Regardless of where you go in the world experts would always recommend that babies be breastfed as breast milk is considered the best nourishment for babies. For this reason, the World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. However, if a mother is unable to breastfeed for whatever reason, then the next possible way to ensure that your baby is fed is to offer formula.

For some parents, offering the next best thing means going organic even if organic formula comes with a higher price tag compared to regular formulas. Like regular organic food and produce, it is up to you to decide if you should be forking out more money on organic formula.

Why is there a demand for organic formulas?

The most obvious reason for this is that parents today are starting to be more aware of the consequences of prolonged exposure to traces of growth hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, which can be found in regular milk.

Hence parents prefer to lean towards organic options to minimize exposure, especially for babies who are receiving formula as their primary nutrition source.  This is especially true for babies with immunity or health complications.

A couple of brands are already on the market, and parents should familiarise themselves by reading the labels as ingredients may vary from brand to brand. However, organic formulas are usually closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (or equivalent) to ensure that they meet nutritional standards and set quality guidelines. These are higher standards than regular milk and must be met before they can be certified organic.

What is in organic formulas?

Most organic options contain a cow’s milk base, although there are also soy or goat’s milk options. Some may contain additives such as DHA, ARA, prebiotics, probiotics, or whey protein to help them more closely resemble breast milk. Parents will also note the absence of certain flavours and additives that are commonly found in regular milk.

It is best to look for brands that are:

• GMO free
• Grain-free
• Pesticide, Chemical and Preservative free
• Palm Oil-free
• Made with milk from cows that are free of growth hormones and antibiotics
• Made with better quality carbohydrates and fats such as lactose and sunflower or safflower oil

Some milk producers go as far as only using milk from cows and goats that are grass-fed to ensure the best milk quality. The animals are allowed to roam and graze freely within their paddocks while enjoying some of the best living conditions. When allowed to flourish in their natural surroundings, this helps the animals to produce high-quality milk that is richer in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, beta carotenes and Conjugated Linoleic Acids(CLA) compared to other kinds of milk.

Should you choose organic?

If the cost of organic formula is not too great for your family, it is better to choose organic over regular. However, do not be overzealous until it affects the way you feed your baby. Do not cut back on feedings just so that you can feed organic formula to your baby. A healthy baby is a fed baby.

It is okay if your budget only allows regular milk formulas since they also go through strict checks to ensure safety, quality and nutrition. Never cut corners by making your own organic baby formula at home to escape the cost. Not only is this considered unsafe by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but it is also highly irresponsible.

Another reason to choose organic milk formula is its high omega-3 fatty acid content, which is great for reducing cardiovascular disease, improving neurological development and function while strengthening your baby’s immunity.

If anything, organic farming and dairy practices are better for the environment too. With reduced use of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and other synthetic chemical compounds, this means nothing gets leaked back into nature. So, not only are you feeding your baby the next best thing, but you are also playing a small part in taking care of our environment.

Remember to always do your homework by reading and comparing the labels before committing to any milk brand. Look out for the organic certification and try to choose brands that use milk from grass-fed animals.

When a product is GMO-free, free from chemicals, preservatives, growth hormones, pesticides and is derived from nature, parents can have peace of mind that their little bundle of joy is off to a healthy start in life with the right food and nutrition.

Formula Feeding: Organic vs Regular Formulas

Regardless of where you go in the world experts would always recommend that babies be breastfed as breast milk is considered the best nourishment for babies. For this reason, the World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. However, if a mother is unable to breastfeed for whatever reason, then the next possible way to ensure that your baby is fed is to offer formula.

For some parents, offering the next best thing means going organic even if organic formula comes with a higher price tag compared to regular formulas. Like regular organic food and produce, it is up to you to decide if you should be forking out more money on organic formula.

Why is there a demand for organic formulas?

The most obvious reason for this is that parents today are starting to be more aware of the consequences of prolonged exposure to traces of growth hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, which can be found in regular milk.

Hence parents prefer to lean towards organic options to minimize exposure, especially for babies who are receiving formula as their primary nutrition source.  This is especially true for babies with immunity or health complications.

A couple of brands are already on the market, and parents should familiarise themselves by reading the labels as ingredients may vary from brand to brand. However, organic formulas are usually closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (or equivalent) to ensure that they meet nutritional standards and set quality guidelines. These are higher standards than regular milk and must be met before they can be certified organic.

What is in organic formulas?

Most organic options contain a cow’s milk base, although there are also soy or goat’s milk options. Some may contain additives such as DHA, ARA, prebiotics, probiotics, or whey protein to help them more closely resemble breast milk. Parents will also note the absence of certain flavours and additives that are commonly found in regular milk.

It is best to look for brands that are:

• GMO free
• Grain-free
• Pesticide, Chemical and Preservative free
• Palm Oil-free
• Made with milk from cows that are free of growth hormones and antibiotics
• Made with better quality carbohydrates and fats such as lactose and sunflower or safflower oil

Some milk producers go as far as only using milk from cows and goats that are grass-fed to ensure the best milk quality. The animals are allowed to roam and graze freely within their paddocks while enjoying some of the best living conditions. When allowed to flourish in their natural surroundings, this helps the animals to produce high-quality milk that is richer in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, beta carotenes and Conjugated Linoleic Acids(CLA) compared to other kinds of milk.

Should you choose organic?

If the cost of organic formula is not too great for your family, it is better to choose organic over regular. However, do not be overzealous until it affects the way you feed your baby. Do not cut back on feedings just so that you can feed organic formula to your baby. A healthy baby is a fed baby.

It is okay if your budget only allows regular milk formulas since they also go through strict checks to ensure safety, quality and nutrition. Never cut corners by making your own organic baby formula at home to escape the cost. Not only is this considered unsafe by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but it is also highly irresponsible.

Another reason to choose organic milk formula is its high omega-3 fatty acid content, which is great for reducing cardiovascular disease, improving neurological development and function while strengthening your baby’s immunity.

If anything, organic farming and dairy practices are better for the environment too. With reduced use of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and other synthetic chemical compounds, this means nothing gets leaked back into nature. So, not only are you feeding your baby the next best thing, but you are also playing a small part in taking care of our environment.

Remember to always do your homework by reading and comparing the labels before committing to any milk brand. Look out for the organic certification and try to choose brands that use milk from grass-fed animals.

When a product is GMO-free, free from chemicals, preservatives, growth hormones, pesticides and is derived from nature, parents can have peace of mind that their little bundle of joy is off to a healthy start in life with the right food and nutrition.