Baby Formula, Breastfeeding, and Nutrition

Assessment and Plan: Breast Feeding and Formula Feeding of Infants

• Breastfeeding the newborn is well supported by evidence for fewer infant and childhood diseases. If breastfeeding is not possible, hydrolyzed whey formula is the next best choice.

• Infants with galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, phenylketonuria require special formula.

• Seek guidance from the obstetrician regarding any infections prior to breastfeeding an infant and prior to breast feeding while taking medication.

• Breastfeeding for at least 5 months (versus two weeks or less) and late start of bottle feeding were associated with a 29% and 20% risk reduction of type 1 diabetes, respectively. Breastfed individuals had a 39% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Breastfeeding was also associated with lower blood glucose and insulin concentrations than those who were formula fed.

• Breast feeding may protect against the development of autism but there is no direct link to breastfeeding and more research is needed.

• Children who were breastfed had a lower risk of gastrointestinal tract infections, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and necrotizing enterocolitis.

• There appears to be modest reduction in atopic (allergic) diseases for least 4 months of breast feeding or at least 4 months of hydrolyzed whey formula when each was compared with cow milk formula. Cow milk or casein formula should be avoided. A study found that cow milk peptides in baby\’s blood were on average three times higher in babies which had a near-sudden infant death syndrome event compared with healthy infants.

• Children who are breastfed score higher on IQ tests than those who are not breastfed.

• Researchers reported that breastfed siblings were significantly less likely to develop obesity than non-breastfed siblings.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) expressed that compared to formula fed infants, breastfed infants had a 23% reduction in risk of middle ear infections. Babies fed breast milk exclusively for more than three months had a 50% risk reduction of OM and, if breastfed exclusively for 6 months, the risk of OM in babies was reduced by 63%.

• Babies breastfed for 6 months or longer had a 20% and 15% risk reduction of acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, respectively.

• According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), children 6 to 24 months old raised to be vegetarians who are not breast fed may develop deficiencies of zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, and possibly vitamin A. The daily intake recommendations for these nutrients are available in those sections. Once daily children\’s multivitamins are available which contain these nutrients.

• Premature babies which are not breast fed may be at high risk of iodine deficiency. See the iodine section to see recommended daily intake.

• Behavior in infants with autism improved after eliminating milk and wheat intake.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children start eating solid foods when they are between 4 to 6 months of age. Refusal of solid foods could be an early sign of insufficient vitamin B12 levels in breastfed infants.