Frequently Asked Questions
- Can my infant use Baby’s Only Organic® toddler formula?
Nature’s One® recognizes that breast milk is the best source of nutrition a mother can provide her baby the first year of life and offers advantages not found in any formula. Therefore, Baby’s Only Organic® is not intended for infants under 1-year of age unless specified by a healthcare professional.
We also understand that long term or exclusive breastfeeding is not feasible for every mother. Therefore, we formulated Baby’s Only Organic® formulas to meet the FDA’s infant formula nutritional requirements, containing all the nutrients found in leading infant formula brands. Baby’s Only Organic® provides the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals needed to support normal growth and development of a full term, healthy baby.
To obtain a healthcare professional recommendation, please present the Leading Brands Dairy Nutritional Comparison Chart and/or Organic Brands Dairy Nutritional Comparison Chart to your baby’s doctor.
For all ages, prepare Baby’s Only Organic® according to label instructions.
- BPA Testing and 100% BPA-Free Packaging for Baby's Only Organic® Formula.
Testing Concludes BPA Undetected
Nature's One® has finalized BPA testing on its powdered formula (produced in 2009) using a third-party laboratory. The testing method is 10-times more sensitive than the current test used by the FDA. As expected, no BPA was detected in Nature's One® formula products.100% BPA-Free Packaging
With the help of Nature's One® suppliers, all components of our packaging used in 2010 are 100% BPA-free. This includes the new "easy-open" lid that once used an epoxy based resin. Nature's One® will be introducing new light-weight canisters and "easy-open" lids for all Baby's Only Organic® formulas and PediaSmart® nutrition beverages produced in 2010.Environmentally Friendly Packaging
Our new canisters are good for the environment because they are recyclable and on average contain 50% recycled content. Additionally, the canisters are light weight since they are made of paperboard instead of tin. This reduces environmental waste and energy used in manufacturing and transportation. The canister's metal top and bottom are also recyclable. Again, all components of the packaging are BPA-free.As an organic manufacturer, Nature's One® is concerned over the level of chemicals ingested by infants, toddlers and children and will always use the highest quality ingredients and materials available to produce and package its organic pediatric products.
- Is it dangerous to dilute Baby's Only Organic® formula?
Baby's Only Organic® formula should always be mixed according to label instructions to ensure that the proper balance of water to nutrients is given to an infant. Some parents or caretakers may think the formula is too "thick" and needs to be diluted or they may be trying to "stretch out" the powdered formula for economical reasons by adding more water than recommended. These practices are extremely hazardous to an infant's health and can result in malnutrition because the baby is not receiving the needed calories and nutrients to support growth and development. Formula dilution is life threatening as it can cause water intoxication (over-hydration) and an imbalance of electrolytes resulting in hyponatremia or too little sodium in the baby's body. Drinking too much water basically drowns the cells because the infant's immature kidneys are unable to process the water quickly enough. Symptoms of water intoxication can include pale colored urine and an excessive number of wet diapers (more than 6 to 8 per day). Water intoxication can lead to inconsolable crying because the baby's body tissues, including the brain, swell and can cause a headache; difficulty breathing because the lungs contain too much water; irregular heart beat because the electrolytes are not in balance; seizures noted by odd facial movements, lip smacking, rhythmic jerking of a body part; coma; and ultimately death if not medically treated. Young infants will usually obtain all of the water they need from breast milk or formula and extra water is rarely needed. Always prepare infant formula and Baby's Only Organic® formulas according to label instructions and do not provide your infant with supplemental water unless directed to do so by the baby's healthcare provider.
- What if I am noticing a change in my baby’s bowel movements?
Dietary changes can affect the frequency and consistency of your baby’s stools. These dietary changes include: switching from breast milk to formula, switching formulas, and adding solid foods to the diet. Noticing a change in the stool consistency is more important than the stool frequency as it is not uncommon for babies to go several days without having a bowel movement. It can take up to a week for a baby’s digestive system to “learn” a new food. The stools of breastfed babies are usually soft and more “mushy” whereas formula fed infants have slightly firmer stools. The stools of breastfed babies are also more frequent than babies on formula. Grunting and grimacing during a bowel movement are often just baby’s way of experiencing the use of the various muscles associated with having a bowel movement.
If stools are hard and dry when passed and the baby is showing signs of pain and cries while trying to have a bowel movement, constipation may be suspected. Whenever constipation is suspected, it is always best to consult with your child’s healthcare professional to ensure that nothing medically is taking place.
