Infant Formula Vs. Whole Milk

Formula provides everything a developing baby needs.

Many new parents question why pediatricians recommend formula over whole milk for infants. For every area of development, from digestion to brain development, formula provides what babies need.

Whole Milk Difficult to Digest

Whole milk is not recommended for babies younger than 1 year old.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children website, a newborn's digestion system is delicate, and cow's milk is much harder to digest than formula. Milk contains high amounts of proteins and minerals that not only make digestion difficult, but can put a strain on the kidneys as well.

Formula Provides Complete Nutrition

Formula gives a baby complete nutrition.

Infants get the majority of their nutritional needs from a bottle, even after they've started consuming baby food. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, when a child turns 1 they can have up to 32 ounces of whole milk each day, and appropriate table food should round out the rest of her diet.

Formula Helps Brain Development

Infant formula with DHA helps cognitive growth.

Most formulas are enriched with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid. In 2009, Child Development published the results of a study that tested 9-month-old babies in a problem-solving test. Babies given DHA-enriched formula at birth or after six weeks of breastfeeding performed better than those who drank formula without DHA.

New Formula Boosts Immune System

Probiotics in formula boosts an infant's immune system.

Breastfed babies get some of their mother's good digestive bacteria, which strengthens the baby's immune system. Probiotics have been added to some formula on the market, making it more similar to the composition of breast milk, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

No Whole Milk Until First Birthday

Whole milk is a good choice after a child's first birthday.

Once a child reaches 1 year old, he typically is able to digest and consume whole milk as part of a regular diet, which includes fruits, vegetables and proteins. Until then, the Mayo Clinic states that formula is a far superior food for infants.

References

• Nutra Ingredients: DHA-Enriched Formula Boosts Infant Brain Development
• Healthy Children: Probiotics: A New Infant Formula Feature
• Healthy Children: Why Formula Instead of Cow's Milk?
• Mayo Clinic: Infant and Toddler Health
• Health Information Resources: Three randomized controlled trials of early long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on means-end problem solving in 9-month-olds