🍼 Infant formula
Also known as: baby formula, formula milk, formula
A breast milk substitute based on milk powder.
Infant formula is a manufactured food for feeding babies when breastfeeding is not possible or not enough. Most formulas are based on cow’s milk (less often goat’s milk), or on soy protein or hydrolyzed proteins for infants with special needs. The composition is brought closer to breast milk: the ratio of whey proteins to casein is changed, part of the milk fat is replaced with vegetable oils, and lactose, vitamins, minerals and often polyunsaturated fatty acids are added.
The first commercial breast milk substitutes appeared in the second half of the 19th century; modern formulas come as a dry powder or a ready-to-feed liquid. Their composition and labeling are strictly regulated by national rules and the international Codex Alimentarius standards, and their marketing by the WHO International Code.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. If a baby needs formula, it is best to choose one with a pediatrician and to prepare it strictly according to the instructions: wrong dilution and poor hygiene can cause harm. Regular cow’s milk is not a substitute for formula for children under one year.
How it connects to milk
🍼 Infant formula ← used for ← 🥛 Cow's milk → type of → 🥛 Milk
Links
- Made from which milk
- 🥛 Cow's milk
- Packed in
- 🍼 Baby bottle
- Made from
- 🧀 Milk powder
- Who works with it
- 🧑⚕️ Pediatrician
- What it affects
- 👶 Child
- What affects it
- ❤️ Milk protein allergy
- Suitable for
- ❤️ Breastfeeding
- Product type
- 🏭 Industrial dairy products
- Part of
- 🥫 Preserved milk products
Frequently asked questions
What is baby formula made from?
Most often from cow’s milk with an adjusted protein ratio, vegetable oils, lactose, vitamins and minerals. There are also formulas based on goat’s milk, soy and hydrolyzed proteins.
Can I give my baby regular milk instead of formula?
For children under one, regular cow’s milk does not replace formula or breast milk: its composition does not meet a baby’s needs. Feeding questions are best discussed with a pediatrician.
What does the WHO recommend for infant feeding?
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods up to two years and beyond.
History
Similar
🧀 Milk powder · 🍯 Dulce de leche · 🍬 Khoa · 🥫 Condensed milk · 🏯 So (dairy product) · 🍯 Cajeta
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.