In 1985, Congress passed the Infant Formula Act, which required that the Food and Drug Administration ensure all infant formulas were able to meet a baby’s nutritional needs. Anyone who has looked at infant formulas over the years knows it is an ever changing product. Now, many products on the market boast the addition of DHA and ARA, which is found in, you guessed it, breast milk. DHA is docosahexaenoic acid and ARA is arachidonic acid. Some research has shown that these fatty acids are necessary in the diet of babies, especially those born prematurely.

So how do even the highest quality formulas, stack up to what nature has provided? Well the simple answer is, they don’t, but let’s go a little further. Companies that produce infant formulas should be given credit for constantly improving their products, and at this point having formulas on the market that seem pretty close to breast milk. The fact is however, that when it comes to your baby’s health, ‘close’ may not be what you want, but for some of us it does offer great comfort. Many women cannot breastfeed and having infant formula that is close to real breast milk is comforting.

Breast milk is in fact living matter, which is capable of adapting to your child’s dietary needs. It contains materials which boosts the child’s immune-system, as well as white blood cells. This is difficult if not impossible for any commercial infant formula maker to duplicate.

Man made formulas possess no digestive enzymes, or substances to help build the baby’s immune system. They are basically nutrients that are packaged together. Each new product is basically research as the formula companies try to improve on their offerings. Any mother who decides on formulas therefore, should familiarize herself with these products, and so make an informed choice as to what is best for her baby.

There is still no data as to the long term effects of infant formula. Questions are constantly being raised about whether a formula-fed child is really as healthy as he or she appears to be. It is important to remember that a company’s first goal is profit, so it is up to us to make the decisions that will affect our children for years to come by finding the right formula if breastfeeding is not an option.