What About Bobbie And Byheart
In the past two years, two new formulas that arent made by the manufacturers behind the big three formula companies have appeared: Bobbie, which launched in 2021, and , introduced in 2022.
Bobbie, manufactured by Perrigo, fashions itself as a European-style formula. Lactose is the sole carbohydrate, and the formula has added whey . Bobbies blend of oils contains coconut, soy, and sunflower or safflower oils it has no palm oil. Bobbie contains more DHA than any other formula available in the US, aligning with European standards, according to a Bobbie spokesperson. This formula lacks some added ingredients that many other US formulas have, but they are ingredients that many European formulas leave out .
In other words, Bobbie is designed to mimic European formulas while still meeting FDA requirements. Similar to many European formulas, it uses organic milk from pasture-raised cows. Also similar to European formulas, Bobbie has a shorter ingredients list because it omits those certain extra minerals and nutrients found in most US formulas.
In July 2022, Bobbie started selling its formula at Target as well as by subscription.
Why You Should Trust Us
To learn about current research and recommendations for baby formula, we spoke with American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson Dr. Anthony Porto, a pediatric gastroenterologist and professor at Yale School of Medicine, and co-author of The Pediatricians Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers. We also spoke with Dr. Jenny Thomas, a pediatrician in Franklin, Wisconsin, and a breastfeeding medicine specialist.
We also interviewed Bridget Young, PhD, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, who also runs an informational website on baby formula . We spoke with Lars Bode, PhD, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Diego Medical School and director of a research lab that studies human milk. And we talked with formula-industry leaders, including Laura Modi, CEO and co-founder of Bobbie Ron Belldegrun, CEO and co-founder of ByHeart and Kristy Carr, founder and CEO of Aussie Bubs.
We read more than a dozen scientific studies, journal articles, reports, and advances regarding baby formula in order to understand its ingredients, nutrients, and other components. We looked at information from the FDA and CDC to learn how formula is regulated and tested in the US. Finally, we analyzed the nutrition and ingredients labels of some 50 formulas to understand the differences and similarities among them.
Effects Of Antibiotic Use
Altering the numbers of gut bacteria, for example by taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, may affect the host’s health and ability to digest food. Antibiotics can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea by irritating the bowel directly, changing the levels of microbiota, or allowing pathogenic bacteria to grow. Another harmful effect of antibiotics is the increase in numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found after their use, which, when they invade the host, cause illnesses that are difficult to treat with antibiotics.
Changing the numbers and species of gut microbiota can reduce the body’s ability to ferment carbohydrates and metabolize bile acids and may cause diarrhea. Carbohydrates that are not broken down may absorb too much water and cause runny stools, or lack of SCFAs produced by gut microbiota could cause diarrhea.
A reduction in levels of native bacterial species also disrupts their ability to inhibit the growth of harmful species such as C. difficile and Salmonella kedougou, and these species can get out of hand, though their overgrowth may be incidental and not be the true cause of diarrhea. Emerging treatment protocols for C. difficile infections involve fecal microbiota transplantation of donor feces . Initial reports of treatment describe success rates of 90%, with few side effects. Efficacy is speculated to result from restoring bacterial balances of bacteroides and firmicutes classes of bacteria.
Don’t Miss: Probiotics For Two Year Old
Types Of Outcome Measures
Primary outcomes
Growth changes : weight gain , linear growth , head growth . Secondary outcomes: Tolerance to formula: Stool characteristics: frequency, consistency, diarrhoea Gastrointestinal symptoms , average formula intake . Infections: frequency and type of infections, use of medication Hospitalization: Number of days in hospital. Changes in GI microflora: Changes in colony forming units of bifidobacteria, lactobacillus post intervention, colony forming units of pathogens post intervention. Immune response: C- reactive protein levels , Interleukin 6 levels .
Conflict Of Interest Statement
The study was financially supported by Arla Foods amba, Arla Innovation Center, Skejby, Denmark and Arla Foods Ingredients, Viby, Denmark. Arla Foods amba provided the experimental and standard formulas. BC is an employee of Arla Foods amba and AH is an employee at Arla Foods Ingredients. XL, YP, ZL, HS, BL, and OH have received honoraria and/or travel grants or research grants from Arla Foods.
Read Also: Renew Life Probiotics Side Effects
Feeding Infants Formula With Probiotics Or Milk Fat Globule Membrane: A Double
- 1Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- 2Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- 3Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- 4Arla Foods amba, Arla Innovation Center, Skejby, Denmark
- 5Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, Viby J, Denmark
- 6Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- 7Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- 8Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Purpose: To evaluate effects on growth and infection rates of supplementing infant formula with the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei strain F19 or bovine milk fat globule membrane .
Methods: In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 600 infants were randomized to a formula supplemented with F19 or MFGM, or to standard formula . A breastfed group was recruited as reference .The intervention lasted from age 21 ± 7 days until 4 months, and infants were followed until age one year.