Any of the following signs may indicate constipation:
- dry, hard stools and pain on passing them
- hard, pebble-like stools passed with straining during a bowel movement
- drawing legs up on the abdomen, grunting, getting red-faced, and/or crying when trying to have a bowel movement
- streaks of blood along the outside of the stool
- abdominal discomfort and distention along with hard and infrequent stools
- vomiting when trying to have a bowel movement
You might also try the following to prevent and treat mild constipation:
- Prepare the formula using the instructions on the manufacturer's label. Each manufacturer has its own recipe and processing methods, which result in the powdered formula having different densities. So it is important to use the manufacturer’s scoop rather than using a scoop from another formula brand. Be sure to use the appropriate amount of water with the powdered formula; otherwise the formula will become overly concentrated and could cause problems such as constipation. If you are using teaspoons and tablespoons to measure the powder, please be sure to use the measuring spoons one would use for baking and not household eating utensil spoons.
- Feed smaller volumes of formula more frequently. One saying that may help is “feed half as much twice as often.”
- If your child is in a very hot environment, one to two ounces of water offered between breast milk or formula feedings may help.
- Massage baby’s tummy by starting at the belly button and then massaging outwards in a circle in a clockwise direction. Only continue this if your child enjoys the massage and is comfortable and relaxed.
- Place your child on his or her back and move his or her legs in a bicycling motion. Hold the legs and turn them gently in a cycling motion.
- Give your child a bath in warm water. This may relax your child so stools are passed more easily. Once your child is relaxed in the bath, try massaging the tummy as noted above.
- Discuss with your healthcare provider the possibility of using probiotics to help alleviate symptoms.
- Do not use honey with an infant because of the risk of botulism.
- Do not use over-the-counter medicines without first checking with baby’s healthcare professional.
If after consulting with your child’s healthcare professional and lactose intolerance is suspected to be the cause of constipation, Baby’s Only Organic® Lactose Free Formula may be an option. If the constipation is a result of a cow’s milk protein intolerance, Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula may help given that it is lactose and dairy free. If your doctor recommends a probiotic, consider Baby’s Only Essentials® Probiotic Supplement.
- Why should infants not drink cow's milk?
The nutrient composition of cow's milk is specific to a baby calf and not to a human baby. Cow's milk has a higher level of protein to meet the rapid growth needs of calves. This level, called the renal solute load, is too high for a human baby and could overload a baby's kidneys resulting in serious health problems. It is harder to digest and could also cause intestinal blood loss. Cow's milk contains butterfat which is a very saturated fat and also more difficult to digest. As is commonly known, animal saturated fat contributes to heart disease. Butterfat also does not provide the appropriate amounts or balance of essential fatty acids. Although the carbohydrate in cow's milk is lactose, the same type of carbohydrate in mother's milk, the level is lower than in breast milk. Cow's milk is also deficient in iron, which could result in iron deficiency anemia. It is also lacking in copper, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
Human breast milk is the ideal food for a human baby. For those infants who cannot or do not receive breast milk, the first choice of formula is a dairy-based formula, like Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula, made from cow's milk that has been modified to better suit the nutrient needs of a baby. Human milk serves as the model for the composition of an infant formula, but formulas at present still do not contain many of the unique compositional features of breast milk. Breast milk contains hormones, immunologic agents, essential fatty acids, and enzymes to help with digestion.
Modifications that are now made in cow's milk to make an infant formula closer in nutrient composition to breast milk include:
- Reducing the protein content. Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula is made with organic non-fat dried cow's milk at appropriate levels for an infant or toddler.
- Replacing the butterfat in cow's milk, which is highly saturated, to a proper mixture of vegetable oils that provide the appropriate balance of saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula is made with organic high oleic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, and organic soybean oil. This blend also provides the correct balance of the essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid needed by the body to make DHA and ARA. These fatty acids are important for brain function and visual acuity.
- Adding appropriate carbohydrates to bring the total carbohydrate content closer to mother's milk. The carbohydrate composition of Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula consists of 65% organic brown rice syrup and 35% naturally occurring lactose which comes in with the organic non-fat dried cow's milk.
- Adding some vitamins and minerals in the appropriate amounts needed by an infant to grow and develop.
