The Infant Formula Act of 1980 is one of the most specific and detailed acts ever passed by Congress. It establishes minimum nutrient requirements, defines adulteration, provides for establishing nutrient and quality control procedures, prescribes recall procedures, and specifies inspection requirements.

Infant Formula Act of 1980 – Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to set forth requirements for infant formulas. Requires such manufacturer of an infant formula to notify the Secretary whether the formula as processed meets such requirements and of any changes in such formula or its processing.

Baby’s Only formulas are technically “toddler” formula, because in order to have FDA approval as an infant formula, a company must conduct clinical trials and undergo extensive testing. Many people choose Baby’s Only even for infants, but you should check with your pediatrician to be sure.

FDA regulates commercially available infant formulas, which are marketed in liquid and powder forms, but does not regulate recipes for homemade formulas. Because of these potentially very serious health concerns, FDA does not recommend that consumers make infant formulas at home.

The FDA advises parents and caregivers to not make or feed homemade infant formula to infants. Homemade infant formula recipes have not been evaluated by the FDA and may lack nutrients vital to an infant’s growth.

Cons

• Formula doesn’t provide the same protection against infections, diseases, and conditions as breast milk.
• You need to mix and prepare formula to make sure it’s the correct temperature.
• Bottles, formula, rubber nipples, and breast pumps can be expensive.
• Formula can cause digestive trouble like constipation and gas.

Infectious Morbidity. Compared with breastfed infants, formula-fed infants face higher risks of infectious morbidity in the first year of life. These differences in health outcomes can be explained, in part, by specific and innate immune factors present in human milk.

Prepared infant formula can spoil if it is left out at room temperature. Use prepared infant formula within 2 hours of preparation and within one hour from when feeding begins. If you do not start to use the prepared infant formula within 2 hours, immediately store the bottle in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.

You can start by offering your baby 1 to 2 ounces of infant formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life if your baby is only getting infant formula and no breast milk. Give your baby more if he or she is showing signs of hunger. Most infant formula-fed newborns will feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.

No, throw away any leftover formula. There’s a chance bacteria may have formed since the last feeding, which could make your baby sick.

In fact, if your little one has had some of a bottle but doesn’t want the rest, you should dump it within an hour. Don’t put it in the fridge for later use. Milk-based products are notorious for growing bacteria. Once your baby has drunk from a bottle, bacteria is introduced and the formula shouldn’t be saved.

A prepared (but untouched) bottle of formula can be stored in the back of the fridge for 24 hours. Opened containers of ready-to-feed and liquid concentrate formulas are good for 48 hours. Powdered formula should be used within one month of opening the can or tub.

SIDS has no symptoms or warning signs. Babies who die of SIDS seem healthy before being put to bed. They show no signs of struggle and are often found in the same position as when they were placed in the bed.

Factors that may place a baby at higher risk of dying from SIDS include the following: babies who sleep on their stomach or their side rather than their back. overheating while sleeping. too soft a sleeping surface, with fluffy blankets or toys.