Nature's Support: Best Organic Formulas for Supplementing Breast Milk (2023)

FAQs

What is the best formula to start supplementing with breast milk? ›

What is the best formula to supplement a breastfed baby? Similac Pro-Advance is ideal for supplementing breastfed babies. Similac Pro-Total Comfort^™ and Similac Pro-Sensitive^® are also good choices.

Enfamil Enspire

Enfamil's Enspire is the brand's closest formula to breast milk, thanks to the inclusion of proteins found in colostrum, like lactoferrin. (In fact, Enspire is the first and only infant formula in the U.S. to include lactoferrin as an ingredient, according to the brand.)

Giving your baby formula in addition to breastfeeding is called supplementing. It's completely fine and perfectly safe to do. Many families choose this type of combination feeding method, whether out of necessity (e.g. low breast milk supply), convenience, or simply personal choice.

Bobbie and Earth's Best Standard Infant formula are the most similar. Both formulas are dairy based with lactose as the primary carbohydrate. The whey to casein ratios are relatively similar with Bobbie at 60:40 and Earth's Best at 70:30.

If you are supplementing with formula because your breastmilk supply is low, your goal may be to increase your supply and eventually stop providing formula. To do this, consider pumping after each time baby breastfeeds. Your goal would be to first breastfeed, then provide supplemental formula if needed, then pump.

If your baby tolerates both breastmilk and formula separately, then mixing them together should not cause an upset stomach, according to Dr. Crosby. If, for any reason, your baby does have an upset stomach, try burping them or bicycling their legs to alleviate any gas that might be built up.

The most similar in composition to human milk is horse and donkey milk. It contains considerably more whey proteins (35-50%) than cow milk (about 20%), and the concentration of the most allergenic casein fraction αs1 is 1.5-2.5 g/l. In comparison, the content of αs1-casein in cow milk is about 10 g/l.

goat milk or plant-based milks (like almond, rice, coconut, or oat milks) if your baby is younger than 1 year old.

Similac Advance Newborn bottles are the same bottles used in hospitals- The Perfect Bottle® for your new baby.

Regular mixed feeding might make it more difficult to keep breastfeeding because it can interfere with keeping up a good supply of breastmilk. So if you're thinking about supplementing with formula, it's important to talk about it first with your midwife, child and family health nurse, lactation consultant or GP.

Will supplementing decrease my milk supply? ›

Will supplementing with formula affect my milk supply? Yes, your supply of breast milk depends on your baby's demand, so the less often you nurse or pump, the less milk your breasts will produce. If you supplement with one or two bottles of formula a week, the effect on your milk supply should be minimal.

Formula Feeding Problem: Formula makes Baby gassy.

Because breastmilk is easy to digest, you may notice an increase in baby toots when supplementing with formula. Plus, babies can be sensitive to lactose or milk proteins in formula, which may cause gassiness.

Has Earth's Best Organic® Soy Formula been discontinued? Due to organic soy supply challenges, our Earth's Best® plant-based formula product for infants with dairy intolerances was recently reformulated. We changed the source of soy protein from USDA certified organic soy to non GMO sourced soy.

Extensively Hydrolyzed Formulas (e.g., Enfamil® Nutramigen®, Enfamil® Pregestimil®, Similac® Alimentum® or Similac® Expert Care®) Extensively hydrolyzed formulas offer complete nutrition for infants who are allergic to cow's milk protein. Casein is a cow's milk protein that is a common cause for allergy symptoms.

Burt's Bees Baby® Organic Infant Milk Dairy Formula

Like Happy Baby, Burt's Bees organic formula contains both nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate and has a whey-to-casein ratio of 30 to 70.

Pump your breasts once for each supplemental bottle you give the baby. For instance, if the baby gets 4 supplemental bottles per day, pump 4 times. If you are supplementing after every breastfeeding, aim for 6-8 pumps per day.