Although human milk and cow's milk contain cholesterol, formulas at present do not contain cholesterol until additional research is done to document the safety and efficacy of doing so. We do not add cholesterol to the blend of organic oils we use to meet the fatty acid requirements and they do not naturally contain cholesterol. There is currently no recommendation on the amount of cholesterol to be fed during infancy. In fact, the Academy of Pediatrics has not issued any statement regarding whether cholesterol should be added to infant formula. Cholesterol is made by the body in the liver and the intestinal tract and infants have the ability to manufacture amounts needed to support growth and development.
Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula contains all of the nutrients in the appropriate amounts needed for an infant and toddler to grow and develop and is preferred over cow's milk during early childhood. Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula fully complies with the nutrient composition requirements of the U. S. Infant Formula Act enacted by the government to ensure that infants receive safe and appropriate infant formulas. Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula also meets the guidelines of the Academy of Pediatrics on nutrient composition of infant formulas.
If a parent is considering use of whole cow's milk because of difficulties with formula or for cost reasons, this may signal a greater importance to seek guidance and receive proper nutritional advice appropriate for an infant. Consult the infant's healthcare professional for advice.
- Why should infants not drink goat's milk?
In the United States, goat's milk is gaining popularity because goats eat less and occupy less grazing space than cows and also because goat's milk is thought to be more easily digested and less allergenic than cow's milk. Although goat's milk may theoretically have some advantages over cow's milk when it comes to allergies, scientific studies have not found a decreased incidence of allergy with goat's milk.1 Just like cow's milk has a nutrient profile needed to support a growing calf, the composition of goat's milk meets the needs of a growing goat kid, but not that of a human baby.
Goat's milk has a slightly higher protein content and more potassium, phosphorus, sodium and chloride than cow's milk. These amounts (known as the renal solute load) found in both goat's milk and cow's milk are higher than found in human milk and could overload an infant's developing kidneys and result in serious health problems. Goat's milk acidosis has been reported in the scientific literature and is most likely a result of the high protein level.2 There are questions too about the possible insufficient levels of the amino acids tryptophan and cysteine in goat's milk.3 Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins needed to make body cells and organs.
The fat in goat's milk is lower in essential fatty acids than cow's milk. The types of fats in goat's milk differ from both cow's milk and human milk. Goat's milk butterfat, just like butterfat from cow's milk, is an animal fat that is more difficult to digest than the fat in human milk. As is commonly known, saturated animal fat can contribute to heart disease. Goat's milk does not contain the types or amounts of saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat of human milk. The right proportion of these fats is necessary to ensure brain, organ, and tissue development. Fat is also used for energy to fuel a baby's growth, along with carbohydrates.
The type of carbohydrate in goat's milk is lactose, similar to human milk and cow's milk, but like cow's milk it is lower than the amount of lactose found in human milk. Carbohydrates are needed for energy to fuel growth during early childhood.
Goat's milk is deficient in iron, folic acid and Vitamin B6, all nutrients needed during early childhood to prevent anemia.
Goat's milk should not be used as a substitute for an infant formula or as a supplement to breast milk. Like cow's milk, goat's milk can cause intestinal irritation and anemia.
Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula is based on modified cow's milk and has been formulated to ensure the correct balance of all nutrients for an infant. Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula fully complies with the nutrient composition requirements of the U.S. Infant Formula Act enacted by the government to ensure that infants receive safe and appropriate infant formulas. Baby's Only Organic® dairy formula also meets the guidelines of the Academy of Pediatrics on nutrient composition of infant formulas.
Infant formulas are designed to be as close to mother's milk as possible to provide the appropriate nutrition for babies during the all important first year of life. Of course, mother's milk is always the preferred feeding and infant formulas are available for those situations when breast milk is unavailable. The appropriate amounts and balance of nutrients in the first year are critical to good growth and development.
If a parent is considering use of goat's milk because baby is having difficulty with formulas, this may signal a greater importance to seek guidance and receive proper nutritional advice appropriate for an infant. Consult the infant's healthcare professional for advice.
1.http://www.dh.gov.uk
2. Hendriksz, C. J., Walter, J. H. "Feeding infants undiluted goat's milk can mimic Tyrosinaemia type I," Acta Paediatr 2004, Apr; 93 (4): 552-553.
3.http://www.efsa.europa.eu - When should my baby switch from formula to milk?
Baby's Only Organic® is an iron-fortified nutritional formula that provides the essential vitamins, minerals, protein, essential fatty-acids and carbohydrates needed to support your baby's continued growth and development. Baby's Only Organic® is recommended for baby's 12-months or older. For use with infants less than 12-months of age, please consult a health care provider (i.e. pediatrician, nutritionist, dietitian, homeopath, naturopath, etc).
