Concentrated vs Powered Formula

Of all the things that could stir up such heated debate, I would never have guessed infant formula to be among them. Some people are very passionate about what they feed their baby, and very passionate about what others feed their babies too.  For some people spreading the word about breastfeeding is a holy crusade while others are strictly bottle feeders.  We tried both ways but could not continue breast feeding due to health reasons – but our baby fared well in each case.

For those like us who decide to use the bottle, the next question is “What formula do I choose?” In North America, we have such strict legislation regarding the production of infant food we can rest assured all of the formulas are basically equal.

Which is Better – Concentrated Formula or Powdered Formula?
So does it make a difference whether parents choose to use concentrated or powdered formula?  For that matter, are ready-made bottles superior?  The truth is the choice between concentrated, ready-made and powdered formula is mainly convenience and expense – all three are appropriate for infants.

Ready-Made Are Convenient
Ready-Made bottles are just that – measured doses of formula waiting for you to attach a nipple and feed to your child.  Most drug stores carry these in packs of 8 and they aren’t cheap.  For day-to-day use I generally would not recommend these, but if your last bottle breaks while you are on the road there is nothing quite as life-saving as being able to find ready-made bottles.

Concentrate Travel Well
Cans of concentrated formula are more expensive than powder but travel much better.  If the lid comes off a can of powdered formula while in the car, your back seat will never be clean again.  A single can can make 4-6 bottles – in our case right now that will last an entire day.  Many parents groups are able to obtain concentrate cans for free or at low-cost, which can make this option convenient and inexpensive for young parents.

Powder is Economical
Powdered infant formula is sold in large quantities and is (relatively) cheap to buy.  We buy the “economy” size which is huge.  I’ve noticed that when the powdered formula is mixed the milk is white, which appeals to my sensibilities.  The ready-made and concentrates tend to be brown or off-white – this is not unhealthy but I find it less aesthetic.

Choose Based on Lifestyle and Budget
The food you give to your baby in these early months is so critical because it provides much-needed nourishment for their rapidly growing body and brain.  The good news is the food supply is generally protected, and the choice of formula becomes a matter of three questions:

1. Budget: What can I afford?
2. Lifestyle: Where am I most likely to be feeding the baby?
3. Baby’s Reaction: What does the baby like? (All babies are different and some fare better on lower iron formulas, some on soy)

Infant Constipation Tips #2

We tried using apple juice for a time, but did not feel very comfortable with this.  He isn’t even on pudding yet, I don’t want to risk messing up his stomach by giving it all that acid.

In our case, switching from powder to formula concentrate seems to have done the trick, in a very big and smelly way.  Today his bowel movements are regular and pain-free.

Infant Constipation Tips #1

So sorry for not updating recently – will be more proactive.

For now, a quick word on baby constipation.  Yes, only parents are interested in talking about kids’ poop.  What else can you do when the biggest event that is going to happen in your child’s day revolves around what they ate yesterday.

After much trial and error, our doctor finally recommended using an ounce of apple juice to upset the little one’s stomach.  It turns out that works like a laxative for us – boom (more aptly, SPLASH GURGLE).  Watch for thrush though – only give apple juice before the regular feeding so the milk will wash it all down.

The Death of Plastic Bottles

Since the Canadian government sparked consumer panic with its decision to ban the import of consumer goods made with Bisphenol A (BPA), plastic baby bottles have taken a major hit to their image – glass bottles now line baby department shelves as confused shoppers try to figure out what they should be using to safely feed their babies.

Bisphenal A’s Bad Rap

Bisphenal A, commonly called BPA, is a chemical used to give great strength to clear plastics including some baby bottles. BPA is also used to make CDs and household electronics, and has even had use as a fungicide. In the wild, BPA has been shown to interfere with the endocrine systems of animals and there have been suspicions since the 1930s that low-level exposure can have toxic effects to humans as well, with bottle-fed infants being particularly at risk.

According to Wikipedia:

Studies by the CDC found bisphenol A in the urine of 95% of adults sampled in 1988-1994 and in 93% of children and adults tested in 2003-04. Almost all exposure is through diet, and infants fed with liquid formula are among the most exposed.

Although Canada in 2008 and the United States by 2009 plan to eliminate infant bottles containing BPA, the health agencies of both countries assure us that the levels of BPA found in consumer products are far below what would be considered dangerous and in fact infant bottles made with BPA do not pose a health risk to our children.

Not All Plastic Bottles Are Harmful

PANIC! The message seemingly spread by mainstream media is that all plastic bottles are bad for your baby’s health. This stems from a general lack of understand on the problem and the laziness of outlets to properly report and inform.

The point the government was trying to make is that some plastics are shown to have harmful effects, and even though the levels in infant bottles are well below what would be considered unsafe, the government take is that any margin of danger is unacceptable for our young.

Self-Educate: Know How To Read the Ingredients of Your Food Containers

The world is buyer-beware. You must hold yourself accountable for what you choose to put into your body and into your children’s bodies, and so you need to be aware of how to tell whether your containers are considered safe or not.

Resin Codes

The resin codes – sometimes known as recycling symbols – printed on the bottoms of plastic bottles and cans are in fact standard identifiers for the materials used in the making of that container.  Bisphenal A is a component in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is identified by resin code #3.

Resin code #7 refers to “Other” types that aren’t included in the rest of the numbers.  “Other” may include safe organic biodegradable materials, but it may also contain materials made with BPA.  If you see #7 at the bottom of a bottle, you need to confirm with the manufacturer that the material does not contain BPA – if you are unsure do not purchase it.

Recommended BPA-Free Plastic Numbers

To summarize, “they” recommend we purchase products made with safer plastics and identified by resin code #1, #2, #4 and #5

How a Thermos Makes Bottle Time Easier

When we found out we weren’t able to breastfeed our newborn son, it wasn’t a big deal to switch to bottle. But because of his temporary health issue, we had to prepare a meal for him every 1.5 – 2 hours. We realized that if we didn’t find a way to make bottle time as fast as possible, we were going to sink fast.

One of my wife’s aunts had a brilliant suggestion. At the beginning of every day, boil a kettle and put the hot water inside a thermos. The water stays hot overnight, and is always ready for the bottle.

Let me say that cooling down a hot bottle is a lot faster than warming up a cold bottle. All we have to do is run cold water into a glass, and put the bottle in for a few minutes while we perform the ritualistic diaper change. By the time we’re done, the bottle is almost always at the correct temperature.

Nighttime feedings are the hardest but this method makes them take 10-15 minutes rather than 20-30, which makes for a smoother sleep cycle for everybody.