Buzz
For a long time, breast milk has been regarded as the best food for newborns and children under 2 years old. Besides breast milk, you can supplement nutrients from formula milk products to help your baby develop healthily.
1. What is formula milk?
Most of the best formula milks for babies nowadays are powdered milk specifically designed for babies starting to eat solid foods from 6 months old onwards. These formulas mimic the chemical composition of breast milk and are used to fully or partially replace it. This type of milk is prepared by mixing powder with water to create a liquid, providing a special dietary regimen for infants.
1.1. Common types of formula milk
Formula milk on the market today comes in 3 main types: ready-to-feed, powder form, and condensed form. Among them, powdered form is the most commonly used, preferred by smart mothers, and formula milk in powdered form is easy to use and store.
Ready-to-feed formulas are usually used for babies over 12 months old because milk is harder to preserve than other forms of milk. Condensed form, often found in tablet or bar form, is usually Meiji manufactured and preferred by smart mothers. In addition, there are other types of milk such as cow's milk, soy milk, goat's milk, etc.
Formula milk from cow's milk is the main ingredient for producing formula milk for children. Smart mothers should consider giving their babies formula milk made from cow's milk to supplement two types of proteins, whey, and casein, which are beneficial for the child's development, and especially abundant. For babies allergic to cow's milk components, goat's milk is used to produce formula milk for babies.
Formula milk from soybeans should not be the only option for smart mothers. Instead, mothers should combine formula milk from soybeans with formula milk from cow's milk to supplement essential nutrients for the baby such as vitamin A, B1, etc. For many babies who cannot absorb all the nutrients from breast milk, smart mothers should consider giving formula milk to the baby!
1.2. The role and benefits of formula milk
Children aged 6 - 12 months are undergoing rapid physical and mental development. This is the stage when babies transition entirely from breastfeeding to solid food, so mothers should buy nutritious baby weaning biscuits to supplement essential nutrients that milk alone cannot provide.
Smart parents often ask, “Which formula milk should I give my baby, and what is the role of formula milk?” Formula milk not only provides essential nutrients from milk but also supplements additional nutrients like Zinc, Iron, and Vitamins that breast milk cannot synthesize to enhance the baby's health. It also helps in the comprehensive development of the baby's physical and intellectual capabilities.
1.3. Composition of formula milk
Carbohydrates: Abundant in breast milk and cow's milk, particularly present in corn syrup, hence manufacturers also use corn syrup as a substitute.
Protein: Found in breast milk, also known as protein, wherein whey protein accounts for 60% and casein protein for 40%.
Fats: DHA and ARA are two crucial fatty acids found in breast milk, influencing vision and overall child development. In the last 3 months of pregnancy, babies begin absorbing DHA and ARA intensely, and premature babies are at high risk of DHA and ARA deficiency.
Vitamins and minerals: The concentration of vitamins and minerals in formula milk is highest. Common vitamins include vitamin B5, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D.
2. Should You Use Formula Milk for 6-Month-Old Babies?
2.1. Pros and Cons of Formula Milk
Advantages:
Breast Milk Substitute: Formula milk for 6-month-old babies available in the market is a nutritional solution, providing a complete source of food for weaning, supplementary feeding, and introducing solids. It contains essential vitamins and nutrients that breastfed babies need.
Formula milk is manufactured under sterilized and aseptic conditions, with chemical compounds relatively similar to breast milk. If your baby no longer breastfeeds, you can choose a suitable formula milk to establish a separate feeding routine.
Flexibility: Once the baby gets accustomed to bottle feeding with formula milk, mothers can rest assured that the baby is well taken care of. Moreover, preparing formula milk is convenient in all situations; when the baby is hungry, formula milk can be used without the need to find a private place for feeding.
Diet Regimen: When using formula milk, mothers need not worry about how their own diet may affect the baby.
Drawbacks:
Smart mothers need to consider before choosing, accurate preparation: When preparing formula milk, you must adhere to the correct dosage and the steps outlined by the manufacturer.
2.2. Reasons to Use Formula Milk for Babies
Reasons why you should use formula milk for your baby: Providing essential nutrients that breast milk cannot synthesize, aiding in comprehensive development. Additionally, formula milk is convenient to carry everywhere and easy to store. Moreover, mothers can choose from various nutritious food sources for the baby.
