APN News

  • Tuesday, April, 2024| Today's Market | Current Time: 01:30:50
  • European Baby Formulas vs. American: What’s the Difference?

    Published on May 5, 2023

    It’s becoming increasingly challenging for young parents to find a baby formula that will be perfect for their baby because of their variety on the market. You may find any kind of formula your little one needs according to his or her age and peculiarities. Both European and American formula brands provide the ingredients which are able to make your child thrive.

    Nowadays, organic European formulas are quite in-demand and become more and more wide-spread among young families. But are they really safer and richer in comparison with American ones? Let’s find out.

    What are the main differences between EU and US baby formulas?

    1.    Iron content

    Iron is a crucial element during infancy and early childhood as it supports neurological development. But it’s necessary to control the amount of iron your baby gets, because too much iron can delay your little one’s development. American formula brands have higher amounts of this element. It happens as the American Academy of Pediatrics considers this to be the correct amount. So, if your little one consumes EU baby formula, your health provider may recommend an iron supplement.

    2.    Sugar Content

    Sugar and other sweeteners are considered harmful ingredients for babies and children in general. Eating sweet food your little one will be more likely to get some diseases like obesity, dental caries, high blood pressure and others. Organic European formula brands are convinced that sugar shouldn’t be included in their milk, so these formulas are 100% natural. American formulas, instead, may consist of sucrose or other sweet ingredients such as corn syrup and others.

    3.    DHA

    DHA, or an omega-3 fatty acid, is an extremely valuable ingredient for babies and kids as it has a great influence on brain development, vision and overall growth. It’s naturally present in breastmilk and is occasionally added to baby formulas. What comes to the American formulas, some of them contain DHA, but it’s not required, which is different to European formulas. From February 2022, all infant formulas in the EU must contain DHA.

    4.     Formula Stages

    If you’ve been searching for some European formulas, you’ve already noticed that they come in different stages, for instance, 0-6 months, 6-12 months and so on. That means that these formulas are enriched with those ingredients that satisfy the baby’s needs at a specific stage of life. In comparison, American formulas aren’t divided in this manner. They usually have a one-size-fits-all formula.

    5.     Alternative Milks

    Babies are usually doing great on cow’s milk formulas, but if your little one has some special needs or suffers from digestive issues, you may need to look for an alternative formula. There are a lot of goat milk formulas available in the European market, as well as formulas which deal with reflux, allergy, intolerance and other gastroenterological issues. US formulas aren’t so rich in options and are mostly made with cow’s milk.

    So, while choosing a formula, be familiar with these facts, talk to your pediatrician and read parents’ reviews. Try to find the best quality formula which would be rich in content and meet your kind needs perfectly.

    SEE COMMENTS

    Leave a Reply