For mothers who are breast feeding a baby older than 12-months of age, Baby's Only Organic® can be used to supplement breast milk or substitute breast milk feedings as needed. Baby's Only Organic® can also be reconstituted according to package directions and used to mix cereals for the baby at any age.
Baby's Only Organic® has been formulated according to the nutritional requirements as defined in the law called the Infant Formula Act. It is nutritionally comparable to other formulas on the market.
Dairy Nutritional Comparison
Soy Nutritional Comparison
Nutritional Comparison to Organic Brands - Does Baby's Only Organic® contain DHA & ARA?
There are two basic groupings of fatty acids called (1) essential fatty acids or "precursor fats" (as found in Baby's Only Organic® pediatric formulas) and (2) non-essential fatty acids which can also be "preformed fats" (as found in Baby's Only Essentials® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement*).
Baby's Only Organic® pediatric formulas contain two essential (precursor) fats: Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Linoleic Acid (LA). Alpha-Linolenic and Linoleic fatty acids are called "essential" because the human body cannot make these fats and therefore it is essential to derive them from food sources. Alpha-Linolenic Acid is an omega-3 used by the body to make Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Linoleic Acid is an omega-6 used by the body to make Arachidonic Acid (ARA). DHA and ARA are called "non-essential" fatty acids because full-term, healthy infants, children, and adults can manufacture these from Alpha-Linolenic and Linoleic fatty acids.
Baby's Only Essentials® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement is made with preformed DHA and ARA long-chain fatty acids. This means the fats are already available in their final forms and the body does not need to manufacture from precursor fats, Alpha-Linolenic and Linoleic fatty acids.
The Human Body Converts Essential Fatty Acids into Non-Essential Fatty Acids Omega Source Essential
Fatty AcidsNon-Essential
Fatty AcidsOmega-3 Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) ? Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Omega-6 Linoleic Acid (LA) ? Arachidonic Acid (ARA)
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- Is Baby's Only Organic® USDA Certified Organic®?
Yes, Baby's Only Organic® Dairy, Lactose Free and Soy formulas are Certified Organic by OneCert. OneCert is a USDA approved government agency, similar to Quality Assurance International (QAI). For more information about OneCert, refer to their website at www.onecert.net. OneCert also complies with the new USDA National Organic Standards Program.
- Why is nutritional information in 100 calorie equivalents?
We use the 100 kcal (1 kcal = 1 Calorie) comparison to provide an "apples to apples" comparison for health care professionals and dietitians. This standard of measurement is also required by the FDA for all infant formulas. Again, it tells a health care professional how much nutrition a baby is getting for every 100 calories consumed. Baby's Only Organic® formula labels also follow the Nutrition Labeling Education Act (NLEA) format, which is more "consumer friendly." Follow these links to see a 100-calorie comparison table:
Dairy Nutritional Comparison Chart
Soy Nutritional Comparison Chart
Lactose Free Nutritional Comparison Chart
Organic Dairy Nutritional Comparison Chart - Concerns regarding Fluoride.
Fluoride is an element naturally occurring in water and foods. Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay. There is growing concern about excess fluoride in the environment due to industrial pollution. Fluoride intake above recommended amounts is of particular concern during infancy and childhood because developing teeth can be susceptible to tooth enamel fluorosis. Enamel fluorosis is a condition that affects the look of the teeth. It is not a disease. White lines or streaks on the tooth enamel occur resulting in unpleasant looking teeth.
The recommended daily fluoride levels1 for infants and young children are:
Age of Child Adequate Intake (mg/day) Tolerable Upper Intake (mg/day) Infants 0-6 months 0.01 0.7 Infants 7-12 months 0.5 0.9 Children 1-3 years 0.7 1.3
Also, the recommended concentration of fluoride in infant formula should be less than 0.06 to 0.10 mg/100 Calories (0.40-0.60 mg/liter).2
Testing of all of Nature's One, Inc. Baby's Only Organic® and PediaSmart® powdered formulas showed values of 0.16 milligrams or less of fluoride per liter. Thus, the fluoride content of our Baby's Only Organic® and PediaSmart® formulas are well below the tolerable upper intake recommendation and are appropriate for infants and young children.
1. Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Washington, D.C.: National Adademies Press, 1997.
2. Kleinman, RE (editor). Pediatric Nutrition Handbook, 6th Edition. Elk Grove Village, Illinois: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2008.