2.3. Until What Age Should Babies Drink Formula Milk
This is a question that many smart mothers are concerned about. The best time for babies to drink formula milk is between 6 – 12 months, after which it's advisable to introduce more direct nutritional supplements like other nutritious foods. If you have spare time, you can explore cooking tips like 19 recipes for cooking snakehead fish porridge for babies under 1 year old to gain weight to prepare numerous delicious and appealing porridge dishes while helping your baby's digestive system develop optimally.
3. Tips for Choosing the Best Formula Milk
The amount of milk in ml per day for babies is something that smart mothers should pay attention to first because depending on the age, physique, and eating habits of each baby, the amount of milk for babies will vary. For babies around 6 months old, they can consume 50ml of milk per feeding and drink 5 – 6 times a day in addition to breastfeeding.
The milk brands available in the formula milk market today include various brands such as the famous Japanese Meiji milk brand, Abbott, Nan, Humana,... which are imported as well as directly produced in Vietnam. Smart mothers should choose formula milk with the clearest brand and origin to provide the best nutrition for their babies. Additionally, mothers should also pay attention to choosing formula milk suitable for their baby's age in months. Currently, formula milk for babies from 6 – 12 months is distributed quite closely to the months of the babies such as 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 for mothers to easily choose from. The best formula milk for babies are those with clear origins and sources. Smart mothers should choose formula milk from reputable distributors!
4. Top 15 Formula Milk Brands for Babies from 6-12 Months
4.1. Humana Formula Milk
Humana is a professional provider of nutritious milk for children of all ages, essential for your child's developmental stages. Humana milk contains all the necessary nutrients for your child's healthy development from the early days of life to the first years of life. Currently, a box of Humana formula milk costs about 620,000 VND in the market.
4.2. Meiji Milk Formula 0
Choosing genuine Meiji milk for babies, originating from Japan, ensures no shortage of essential nutrients: Iron, Calcium, vitamin D, and various essential minerals, vitamins, supplementing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) to promote brain growth, macular development. Meiji Milk Formula 0 also contains Fructooligosaccharides, Nucleotides, and Taurine to enhance the baby's immune system during the 6 – 12 month period of dietary transition. That's why Meiji is always among the top 10 milk formulas for comprehensive child development. Currently, a box of Meiji Milk Formula 0 weighing about 800g costs approximately 529,000 VND in the market.
4.3. Frisolac Milk Formula 2
Frisolac Milk Formula 2 from the Friso milk brand is trusted by many mothers worldwide, applying LockNutri – an advanced manufacturing technology to protect natural nutrients from loss due to heat and maintain the most natural state, helping babies absorb and digest nutrients more easily. It is priced at about 435,000 VND.
4.4. Nan 2 Formula Milk
Nestle Nan 2 provides an adequate amount of protein necessary for long-term healthy development of children aged 6 – 12 months without overloading the still developing organs of the child. Bifidus BL probiotic bacteria supplement beneficial Probiotics helping the baby's digestive system function better, enhancing the intestinal immune system for natural nutrient absorption and effective disease prevention. Nan is a reputable brand in the Vietnamese milk market and is one of the top choices for smart mothers. A 400g box of Nan 2 milk costs about 205,000 VND
4.5. Physiolac Formula 2
From 6 to 12 months old, the period when babies start to get used to complementary feeding and experience teething symptoms, often crying, fever, diarrhea, refusing to breastfeed, etc. The baby's mobility needs also increase gradually, your little one will be more active, exploring the world around, so the nutritional needs undergo many changes, requiring higher responsiveness. Therefore, Physiolac formula 2 milk will help your baby develop well during this period with formula improvements to match the development of children aged 6 to 12 months. A 900g box of Physiolac Formula 2 milk costs about 460,000 VND in the market
4.6. Similac Neosure Powder Milk
Similac Neosure Powder Milk is manufactured and researched by experienced leading nutrition experts, containing a very special IQ nutrient system. The ingredients include Choline, Omega 3, 6, Iron, LCPUFA (AA DHA), and Taurine play a role in improving brain development, visual acuity for babies. Currently, a 850g box of Similac Neosure Powder Milk costs about 509,000 VND in the market
