Everything You Need To Know About Special Infant Formula

In some cases, the pediatrician may recommend infant formula with a special formula adapted for infants with more specific needs, for which normal infant formula is not sufficient or advisable.

During infancy, the best food for a newborn baby is always breast milk. But many times, and for various reasons, parents may need to use infant formula instead. Today, there are several special types of infant formula available for infants with specific needs, such as premature infants or lactose intolerant infants.

Breast-feeding

As I said, breast milk is best for a baby during the first 6 months of life. It has many special features, including the following:

• Adapts to each child’s needs, both in quantity and composition
• Helps prevent cardiovascular disease

• Helps the newborn’s immune system
• Can help the mother to recover after childbirth and speed up the contraction of the uterus
• Strengthens the connection between mother and child

However, it is not always possible for the mother to breastfeed the newborn baby. There are many complications that can occur, for example:

• Milk congestion
• Cracks in the nipples
• The baby may be unable to suck on the nipple
• Lack of breast milk
• It can also be the mother’s personal decision not to breastfeed

Whatever the reason, there are alternatives that are perfectly adapted to the baby’s needs, such as artificial milk or infant formula. It is also possible to partially breastfeed, as you switch between breast milk and supplements.

Breast milk replacement and supplementary nutrition

Breast milk substitute has a composition that tries to mimic breast milk as closely as possible. In the same way that breast milk adapts to the baby’s needs as he or she grows, artificial milk adapts to each stage of the baby’s development.

In Sweden, there are two types of compensation:

1. Breast milk replacement: for the first 4-6 months of life.
2. Supplementary nutrition: from 6 months of age. After 6 months, you should start supplementing your diet with grains, fruits and vegetables, as milk alone is not enough to satisfy your baby’s nutritional needs. You can also continue to give breast milk substitutes instead of supplementary nutrition.

If you choose compensation, or if you have no alternative to it, you must be careful with hygiene. You must always wash the baby bottle thoroughly with distilled or boiled tap water.

Infant formula is available in powder form and can also be purchased ready-mixed in liquid form. You must be careful about how you heat the bottle, as microwaves, for example, do not always heat evenly and can cause burns.

Special infant formula

As I said, there are special types of compensation adapted for infants with more specific needs for which a normal compensation is not sufficient or appropriate. In these cases, BB or the child care center, BVC, recommends the most suitable milk.

Some of the cases where it is necessary to use a special infant formula are for:

• Premature babies. In these cases, you can use a replacement with more calories, higher protein content, higher fat content and better absorption. These are enriched with phosphorus and vitamins A and D and are intended for infants with a low birth weight.

• Lactose intolerant children. Lactose-free substitutes are used here because these children do not have the intestinal enzyme lactase, which is responsible for breaking down this carbohydrate. Instead of lactose, another carbohydrate is used, usually maltodextrin.

• Allergy to cow’s milk protein. Cow’s milk protein-free replacement contains protein hydrolyzate (decomposed cow’s milk protein) which does not cause an allergic reaction.
• Against regurgitation and vomiting. There is breast milk substitute that contains thickeners to prevent or alleviate this problem. They also have lower fat content to promote bowel movements and prevent constipation. They are sometimes called anti-reflux replacement.

• Malabsorption
• Inability to digest fat
• Heart disease

Other types of infant formula

There are also other types of infant formula with special formulations for infants, such as those made from soy products, which are useful in cases of galactosemia, although doctors do not recommend them for children under 6 months.

Other types of infant formula can improve minor digestive problems or symptoms such as constipation or stomach cramps.

The Child Welfare Center recommends the most appropriate type of infant formula for each individual case. They should not be given without first consulting the BVC as you could endanger your child’s health by exposing him to malnutrition or undue excess.