Generally, moms should be pumping every 3 hours. Pumping more often can help stimulate breasts to produce more milk. Moms can try pumping both breasts for 15 minutes every two hours for 48-72 hours. Then moms can return to their normal pumping routine. Pumping for longer than 30 minutes may not be beneficial.

Blood or mucus in your baby's stool. The baby often pulls her legs up toward her belly because of pain. Difficulty with weight gain or noticeable weight loss. Constant crying and signs of discomfort.

In fact, there is some research that indicates that even as little as 50 ml of breastmilk per day may help prevent disease in breastfed babies. Additionally, our body recognizes the importance of this protection and increases the concentration of SigA as our milk supply begins to decrease.

Does breastmilk digest slower than formula? ›

As a group, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than do formula-fed infants. Breast milk tends to be more easily digested so that breastfed babies have fewer bouts of diarrhea or constipation. Breast milk also naturally contains many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires.

Cow-milk protein: Most formula is based on cow milk, which has been changed to closely resemble human breastmilk. Soy-based formula: If your baby can't handle dairy-based formula, soy-based formula is a safe and nutritious option.

Enfamil Enspire Optimum is the only leading formula with lactoferrin*, also found in breast milk and colostrum.

Give your child plain whole cow's milk or fortified unsweetened soy beverage in place of breast milk. He or she does not need infant formula or toddler milks, drinks, or formula.

It can cause metabolic acidosis in vulnerable infants. Potassium, calcium, phosphorous and chloride are excessive and can lead to electrolyte imbalances affecting the kidneys and other organs. Goat milk does not provide complete nutrition.

As an alternative to formula, you can ask your pediatrician about breastmilk prescriptions to use at milk banks. Breastmilk is appropriate for all ages of infants who do not need specialized formula. To avoid transmitting disease, do not share breastmilk with others.

Before the invention of bottles and formula, wet nursing was the safest and most common alternative to the natural mother's breastmilk.

The AAP does not encourage using informally shared breast milk, citing the risks of spreading disease. It can also expose an infant to medications, alcohol, drugs, or other contaminants.

“The great majority of hospitals are baby-friendly … there are certain medical situations in which a hospital would definitely suggest and encourage the use of formula. The most common reason would be if a baby was having difficulty maintaining his or her blood sugar levels, which occurs with some breastfed babies.

What is a negative effect of formula feeding? ›

Formula feeding is linked to higher risk for Type 1 diabetes and bowel diseases such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Infants who are formula fed are 50 percent more likely to have ear infections than babies who receive only breastmilk.

Aim to spend 15 to 20 minutes hooked up to the pump to net a good amount of breast milk (some women will need 30 minutes or more with the pump, especially in the early days). Pump until the milk starts slowing down and your breasts feel well-drained.

According to the Journal of Gynecology and Neonatal Nursing, women produce about 440 to 1220 milliliters (15 to 41 ounces) of breast milk per day once lactation is established. This is just 0.5 to 1.7 ounces per hour. Pumping just 1 or 2 oz of breast milk in a few hours is normal. This includes pumping both breasts.

Adequate hydration also is important for breast milk production. The amount of liquid you put into your body affects how much breast milk you can produce. I encourage women to carry a bottle of water for themselves in their diaper bag.

Can babies drink cold formula? Baby formula doesn't have to be warm. It's fine to feed your baby cool or even cold formula. It's all up to your baby's preference – they may prefer it warm, at room temperature, or even chilled, and all of those options are just fine.

Is Warm Formula Easier to Digest? Warmed baby formula is easier for babies to digest, as they don't need to use extra energy to warm it up in their tummy. Because of this, many parents have found that warm milk is less likely to cause tummy aches.

If formula supplements are given in the first seven days, the development of the lower pH in the gut is slowed and may never fully develop. Risk of reducing mother's milk supply: When a formula feed is given, the baby does not suckle at the breast. This reduces your milk supply, as the breast is not stimulated.

Is Earth's Best Baby Food Safe? No. Earth's Best Organic baby foods contain dangerous amounts of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, according to a government report.