4.7. Vinamilk Optimum Gold Formula 2
Vinamilk Optimum Gold Formula 2 is a powdered nutritional milk for children aged 6 to 12 months. At 6 months old, it's time for mothers to introduce complementary feeding to supplement all the necessary nutrients and vitamins for optimal physical and brain development of their children. Mothers can purchase Vinamilk Optimum Gold 2 milk for approximately 365,000 VND
4.8. Enfamil A+ Formula 2
Enfamil A+ Formula 2 with DHA+ and MFGM Pro formula is milk for children from 6 – 12 months old. Mead Johnson milk supplements DHA, ARA, Choline, and essential nutrients for the daily diet of children lacking or not having breast milk, supporting comprehensive brain and overall development of children. Additionally, Enfamil A+ Formula 2 provides vital nutrients to enhance cognition, immune function, and gut microbiota in children. A 900g box of Enfamil A+ Formula 2 milk costs about 550,000 VND
4.9. Glico Formula 0
Glico Formula 0, a Japanese mother's choice and trust for babies from 6 – 12 months old. When arriving in Vietnam, Glico Formula 0 surpasses other formula milk brands, bringing trust to smart Vietnamese mothers. Glico Formula 0 is specially designed for the 6 – 12 months old stage, when the baby's digestive system is still weak and immune system is not sufficient, helping to prevent constipation, diarrhea common in babies at this stage. Moreover, the Palmitic fatty acid content, along with 5 types of Nucleotides, helps babies have a healthy digestive system.
4.10. Nutifood Nuti IQ Step Milk
Nuti IQ Step 1 milk by Nutifood contains essential DHA, ARA,, necessary for brain development, and nerve cell completion. Lutein, a carotenoid found only in Nuti IQ Step 1 by Nutifood, is uniquely present in the vitreous humor to develop the entire macular system of the eye, promoting brightness and elasticity in babies aged 6 -12 months. Choline and Taurine play important roles in nerve conduction, boosting the baby's mental growth most vigorously. A 400g box of Nuti IQ Step 1 milk by Nutifood costs approximately 300,000 VND in the market.
4.11. Biomil Formula 2 Milk
Biomil Formula 2 Milk provides essential nutrients for a healthy body like: L-carnitine and Inositol maximize nutrient absorption for children and bioactive proteins for muscle development, essential Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids for brain development, minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, copper, iodine to enhance brain circulation. A 400g box of Biomil Formula 2 Milk costs around: 265,000 VND in the market.
4.12. Morinaga Formula 0 Milk
Morinaga Formula 0 Milk provides all the essential nutrients and vitamins for babies aged from 6 to 12 months, optimizing protein along with essential omega compounds for the development of the baby's brain and eyes. Smart mothers choose the best formula milk for babies from 6 to 12 months, which is Morinaga Formula 0 Milk.
4.13. Similac Gain IQ Formula 2 Milk
Similac Gain IQ formula 2 milk from Abbott USA brand is trusted by mothers for its delicious flavor, aiding in brain development, immune support, providing essential nutrients like omega, protein, fiber for babies aged 6 – 12 months. The milk contains the new IQ Plus nutrient system that supports brain and visual development. A box of Similac Gain IQ formula 2 milk.
4.14 Meta Care formula 2 Milk
From 6 months, your baby will take the first steps to explore the world around. Meta Care formula 2 Milk is researched to ensure it will provide all essential nutrients to support the digestive system with prebiotics, probiotics. Meta Care formula 2 Milk in Vietnam has become an indispensable part of the diverse diet of young children from 6-12 months. The LockNutri formula helps protect milk protein sources in production, ensuring absorption without denaturation to provide babies with enough nutrients to develop the skeletal system. A box of Meta Care formula 2 Milk 900g.
4.15. Aptamil UK formula 2 Milk
Aptamil UK formula 2 Milk contains most essential proteins, vitamins (C, D, E…), omega-3, omega-6, minerals (Iron, Potassium, Zinc…), GOS/FOS prebiotic digestive enzymes, nucleotides…..to maximize baby development. The milk helps babies develop good vision, enhance cognition, and maximize the brain's capacity during the period from 6 – 12 months. A box of Aptamil UK formula 2 Milk costs around 555,000 VND
Babies aged 6 -12 months who have started weaning diets, formula milk is one of the indispensable food items. If mothers are still wondering which formula milk is good for their babies, with the article here hopes to partly answer that concern. Through this, mothers can order genuine milk for their children, suitable for their physical condition, helping to optimize development.
