There is so much information being thrown around nowadays, sometimes it can be impossible to be sure what the truth is. With the internet, you have to be especially careful about what you believe. Baby formula too comes with its own set of myths and truths, and as a parent, you owe it to yourself to do some research into these myths to find out the truth and make an informed choice when it comes to your baby’s nutrition.
Not every mother is able to or wants to breastfeed for various reasons, so there has to be an alternative available in this situation. Your baby needs nutrition and sustenance, so thankfully baby formula can take the place of breast milk. However, if you are to believe some of the myths about baby formula, you may be reluctant to buy formula. Don’t believe everything you read or hear about baby formula. Yes, there is a lot of real information out there, but there’s also a lot of misinformation.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common myths about baby formula and compare them with the actual facts so that we can discover the truth.
Breastfeeding Makes Smarter Children
This is one that just about every new parent is going to have heard at one time or another. Formula supposedly just doesn’t cut it when it comes to the growth of a child’s intelligence. While there have been some studies that are trying to prove this, there has not been any real evidence to support this claim.
There are just too many factors to consider when measuring the intelligence of a developing human being. Every single child has their own unique brain chemistry, and it would be impossible to point to one particular thing that would alter this. If you are worried about this when considering feeding your baby with formula, you shouldn’t. With the lack of any hard evidence, this myth hasn’t got a leg to stand on.
Baby Formula Lacks Nutrition
There’s another long-held belief that breast milk is nutritionally better than formula. Scientists have been working on the perfect baby formula for decades, and it is also heavily regulated by the Australian government. When it comes to things such as appropriate amounts of protein, sugars, vitamins, and minerals, they literally have it down to a science. Here we have another myth that is just that; a myth.
Good Quality Formula Is Expensive
As stated in the previous point, scientists have been working on this formula for a very long time, and it is also regulated. Common sense would tell you, this means that the price of the formula should not affect the quality. These kinds of opinions have a lot to do with clever marketing and advertising gimmicks that claim some products are better than others. This simply isn’t the case and you shouldn’t feel pressured to buy formula you can’t afford.
Formula Babies Build Less Of A Bond
Bonding with your newborn child is one of the most special and meaningful things a mother, or father, can do. It would make sense that you would want to do everything you can to ensure a solid bond. The thought that you need skin to skin contact namely, to breastfeed, to build that bond is a very old way of thinking.
The most important part of bonding is spending time with your child and nurturing him or her. When you choose to formula feed your baby, you’re still going through the act of feeding your child, and that’s what really matters. There is no need to worry about not having direct contact with the skin as occurs when breastfeeding, as it’s all about spending quality time together.
Formula Babies Risk Weight Problems
This myth may actually be the silliest of them all. If you are giving your baby the proper amount of food and correct nutrition, then formula should not be the cause of any weight issues. Granted, there may be some underlying health problems causing weight gain, but no child ever became obese by being properly fed formula.
Actually, by choosing to formula feed you can avoid having an underweight baby as you can be sure they are eating enough because you can measure exactly what they have drunk, which is impossible to do when breastfeeding.
Formula Is Fine
There is so much misleading information out there that you really have to be careful when researching something as important as choosing the correct nutrition for your baby. The five myths mentioned above are just some of the most common ones. Hopefully, this has eased your concerns about choosing formula, as it is a great choice for a healthy baby.