Both the MFGM- and F19-supplemented formulas were safe and well-tolerated, leading to few adverse effects, similar to the breastfed group and unlike the SF group. During the intervention, the MFGM-supplemented infants did not differ from the breastfed infants in any primary outcome.
What Are Prebiotics And Probiotics
Prebiotics are non-digestible ingredients found in certain foods that boost the growth of probiotics in the intestinal tract. Human milk, asparagus, bananas, leeks, onions, garlic, wheat, and tomatoes are natural sources of prebiotics, but prebiotics can also be added to foods and beverages. Prebiotics in infant formula are modeled after the oligosaccharides found in human milk. They are designed to stimulate the growth of lactobacillus and bifidobacteriathe main probiotics found in the intestinal tract of breastfed babies.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast found in some foods and supplements that mirror the good bacteria naturally found in your body. Probiotics are especially beneficial for your digestive health because they help to push food through your gut, which will keep the digestive tract healthy. Research suggests they can help treat conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, colic and eczema. Probiotics may also help prevent necrotizing enterocolotis , a rare infection in preterm infants that can damage the intestines. However, there are many strains of probiotics and only a small number have proven benefits.
While the two are distinguishable, they are related in that probiotics feed on prebiotics to help keep your gut healthy.
Also Check: Women’s Probiotics With Cranberry Extract
Do Babies Need Probiotics
Amniotic fluid is not sterileits your babys first introduction to bacteria. And the kind of bacteria in the amniotic fluid is influenced by moms gut and oral flora.
In a perfect world, moms would have great flora to pass onto their babies. But over the last century, we have been subjected to antibiotics, GMOs, sugary/starchy diets, and lots of processed foodsall of which can degrade the gut flora passed onto our babies.
Baby probiotics are a babys first line of defense, since they help to improve the balance of good bacteria in their body.
Prebiotics Probiotics And Your Babys Microbiome
July 4, 2018 by Dr Bridget Young
I have previously written a little bit about prebiotics and probiotics in baby formula in the series about how to choose a baby formula. However, I get so many questions about this, and its such a hot topic these days that I wanted to make you all experts.
The microbiome is the hottest new thing in medicine. It is all the rage in the research world and is now thought to be responsible for practically everything. Yes, just like fashion, trends come and go in medical research as well. Right now, the microbiome is hotter than the lumberjack hipster look in Denver!
The intestinal microbiome is a term for all the bacteria that live in our intestine . And this is a lot of bugs! Your colon is home to roughly 10 times more bacteria than you have cells in your entire body Roughly 60% of your stool is actually made up of bacterial cells that is cray! Your microbiome plays several major roles in the human body and new roles are being discovered every day. Currently we know that these good bugs are critical for our immune system and our weight regulation, and this is the case for infants too.
The infant microbiome of breastfed babies is very different than the microbiome of formula fed infants. There are lots of reasons for this. The first is that breast milk itself contains probiotic bacteria.
Probiotics are actual live bacteria that are considered healthy. These are the good guys.
Prebiotics are food sources for healthy bacteria.
| Formula |
|---|
Recommended Reading: Men’s Multivitamin With Probiotic
How Much Does Baby Formula Cost
Theres no getting around it: Formula can be expensive. You can expect to shell out between $1,200 and $1,500 on it before your babys first birthday. That breaks down to around $100 to $125 a month.
Prices vary depending on the type of formula you use , and specialized formulas can be up to 20 percent more expensive than the standard, iron-fortified, cows-milk variety.
The least expensive option is powdered formula that you mix yourself. Moving up the cost scale is liquid concentrate and finally at the top of the formula pyramid ready-to-feed formula.
Looking for a way to keep cost down but not ready to give up on convenience? One approach is to splurge on ready-to-feed formula during your babys first few weeks when sleep is hard to come by and the last thing you want to do is measure and mix at 2 a.m. Once your little one is sleeping more and your feeding routine is well-established, you may feel more up to the task of making bottles, so you can switch to one of the kinds you have to whip up yourself.
Another way to save on formula? Try registering on the manufacturers website for coupons and rebate checks. Buying generic formula will also save you some money.
How Long Do Babies Drink Formula
Most babies will transition to solid food around 6 months of age.
There are some babies who continue to drink formula into their first year or beyond.
If you have any concerns about your babys nutrition, talk to your pediatrician.
They can give you guidance on how long to continue feeding your baby formula.
Don’t Miss: Daily Probiotic For Yeast Infection
Stool Sample Collection And Storage
Parents/legal representatives were asked to collect stool samples at different time points, including at the end of the intervention period. Before collection of the first stool sample, a reusable isolated bag for transportation of the stool samples, a reusable freezing body, two containers for the stool samples, a plastic bag for the filled containers, gloves, and instructions for collection, storage, and transportation of the stool samples were provided to the parent or the infant’s legal representative. Stool samples were collected in the containers, put in the plastic bag, and stored in a freezer until the day of the visit. The frozen stool samples were transported to the study site, where they were stored at 20°C until shipped on dry ice for analysis .
