Forms of formula milk.. powdered, concentrated and ready to consume

The best form of artificial milk:

Formula milks generally come in ready-to-use liquid, concentrated liquid, and powdered forms. The type that will work best for you probably depends on how much formula you plan to use, where you plan to use it (ready-to-feed formula is definitely very convenient when you're out and about), and how much you want to spend.

Start thinking in ounces:

Bottle feeding your baby will require you to think in ounces and adopt them as the standard unit of measure.

Here are the basic steps you'll need to successfully formula feed your baby:

• 1 ounce = 30 cc (cubic centimeters) = 30 ml (milliliters).
• 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup.
• 32 fluid ounces = 1 quart = four cups.

How to prepare each type of formula:

1- Powder:

The simple concept in this case is that you add powder to a pre-measured amount of water and proceed to shake the mixture for a long time. In what we assume is an attempt to avoid mixing errors, most powdered formula is mixed according to the same recipe: 1 scoop of powder for every 2 ounces of water. Powdered formula comes in cans that contain enough powder to make 90 ounces to more than 200 ounces of prepared formula. It is certainly the cheapest choice and really suits most babies. You can decide if you want to mix the bottles on the spot or if you want to prepare the bottles all day and refrigerate them up to 24 hours.

2- Concentrated liquid:

This is the formula option where you just add water as directed and shake. Again, mixing and measuring is a fairly straightforward procedure, as all brands of concentrated formula require equal amounts of water and concentrated formula. If you want to make a total of 4 fluid ounces of formula, you will need to mix 2 fluid ounces of concentrated formula with 2 ounces of water. Of course, many people choose to mix an entire can of concentrated formula (13 fluid ounces) with the same amount of water. The resulting 26 fluid ounces of ready-to-use formula is covered and stored in the refrigerator for the next 48 hours. While some parents find concentrated formula easier, cleaner, and more convenient than powdered formula, that convenience comes at a price.

3- Ready to use (instantaneous):

With this option, you don't have to mix, measure or mess around. It is typically sold in 2, 6, or 8 fluid ounce containers (4 to 24 packs) or 1 quart containers/cans (32 fluid ounces or four cups). The use of the ready-to-use formula does not require any indication. What you see is what you feed your baby. Although the "Ready to Wear" sign is relatively small and not always prominently displayed on the label, it would be hard not to notice the high price tag that sets it apart. Although buying ready-to-feed formula inevitably costs more than most formulas, there's very little room for error (assuming you don't confuse it with concentrated milk and dilute it with water). It is also the easiest way to avoid exposing your newborn to too much fluoride. Sealed cans can be conveniently stored at room temperature. Once opened, unused portions can be covered and refrigerated for up to 48 hours.