Eventually you will be able to make your own baby food for your baby. Would you consider doing the same for baby formula?
There is an appeal to making your own food. You can control exactly what is going into it and you may even save money compared to commercial products. If you cannot nurse, you want the next best thing for your little one. This includes fresh ingredients that you can pronounce. Your baby is not ready for solids yet, and milk is still too much for their digestive system and kidneys. Homemade baby formula recipes are as close as your Internet browser. But is it safe?
Making Your Own Baby Formula Has its Risks
The ability to make your baby's formula has its benefits to you, but it has plenty of risks for your baby. Consider some of the following:
Safety
A raw diet is fine for adults, but it is important to remember that a baby's digestive system is still developing. Some of the ingredients found in homemade baby formula recipes include raw milk which can contain bacteria. Also, commercial baby formula is manufactured in facilities that must meet cleanliness guidelines established by the governing bodies like the Food and Drug Administration or the European Union. Every factory is inspected on a regular basis to ensure the quality and safety of every batch. While you may keep a clean home, it may not be as sterile as the equipment found in baby formula companies.
Nutrition
There is a reason for every ingredient in each batch of baby formula. Some ingredients are chosen because they are found naturally in the ideal food for babies: breast milk. However, breast milk is complex, so it is not as easy to mimic. Ingredients must be easy to digest and provide a balance in nutritional value. Some homemade baby formula recipes call for foods that are high in protein or vitamins like chicken liver or bone broth. While it is good for adults, it has too much for your baby to digest. As for the names that cannot be pronounced, they are likely vitamins and minerals that need to be added to formula, but are posted in their scientific names. For example, ascorbic acid is vitamin C and thiamine is vitamin B1.
Choosing the Right Baby Formula
If you want to find a baby formula that meets all of the nutritional needs without adding artificial ingredients or unknown preservatives, then you want to be able to research the brands that you can trust. Learn what the ingredients mean and why they are in the product. Know how ingredients are derived and what medical research is saying about their effects.
Organic baby formula shares the concerns about what goes into the food that your baby eats. Not only do they have to meet safety and nutrition guidelines, but they also have to meet organic guidelines whether it pertains to farming techniques or the ratio of organic to inorganic ingredients in every container. The products we offer – Hipp, Holle, and Lebenswert – not only meet those standards established in Europe, but exceeds them.
If cost is a deterrent to purchasing baby formula, then breastfeeding is best because it is natural, nutritious, and free. However, as an educated parent, you can be in control about what your baby consumes by choosing organic baby formula and avoiding the risks of homemade baby formula.
