brands. The formula tends to be more fine in texture, allowing for easier digestion for your newborn. You will notice that your baby has less gas, spitting up and overall more comfort after feedings and at 3 am that definitely makes a difference.
Nestle Goodstart is a formula brand developed by Gerber, which a trusted company that has been around for decades. They provide 7 different types of formulas: Gentle Plus, Protect Plus, Nourish Plus, Soy Plus, Gentle Plus 2, Protect Plus 2, and Soy Plus 2. While most formulas are from 0-12 months only, Goodstart provides the option of 0-12 month formula and 9-24 month formula, so your baby can continue to get the supplements needed beyond 12 months of age. The 9-24 month formulas provide Calcium, Iron, Vitamins C and E in amounts that toddlers need essential for proper growth. Many newborns today are lactose intolerant and are unable to tolerate milk based formula. Goodstart provides 2 different types of Soy based formulas, which not many company's have. You can usually find one type of Soy formula with other brands, however, Goodstart has Soy Plus as well as Soy Plus 2 to continue into the toddler age. For the babies that can tolerate milk based formula, Goodstart is the only company that has made their formula with Comfort Proteins. This is 100% whey protein, the highest quality protein, that is broken down further to easy-to-digest Comfort Proteins. A good night's sleep is vital for you and baby, so this added step Goodstart has taken, is one of their best choices.
Parent's Choice is a brand that many may not know about, however, it is a good one. This brand of formula is carried only at Walmart and provides many of the same nutrients as the more costly brands. It meets the nutritional guidelines determined by the U.S Food and Drug Administration as outlined in the Infant Formula Act. In addition to it's nutrient status, it is VERY cost effective. Families can save an estimated 0 per year by switching to Parent's Choice brand. Like many other brands, Parent's Choice provides various types of formulas, such as Milk based, Immune support, Gentle formula and Organic formula just to name a few. In a time where many are struggling financially, this formula provides peace of mind to parents. Not only is their baby getting the nutrients he or she may need but it is at a very low price as well.
Similac is a formula brand that has been around since 1964. Like several brands Similac (developed by Abbott Laboratories) product line includes hypoallergenic, soy, organic, and sensitive formulas to help parents nourish babies regardless of their nutritional needs. Similac has recently developed Similac Advance Early Shield. This formula is designed to be more like breast milk and help build a stronger immune system. Now granted, many brands state their formula is the closest to breast milk, however, Similac has proven theirs to be one of the best. The Advance Early Shield has a unique blend of prebiotics, nucleotides and antioxidants, nutrients naturally found in breast milk, essential to a baby's health. In addition, it has DHA and ARA to support brain and eye development. And many will find this beneficial as well, Advance Early Shield is Kosher. No other infant formula has this exclusive blend and for that reason, it is a definite recommendation for your baby.
Up and Up formula is another recommendation for babies. This brand is created by Target Store and is extremely cost effective. For a 25 oz can, you will pay approximately .00, compared to 29.99 for some brands. That is a huge difference. Like most brands, you can get milk based and soy based formulas alike. This brand may not include the fancy label, but you can be sure it contains the required nutrients your baby needs. Of course, consulting your pediatrician prior to use is always recommended, however, for more than half off of the name brands, you can't beat it.
