Formula feeding; Bottle feeding

A variety of formulas are available for infants younger than 12 months old who are not drinking breast milk. Infant formulas vary in nutrients, calorie count, taste, ability to be digested, and cost.

Guidelines for infant formulas and normal infant feeding based on human breast milk are available from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

SPECIFIC TYPES OF FORMULAS

Standard milk-based formulas:

• Almost all babies and infants do well on these formulas. Fussiness and colic are common problems. Most of the time, cow's milk formulas are not the cause of these symptoms and parents do not need to switch to a different formula.
• These formulas are made with cow's milk protein that has been changed to be more like breast milk. Lactose and minerals from the cow's milk, as well as vegetable oils, minerals, and vitamins are also in the formula.

Soy-based formulas:

• < Page
1 2
• >

Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Jennifer K. Mannheim, ARNP, Medical Staff, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Seattle Children's Hospital; and Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)