I put the bottle before the baby
Recently, I have posted two blogs one on the lack of information for bottle-feeding your infant, and what I used to pick the ‘right’ formula for my child. It turns out, after I had found the ‘perfect product’ that fit what I thought were my needs for formula and stocked up on extra powder, I learned a few things. Unfortunately, I learned this life lessons after getting my baby home.
First lesson, it is recommended that non-breast-fed babies start with ‘ready-to-feed’ formula. ‘Ready-to-feed’ is a ready-to-use liquid formula that comes premixed, sterilized, and safe to use. This wasn’t horrible news, it was pretty easy to pour and serve, but it wasn’t cheap either. It just would have been nice to learn this before getting the baby home. Looking back, I likely didn’t need to use ‘ready-to-feed’, as our water source was safe and not rich in contaminants that would upset my baby’s stomach. But when I was advised by a medical professional, I didn’t question it at the time. I was desperate for expertise, as you can read from my past blogs.
Being a flexible Parent
What this news of ‘ready-to-feed’ and my research taught me was that I needed to be flexible. It helps to be brand/product flexible if your child’s digestive system can handle it.
Being flexible was necessary for us, as there was still a formula shortage. In 2022, a ‘short-term’ closure of the manufacturing facility Abbott Nutrition that supplied Canada and the United States disrupted the market. It has been suggested that supplies have resumed to normal, but I have not found that to be the case. Over the past year, there have often been empty shelves at stores, with limits of one or two items per purchase. I took to Facebook groups in the summer of 2023 to find helpful tips on where to find specific formulas or exchange with other parents. Both parents and babies have to be flexible in what formula they buy and consume. My daughter ended up being lactose sensitive, what a shocker (so am I), leaving fewer options available, we had to be flexible as possible.
Formula of success: a keen eye and know your labels
I learned you need to keep an eye out, to always read and compare labels. With the shortage and a need for lactose-free formula, I wasn’t left with tons of options. In my mommy-blog searches, I learned that stores’ ‘house brand’ formulas are made by the big formula names and packed under their stores’ labels. This now meant that the lactose-free brand product I was purchasing was also packaged under Kirkland’s purple formula container. I was able to confirm this when looking at the manufacturer and the nutrition list. This resulted in HUGE savings at first.
Parenting and learning about my child’s nutrition is a journey
My search to understand formula feeding was my glimpse into my future. Being a parent I will always be learning; my search to understand will be endless and rewarding. Ahead of me is navigating the nutrition labels of kids’ snacks, fussy eating, and so much more. I just have to remember it helps to be flexible and informed. On top of it all, step back and relax! Parents have been raising children since the dawn of humanity, and they survived, so do not stress over it all.
Looking back I am happy I did my research, that’s the type of person I am. But I do wish more information would have been available. Early in my pregnancy, I knew that my child would be formula-fed, and yet I didn’t get clear medical information till post-birth. Why is it that during one of the most stressful, emotional, and sleep-deprived months of my life, information and support were not easily offered? I can’t imagine it is easy for breastfeeding moms either, as there is tons of mixed information about diets, caffeine, when to stop, and opinions up the wazzu.
I know my future is full of more learning and questions. It will help if I can take my lessons from formula feeding and carry them forward; be flexible, keep an eye out, and relax.
P.S.
Thanks for trucking along with me in these three long blogs. I know this topic might have seemed silly to some of you, but I found it so frustrating that in a world focused on food, nutrition, labelling, and transparency, there was a lack of support and clarity for infant formulation. More definitive research on this topic would be great. While the ethics of this research is complex and being definitive of the benefits is difficult to achieve, it would be widely appreciated by parents. As would transparency and clear communication of the needs of all ingredients, quantities, and the benefits they offer to infants. If we demand it for our own food (Food Guide), why aren’t we doing the same for our breast milk and formula? I know that it is difficult to test and run trials on children, yet, I think it is necessary that we continue to support those without the option of breastfeeding. Who knows, maybe in the future there could be a superior formula that helps babies receive great nutrition while mimicking “breast is best” for those who do not want to or cannot breastfeed out there.
