Top 5 ways to choose milk for your baby to help the digestive system be healthy and prevent constipation

On the market, formula milk is available in a wide variety of different brands and ingredients. When choosing milk for your baby, there are many factors that need to be considered: you are wondering if you should choose milk containing whey protein that is easy to digest, fiber reduces  constipation , good gut bacteria, OPO fat that supports digestion. Chemical… or “hunting” for a cool dairy product that contains all of these nutrients? 

Breast milk is good food for babies and babies for the first six months of life. However, if for some reason you are unable to breastfeed, formula will be a great alternative. However, how to choose a formula that is cool and good for your baby?

A baby's digestive system is still quite immature, so the baby may not be able to absorb all of the nutrients in milk. This can lead to bloating, digestive disorders or constipation . Therefore, when choosing milk for babies, mothers often give priority to "cool milk". The reason is that these types of milk often contain all the necessary nutrients to help your baby absorb well and develop comprehensively.

Please take a few minutes to look through the following sharing of aFamilyToday Health, maybe you will have some more useful suggestions for you to choose "cool milk" for your baby. 

Choose FDA-compliant baby milk

Before choosing formula milk for your baby, the first and foremost thing is to consult a doctor about the type of milk suitable for the child's health. After getting advice from your doctor, you should consider choosing dairy from FDA certified brands.

FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the US Food and Drug Administration, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for overseeing food safety, protecting consumers. against the unclean, unsafe, and fraudulent practices of labeling food in the United States.

FDA certified powdered milk products will be manufactured according to the best current production process and will provide adequate nutrients for children to develop comprehensively. In addition, the nutritional content of milk will also be "weighed and counted" very carefully. Because there are substances that, if added at high or lower than the required level, will affect product quality and harm the health of children.

However, not all FDA-approved infant formulas are created equal. In fact, there will be some differences in formulations and nutritional ingredients between brands. But in general, most FDA-approved brands have the ingredients and nutritional content needed for babies to grow and develop comprehensively.

3 common types of formula milk on the market

Currently on the market there are three common types of formula milk: powdered milk, condensed milk and prepared milk.

Powdered milk : This is a fairly economical option, but sometimes it is less convenient than the other 2 types of milk. 

Condensed milk : With this form of milk, you can make many bottles of formula in a short time. These bottles can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. This type of milk will cost slightly more than powdered milk.

Prepared milk : is the type of milk that has been prepared in the right ratio and can be fed immediately. This is the most expensive of the 3 types of milk. With this form of milk, once the packaging is opened, if you have not used it all, please pay attention to store it in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours.

The current popular infant formula

In terms of formula, most dairy brands strive to create the milk with the same nutritional profile as breast milk. However, the composition and content of these nutrients will vary from company to brand.

When choosing milk for your baby, you also need to remember that there are never two babies that have the same condition, health and preferences, including siblings. Therefore, do not think that the milk that is suitable for your baby's siblings will be right for your baby. 

Here are some common formulas in milk:

Dairy based on cow's milk: Suitable for most babies. This formula-based milk will be processed to make it easier for the baby to digest. 

Lightly Formulated Milk: This is a milk that contains less lactose than other formulas. This makes the formula so gentle that it is extremely suitable for babies and helps babies less likely to gas or fussy. 

Lactose-free formula : This milk is suitable for infants with lactose intolerance . 

Rice Starch Formula Milk: This milk is suitable for babies with acid reflux .

Soy- based formula : This is suitable for infants with galactose disorders, lactose intolerance and milk protein allergy . 

Hypoallergenic formula: Suitable for infants with a milk and soy protein allergy as the proteins in these milk are often hydrolyzed for easy absorption.

Premature Infant Formula Milk: This is a milk that contains a lot of calories and nutrients to supplement your preterm and low birth weight babies . 

Tips for mothers to choose cool milk for babies

There are many different types of baby formula, even the same recipe, but two different brands will have different ingredients. However, no matter which brand of milk you choose, you must pay attention to the following: 

Choosing milk from reputable brands is the top priority. In addition, when choosing to buy milk, you also need to pay attention to issues such as: milk must be distributed genuine, on the milk box must have labels of both the manufacturer and the distributor, the packaging is intact, no. be distorted, the expiry date must be printed clearly and sharply ...

Read the information on the packaging carefully before making a decision, especially the vegetable oil section, to see if the milk contains palm oil. According to research, milk containing palm oil is the main cause of constipation in children, not only that it also causes children to have low bone mineral levels. Normally, if the vegetable oil section is only general, then there is a high chance that it contains palm oil, which is not good for children, but if the oils are detailed and there is no palm oil, these are quality dairy products. good for the digestive system.

In addition to palm oil, you should also pay attention to choosing cool milk containing nutrients that help your baby develop comprehensively such as HMO (acts as prebiotics, helps support gut health and increases resistance. for children), DHA, natural vitamin E, lutein (a carotenoid pigment that is very important to the brain), choline, easy-to-digest whey protein, constipation-relieving fiber, good gut bacteria, OPO fat to aid in digestion Chemical ... However, it is important to choose dairy products that have clinically proven effects. Because there are a lot of advertising products that are supplements of substance A, substance B to help brain development, immunity ... but not just mixing that substance into milk has the effect.

When preparing baby milk, do not make it economical but dilute it because this situation happens in a long time, it will cause nutritional deficiencies, negatively affect the development of babies. If you mix milk too thick, your baby will be more prone to constipation. Therefore, you need to prepare the formula according to the instructions on the packaging to help your baby have the best health.

Should we change infant formula? 

In fact, depending on the baby's location, the baby can match one milk and not another. If you are looking for a suitable milk brand for your baby, take the time to learn and get more information from medical staff, nutritionists. Although this may take time, it will help you find the best milk for your baby, helping your baby get the right nutrients needed for their baby's development .

If you notice that your baby has the following signs, consider exchanging breastmilk right away:  

Unexplained crying

Diarrhea (blood may be present)

Vomit

Less weight gain 

Through the sharing of aFamilyToday Health, hope you know some more useful tips to choose cool milk for your baby. Remember to choose the right milk that is good for your baby to not only help you feel more secure about the child's immune system but also help your baby develop a balanced and fast both physically and intellectually.