Baby’s new pediatrician told us that formula has no nutritional value 😳

[patrotter]

@r123 Right? The nutrition facts are right there on the label. This doctor is a quack and I’d switch to another if at all possible.

 

[etolkk123]

@r123 Thank you.

 

[melzy]

@etolkk123 I don't say this lightly, but your doctor is full of shit.

Most baby formulas in the US are fortified with iron. For this reason, anemia is actually less of a concern for formula-fed babies than for breastfed babies.

Nutritional needs for most babies are met by formula or breastmilk until 12 months. The amount of formula that you are feeding your baby is absolutely normal.

At 7 months hardly any babies are getting a significant amount of their calories from solids. The approach that you describe that you're taking is thoughtful and lovely and does not require any changes. You will slowly add more opportunities for your baby to have solids over the coming months.

Find a new pediatrician. This one isn't it.

 

[richardfulham]

@melzy Yes! The anemia thing is a big Wtf?! Breastfed babies need iron supplementation from 6 months on (through fortified cereal purées or similar), but formula is fortified already - that's why khaki green poop is so common in formula babies, it's the unused iron. Unless your kid has a bleeding disorder or malabsorption issues or something, anemia should not be an issue...

I think OP's intuition is probably spot on.

 

[bhangraavenue]

@richardfulham yah, that’s what I got hung up on too. like if formula has “no nutritional value,” anemia is just one of a zillion issues, like starvation, and heck, scurvy too.

 

[etolkk123]

@bhangraavenue Right?

 

[happyami]

@richardfulham Khaki green poop is such a specific explanation of the color of some poop I’ve seen, I’m mad I hadn’t thought to describe it that way.

 

[etolkk123]

@richardfulham

 

[heegar]

@melzy Came here to say exactly this! Anemia shouldn’t even remotely be a concern here unless the formula doesn’t contain iron for some reason.

 

[etolkk123]

@melzy Thank you.

 

[happyami]

@melzy And vitamin D! I did both EBF and then EFF for my mental health.