Formula and My Two Cents
Yes, we bottle fed. No, I don’t want to debate about it. But what I DO want to talk about is my experience with formula. We tried a few different kinds during the last year- but it’s important to remember that any formula out there is guaranteed OK for your baby by the FDA or the baby FDA or whoever is out there checking on baby formula. That means whether you’re using WalMart Brand or Similac- your baby should be getting what they absolutely need from the formula. Obviously, there is no formula that is as close to breastmilk as it claims to be- it’s impossible to mimic the benefits of milk designed by the mother’s body for the baby’s body. But we all know that sometimes the ideal situation isn’t possible- and I’m grateful for an available and nutritious alternative to breastmilk. No guilt.
We started with:
Similac. Becuase they sent us some formula in the mail before Camper was even born. And beacause you can buy it at Costco. We eventually switched from the regular newborn formula to Similac Sensitive because Camper had GERD. It helped, he liked it. I liked the container, it smelled fine and shook up well. I think this is my #1 because of…well…the fact that it didn’t make him smell weird and it didn’t get clumpy at all. It also comes in travel packets…which looking back…was a waste of money. But they were cool when we got them!
Good Start Gentle Plus: We used this one for awhile as well. I liked it just as much as Similac…I just like the Similac container better. This one had a weird scoop that you had to dig for and then pop out of a plastic thinger. The formula was just fine. I’m starting to think this review might be the most boring one I’ve ever written. Haha. Really, the formulas are really so close to each other. This one shook up well, as well. Smelled fine. Contained infant nutrition.
Enfamil GentleEase Lipil: When we first moved out here from Utah we went to the pediatrician and I told her about Gamper’s GERD issues. She recommended this formula, and then proceeded to give us two cases of it. I held onto it FOREVER, and only started using it when he was about 8 months old when I realized that it was going to go to waste. It’s lasted forever. Honestly, I think this is one of my least favorites just and only because it smells yucky and makes the bottles feel greasy. Other than that, it was just fine. We used it as a supplement to his real food, so he was never just on this formula. Again, perfectly nutritious for what it is. Just stinky.
and finally…
Target’s Up and Up: Oh yes. Now that Camper is one and doesn’t NEED formula…I basically use it as a sleepy potion to get him to go back to bed if he wakes up at 4:30 or 5 am. An akward time for some toast, really. I also relied on it at night this last week as he had JUST turned a year old, promptly got the flu?teething?cold?agecrisis? and stopped sleeping and eating well. It’s cheap. It provides a bit of comfort to a baby that doesn’t need it anymore, and AGAIN, is nutritiously sound. I’ve never, ever put him to bed with a bottle. He always eats drinks his bottles on my lap sitting up, and so goes my justification for helping him sleep for a couple more hours in the morning. I probably just need to suck it up and start my day at 5am so that I can cut out the one last lingery bottle.
Yeah.
So that’s that. And even as I write it I feel inclined to include this little pearl of wisdom from Dr. Sears on choosing a formula:
Let baby be the judge. With current knowledge, it’s impossible to rate one formula higher than another, and they’re all likely to change with time. While the three main brands seem to be nutritionally similar, it all comes down to which formula works better in your baby’s intestines.
When it comes to bottlefeeding, I have a few soapboxy opinons for ya.
-You can still “nurse” your baby. You might not be breastfeeding for whatever reason, but you are responding to a need. Always hold her while she eats, never prop a bottle. Take the time to have skin to skin contact and remind her that you are there to take care of her needs. ENJOY it. Enjoy the fact that you can share feeding with other people who love your baby. Don’t feel guilty, thousands of millions of babies have grown up on formula. That said, don’t limit yourself. You can breastfeed AND bottlefeed, or even exclusively breastfeed future babies. Just do what you can and what you feel you need to, and keep your mind open.
-If your baby cries while eating, talk to the doctor. We went through weeks of GERD before we finally got medicine. Camper could have been much happier much sooner. And so could we.
-No matter what anyone tells you, switching to cow’s milk earlier or starting solids earlier has nothing to do with sleeping well. Some babies sleep through the night. Some don’t. Follow your doctor’s guidelines for your baby and your own instincts, and don’t let anyone pressure you into starting things you don’t want to. If someone is too persistent, just say, “Thank you for your input, I don’t agree.” And move on. Whether it be pressure to try formula (your breast milk is enough) or solid food too early (formula is enough), it mostly likely won’t make any difference at all. My baby boy was still a short sleeper after we switched to formula and solid foods. (Notice I said “short sleeper,” not “bad sleeper.” I promise that your newborn waking up every 2 or 3 hours doesn’t mean that he or she has sleep problems. You might, but he or she is just fine.) If your new baby is waking up a lot, it’s because he is a new baby and he needs you. It is your job as the person who donated half of the genetic code (in coordination with the person who donated the other half) to take care of the child’s needs. (The rules still applies to adopted children, as well.)
So that’s it! The end.
