What are the benefits and risks of formula feeding?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Formula manufacturers attempt to copy the nutrient composition of breast milk as closely as possible. All formula-fed infants should be given iron-fortified infant formulas. The increasing use of iron-fortified formulas over the past few decades is responsible for the decline in iron-deficiency anemia among infants in the United States.
Infant formulas contain no protective antibodies for infants, but in general, vaccinations, purified water, and clean environments in developed countries help protect infants from infections. Formulas can be prepared safely by following the rules of proper food handling and by using water that is free of contamination. Of particular concern is lead-contaminated water, a major source of lead poisoning in infants. Because the first water drawn from the tap each day is highest in lead, a person living in a house with old, lead-soldered plumbing should let the water run a few minutes before drinking or using it to prepare formula or food.
Water supplies contain variable concentrations of minerals, including fluoride. Optimal levels of fluoride protect against dental caries, but too much fluoride during tooth development can cause defects in the teeth known as fluorosis. Inadequate fluoride after 6 months of age may also be a concern. Thus, health experts urge caregivers to have their well water analyzed for mineral contents and to check with the local health department to determine the fluoride content of the community water supply. Caregivers should reconstitute powdered or concentrated liquid formulas with optimally fluoridated water (0.7 to 1.2 parts per million). If fluoride levels are excessive, ready-to-feed formulas or formulas prepared with fluoride-free or low-fluoride water can be used. Such waters are labeled “purified,” “demineralized,” “deionized,” or “distilled.” If fluoride levels are inadequate, formulas may need to be prepared with fluoridated bottled water once the infant is 6 months of age.
In developing countries and in poor areas of the United States, formula may be unavailable, prepared with contaminated water, or overdiluted in an attempt to save money. Contaminated formulas may cause infections, leading to diarrhea, dehydration, and malabsorption. Without sterilization and refrigeration, formula is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Whenever such risks are present, breastfeeding can be a life-saving option: breast milk is sterile, and its antibodies enhance an infant’s resistance to infections.