Is Earth's Best similar to Bobbie? ›

In conclusion, Earth's Best Standard Dairy Infant Formula and Bobbie infant formula are very similar, with the biggest difference being the addition of palm oil to the fat blend in all Earth's Best formulas. Earth's Best and Bobbie both have the addition of DHA and ARA in their formulas.

Enfamil's Enspire is the brand's closest formula to breast milk, thanks to the inclusion of proteins found in colostrum, like lactoferrin. (In fact, Enspire is the first and only infant formula in the U.S. to include lactoferrin as an ingredient, according to the brand.)

How does poop change with a milk allergy? The most common sign that a baby is allergic to milk is blood in their stool. A baby's poop may also become more runny and frequent, similar to diarrhea. It may also contain mucus.

First infant formula (first milk)

First infant formula is based on whey protein which is thought to be easier to digest than other types of formula. Unless a midwife, health visitor or GP suggests otherwise, first infant formula is the only formula your baby needs.

Whole Cow's Milk

This type of milk is recommended as a replacement to baby formula at this age by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Per 8 ounces, whole cow's milk is a quality source of calcium, protein, fat, phosphorous, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D.

Pure Bliss^™ by Similac

Pure Bliss is European sourced with milk from grass-fed cows. Ireland's unique climate means that cows that produce the milk for Pure Bliss graze outdoors on grass as their sole food source most of the year. Pure Bliss has no artificial growth hormones.

Similac Sensitive^* is an easy-to-digest, milk-based infant formula designed for sensitive tummies. It's complete nutrition for fussiness,^† gas,^† or mild spit-up. Our formula has our exclusive blend of nutrients to help support baby's brain and eye development.

Can I start breastfeeding after my baby has been formula feeding? Yes, many mothers can successfully breastfeed after several weeks of not breastfeeding. This is called relactation.

For healthy full-term infants, we typically start with a cow's milk–based formula, such as Enfamil Complete, Similac Advance or the store-brand equivalent. There are also organic versions of these formulas available as well, such as Earth's Best Organic.

When introducing formula should you mix with breast milk? ›

Although it's safe to combine your breast milk with formula in one bottle if prepared correctly, lactation experts often recommend giving breast milk and formula separately.

Once you've properly mixed the formula and water, you can add your breast milk. Note that you should never use breast milk in place of water during formula prep. Maintaining the right ratio of water-to-formula and then adding breast milk separately ensures you won't change the nutritional content of the formula.

Yes, it is possible!

If you started pumping to boost supply or maybe you needed to be away from your baby, then, the chances are much greater. It may be worth setting up some time with a lactation consultant so she can guide you as you attempt to latch an older baby.

Switching From Breastmilk to Formula

It is very important that you do not suddenly switch from breastmilk to formula. Not only is this bad for your baby, but it can also cause you painful breast engorgement. Ease your baby off breast milk slowly so that your body is able to slow milk production gradually.

To begin the transition with a 4-ounce bottle, you may mix equal parts of the old formula with the new formula for two to three days, then gradually provide only the new formula. If you are starting with a larger size bottle, you may transition more slowly.

No brand of infant formula is best for all babies. You should pick an infant formula that is made especially for babies. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates commercial infant formulas to make sure they meet minimum nutritional and safety requirements.

One reason is that mixing breastmilk and formula can result in breastmilk being wasted, if the baby does not finish the milk (since the formula needs to be discarded). Giving your pumped milk to your baby first, and on its own, ensures that all of your “liquid gold” will be used and less will be wasted.

The most common guideline for feeding your baby is every 2 to 3 hours which means you'll need to pump at this same cadence while you're away. If you're not working outside of your home and still wish to build a milk supply, try pumping after or during each breastfeeding session for 10-15 minutes.

Regular mixed feeding with formula can make breastfeeding more challenging as it can interfere with your milk supply. Some babies may start to prefer drinking from a bottle. The way you feed your baby is a personal choice. You may choose to feed your baby just expressed breastmilk as you prefer to feed using a bottle.