The Best Gentle Formula: Parents Choice Tender Infant Formula
May be out of stock
Gentle or tender formulas use partially hydrolyzed milk proteins, which are partly broken down and may be easier for some babies to digest. If you or your childs pediatrician thinks your baby might do well with a partially hydrolyzed formula, we suggest Parents Choice Tender Infant Formula, which is also manufactured by Perrigo. Its the cheapest partially hydrolyzed formula we found, costing about two-thirds the price of partially hydrolyzed formulas by Enfamil, Similac, and Gerber. Parents Choice Tender uses only partially hydrolyzed milk protein, and it contains no intact proteins, as some formulas labeled gentle or tender do.
Like all partially hydrolyzed formulas currently available in the US, Parents Choice Tender has an additional sweetener . But its also one of the few partially hydrolyzed formulas that contain some lactose, which experts recommend. This formulas protein is 100% whey, with no casein. It also contains several potentially beneficial extra ingredients, including DHA and ARA, taurine, L-carnitine, nucleotides, and a prebiotic .
Also Check: Best Women’s Probiotic To Prevent Yeast Infections
How To Buy Baby The Best Baby Probiotics
To help you shop for specific baby probiotic products that have proven helpful for various conditions, check out the 2021 Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in the USA. Updated each year to capture the latest science, this is the guide that many doctors consult before recommending particular probiotics for kids. If you want to know which probiotic to give Johnny when he is on antibiotics or has ulcerative colitis, that site does really good job, Merenstein says. But its still smart to run your pick by your childs doctor before buying it.
Merenstein also advises parents to check out the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics website. This research-based organization has created several short, easy-to-understand videos and infographics on how probiotics work and how to choose the best products.
As a final note, Merenstein says that when shopping for probiotics, always check the Supplement Facts panel to make sure the strain or strains are listed precisely. Each probiotic name should include the genus , the species , and a set of numbers or letters to indicate the exact strain.
The Best Hypoallergenic Formula: Up & Up Hypoallergenic Infant Formula
Also great
Hypoallergenic formula contains proteins that are fully hydrolyzed, or broken down, to make them suitable for babies with certain diagnoses, such as cows-milk protein allergy. If your doctor says you need to use a hypoallergenic formula, we recommend Up & Up Hypoallergenic Infant Formula. Its equivalent to Similac Alimentum or Enfamil Nutramigen, but its a fraction of the price of those formulas. As with Alimentum or Nutramigen, its main carbohydrate is a corn-based sugar , its protein is in the form of casein hydrolysate , and it contains soy oil. Unlike Similac Alimentum but like Nutramigen, it also contains palm oil. Like our other store-brand picks, its made by Perrigo, and it is also sold as CVS Health Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, Mama Bear Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, Walgreens Well Beginnings Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, and Parents Choice Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, among others.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Sauerkraut For Probiotics
Description Of The Intervention
The decision to breastfeed is influenced by multiple complex factors at the individual, family, health system, and societal levels . Consequently, there are many approaches to promoting the initiation of breastfeeding which may target pregnant women, their families, wider communities and society, or the health service. Interventions to promote the initiation of breastfeeding are delivered before the first feed, i.e. before or during pregnancy, or immediately after birth.
Peer support interventions to promote the initiation of breastfeeding are generally targeted at communities where breastfeeding rates are low, and involve contact between a pregnant woman and a woman from a similar background who has experience of breastfeeding . This type of mothertomother support has been shown to increase breastfeeding initiation rates . Peer supporters undergo varying lengths and styles of training, can be paid or unpaid, and they can be integrated into the healthcare team or separate.
Mass media campaigns are interventions that are targeted toward wider society, and, when implemented alongside other interventions have had some success at increasing breastfeeding initiation rates .
Criteria For Considering Studies For This Review
All randomized controlled trials , irrespective of language, which compared the use of term infant formula containing synbiotics, probiotics or prebiotics to conventional infant formula with or without placebo amongst healthy full term infants receiving formula feeds only. Studies published as abstracts were included if sufficient information could be obtained to assess study quality and obtain relevant study findings.
Also Check: Garden Of Life Women’s Probiotic Walmart
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
Some customer reviewers have complained that their babies experienced gassiness or spit-up when switching from the previous version of this formula, Kirkland Signature Non-GMO, to the new version, Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO. As noted above, most babies tolerate switching formulas well, and the ingredients in the old and new versions differ very little. Some reviewers have also complained that the ProCare formula comes with an opaque blue scoop, which makes it harder to gauge the measurement. This formula is available online only as a pack of four 42-ounce containers, enough for about 136 8-ounce bottles. If you want to buy smaller quantities of formula at a time, you can purchase individual Kirkland formula 42-ounce cans in-store, or try Members Mark Infant or Up & Up Advantage . Though you dont have to be a Costco member to buy this formula online, non-members pay a 5% surcharge. But even with that charge, this formula remains significantly less expensive than similar formulas from Similac and Enfamil.
