By the time their child is at age of six months, almost half of the parents in the USA have stopped breastfeeding and switched to using formula instead. If you are in the same boat, you might be looking at European baby formula because of several benefits over its US counterpart. But do you know which is the best European baby formula to choose, and why?
This article will help you by explaining some of the differences you can find between the different formulas in the market. By the end, you should have a good idea of what you need to be looking for when shopping, so read on to not fall behind.
Composition
European organic baby formula is made of very different materials from its US counterpart. One of the most important things to look into when choosing a formula is this composition, as it can determine what nutrients your baby gets. For example:
Protein
The body uses protein to maintain, repair, and build its basic components. It is crucial for growth and development, with some of the protein is even used to create hormones and power the child’s immune system.
The base material of organic baby formula is often a core protein such as whole milk or skimmed milk, or even a mixture of both. You should also be aware of the combination of curds and whey used in the protein, but this is not always available to the public.
Soy
While it is a component in some brands of baby formula, soy is not good for all babies. Experts have proven some health benefits, but this balances against concerns such as a high aluminum content.
When choosing a brand of formula, make sure to research how much soy it contains and work out if you should take that risk for the health of your child.
Iron
Iron is very important for growing bodies to produce hemoglobin. This protein is contained in red blood cells and is used to carry oxygen around the bloodstream. Thus, the more iron in the formula, the better for your child to be able to produce healthy blood.
The best baby formula will have a good amount of iron in it. Many contain between 0.5mg and 1.2mg of iron per 100ml of formula, so you should seek out those that are the most fortified with this mineral.
Fats
Fats are especially important in aiding the normal production of the brain and nervous system to develop. Besides providing energy to a growing body, they help a baby absorb the vitamins and minerals they need to survive.
Different formulas make use of different fats to improve their content. Some use milk fats, others use palm fats or rapeseed. In general, they all use sunflower fats.
Ensure that the formula you choose has the correct combination of healthy fats for what you need.
Carbohydrates
While people are wary of taking in too many carbohydrates, they are very important to maintain energy in the human body. A baby needs carbohydrates to power both its body and mind and without them, it will start to become lethargic.
Lactose, maltodextrin, and starch are the three carbohydrates that the European market adds to baby formula. Make sure that you choose the combination that you feel is healthiest for the child.
Experts consider maltodextrin and starch to be safe for babies. Despite this, there are few studies about the long-term effects of replacing lactose in a baby’s diet with a different carbohydrate.
Supply Chain
If you start the journey of using European baby formula, you will want to keep doing so. The last thing you will want is to get your baby used to one kind of formula, then suffer the inconvenience of the shop running out shortly afterward.
You should look for formulas that shops have a regular supply chain of. The shop should have a good relationship with its European supplier. This ensures they have consistent stock levels at all times and will never leave you short.
Only Import Via Air
Different importers ship at different speeds. When picking a formula, make sure its manufacturer uses air importing.
If a supplier makes use of sea freight instead, they are in danger of the formula sitting in a shipping vessel for significant lengths of time. This can subject the cargo to high levels of humidity and heat, which can damage the formula before it even sits on the warehouse shelf. It thus can sometimes subject it to mold, pests, or bacteria.
Talk to your supplier about how it receives its stock, and make sure to buy their supplies that arrive by air cargo.
Variety of options
There are not only many baby formula brands, but some of those brands also ship from different countries. For example, HiPP creates its European formula in Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. Each of these locations may change its ingredients depending on local supply.
Find a brand that makes the formula in your preferred country. This helps you to avoid formulas manufactured somewhere you feel uncomfortable with.
Price
The final thing you should have concerns for, and arguably the most important, is the price.
No matter what you feed your child with, you should ensure that you can afford it long-term. It is inadvisable to feed your baby with a formula you cannot sustain or something that otherwise causes you to be unable to feed others in your family.
The best baby formula is one that gives you the best experience for your child while also being affordable.
What is the Best European Baby Formula?
You should now have the information you need to decide for yourself which is the best European baby formula. If you still have questions, though, we would be happy to answer them.
Our specialists are on-hand and ready to respond to any queries you have about what brands you should be buying for your baby. So get in contact today and start your journey towards the perfect European baby formula.
