The Top 7 Formula Myths You Need To Know Are Fake!

We have researched the most popular myths behind baby formula to find out what’s real and what’s fake, so you don’t have to.

Formula is poisonous…

This is a claim we often heard thrown at parents of newborns who are using formula to feed their little ones, for whatever reason. The most important thing to note here is that it simply isn’t true. Formula is specifically designed to give your baby all the important nutrients, proteins, fats, minerals, carbohydrates, and more they need to stay healthy, just like breastmilk.

Of course, there are other ingredients that go into formula to make sure it looks and feels like breastmilk for your child, but there is certainly nothing that will harm a baby. There are very strict regulations in place to ensure that.

We should also point out that it’s a horrible and unfounded thing to throw at someone. You have no idea about the situation other parents and children are going through, or why they may be choosing to use formula.

A baby sleeps longer when they are fed with formula…

For those scrambling around at the grocery store hoping that formula will give you a quiet night, we’re afraid this one is not true. Some myths claim that babies sleep for longer at night after drinking formula because it is harder for their bodies to digest. This largely stems from a study conducted back in 2003 that concluded babies fed on formula adapted to night-time sleeping at a faster rate. Remember, babies do not always wake up because they are hungry – they wake up for all kinds of reasons, so this myth has no foundation whatsoever.

A baby is more likely to become obese if they are fed with formula…

No again! There have been some studies that show a connection between babies feeding on formula and future obesity, but there has been no significant or scientific link. It may simply be that families who choose to use formula also make other choices that lead to obesity – there could be any number of factors.

Fortunately, this was cleared up somewhat by a study that looked at over 20 years of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). It found that in siblings where one was breastfed and the other formula fed, there was no increased obesity risk in one over the other.

The conclusion of this study in Social Science & Medicine (PubMed) read: “Once we restrict analyses to siblings... estimates of the association between breastfeeding and all but one indicator of child health and wellbeing dramatically decrease and fail to maintain statistical significance.”

A baby’s IQ can decrease due to formula feeding…

We have seen a load of different versions of this myth floating around, none of which have any standing at all. The main research on this was done within a PROBIT study back in 1990s Belarus, which seemed to show that formula-fed babies recorded lower verbal IQ scores than breastfed babies. However, once the study looked at the mothers, the researchers were able to dismiss that particular conclusion. In fact, it seemed the real takeaway was that the higher the IQ of the mom, the more likely they are to breastfeed.

Formula can lead to ear infections…

While there is some research to back this up, it is more a case of breastfeeding lowering the already small chance of ear infections in babies. A 2016 study showed that six months of breastfeeding resulted in a 95% chance your baby will avoid an ear infection, compared to the 93% chance for babies who are being formula fed. So any increase or decrease for formula and breastfeeding is extremely minimal.

Allergies are more likely in formula-fed babies…

This particular myth likely stems from the fact that mothers are able to pass antibodies to their children via breastfeeding, helping them to fight off certain illnesses and infections. However, a PROBIT study found that in more than 17,000 children, there was no link between breastfeeding and any drop in odds of a baby having allergies. Allergies are actually usually passed down via genetics and are not impacted by formula.

You can’t bond with your baby as well if you use formula…

For some moms, breastfeeding makes them feel wonderfully connected with their child, and skin-on-skin contact is a great way of building a relationship. Getting your baby used to the way you feel and the way you smell is very important, however, that doesn’t mean breastfeeding is for everyone.

Some moms can’t or do not like to breastfeed, but that doesn’t compromise their chance or ability to build a bond with their child. Let’s face it, most of the things that create a bond during breastfeeding can be achieved by simply lying your baby against your skin and feeding them.

The thing that promotes bonding between mother and child is not milk but how you both feel. If you feel happy and relaxed using formula, and your baby still gets to experience that closeness with you, then do your thing!

Using formula is safe and comes with most of the same benefits as breastfeeding, so the decision is completely up to you. Don’t let lies and myths govern how you treat your baby and your body.