Healthiest formula?

LizDP

Matt is not thrilled that sugar is the 2nd ingredient in the Similac formula we have here. Easy for him, he's not the one BFing and going back to work, but I digress... Lol. Any suggestIons for what is the most nutritious formula? I will make him pay for it, since this is his thing. I also told him to call ped, but just wondering if anyone does organic, etc. Tia! 

debfife

Granted this was 4 years ago, but I remember the organic ones being higher in sugar than the non-organic.

We used enfamil powder.

Does the Similac say sugar out right? Or does it say lactose?

Lactose is the 2nd ingredient listed on enfamil...but it's not like it's added sugar.

mrs.marie.g

looks like sugar is used for digestion. hopefully this article helps. 

 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/us/19formula.html

laurenpetro

IIRC, all formulas are processed as organic.  the label is there so they can charge more money.

kmslwsmrs

I went through this same thing trying to figure out formula for E....he was on Similac, and I didn't like the sugar content, so looking for something else,  I found that the sugar is in there to aid in digestion/cut back on constipation due to the milk/dairy/soy content.  When talking to my ped. they said that babies who have difficulty with breasfteeding when their mother has a high dairy intake suggest sugar water, which is why the formula has the sugar in it to begin with.  If you look, you'll see that the "sensitive" or "gassy"  formulas have even more sugar to help with this.  Organic formulas have even more sugar than the regular as well.  I think the only one that I found that is lower in sugar is Earth's Best, but it's expensive, and only in the powdered variety (at least that's all I could find) and we needed RTF.  Apparently breastmilk has a high sugar content as well, you just don't know because there's not a label, and this is coming from a proponent of breasfeeding (the lacation consultant that I spoke with).

Leeba25

Ask Matt to taste a little bit of your pumped breastmilk. If sugar isn't the first thing he notices, then I'd be surprised. That stuff tastes like melted vanilla ice cream.

Remember, formula is - um - formulated (haha) to be like breastmilk in both nutrition and taste. Babies need a very dense food (in terms of vitamins, minerals, fat, and calories) because of how fast they're growing, and how little they can eat, to support that growth.

I wouldn't stress about the fact that sugar is #2 on the ingredient list.

knittygrl

I looked at organic and it actually higher in sugar as well as the sensitive.  Our ped recommends Similac advance.  I have a ton of enfamil if you want/need it and I also heard good start is good for digestion

LuckyBride06

I breastfed and gave ds formula at times when I couldn't pump enough. We gave him target up&up gentle (the purple one). It's pretty much the same exact thing as enfamil sensitive, but obviously way cheaper! He had a sensitive belly, so we couldn't do regular formula.

LizDP

Thank you for clearing that up ladies! :-)

MrsDB

What do you mean by "processed as organic"? They're definitely not all organic. A lot use genetically modified corn and soy.  Although some non-organic companies will have a statement somewhere on the label saying that they do not use GM ingredients.

I would just look for a formula without HFCS, and preferably organic.  

here's an interesting article- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/us/19formula.html

it says that organic parent's choice (walmart brand) and Earth's Best use organic lactose, from organic milk, as the sweetener. That would probably be a lot better than sugar. 

hannysgirl

Liz I just wanted to say congratulations on your baby. She looks like a real doll!!! So happy for you.

I use Enfamil Gentlease with both my kids. I never even looked at the label, I was just happy it helped with the gas...