Things You Might Not Know about Organic Formula
Perrigo Nutritionals sponsored this post but all opinions are my own.
One of my dearest Nashville friends, Courtney is pregnant with her first baby. We share an office at work and daily talk about all things related to pregnancy and motherhood.
Recently, Courtney said another friend asked her if she was nervous about having her first baby, and she laughed and said no because I’m there to answer all her questions.
It’s fun being the friend that is just a bit further along on the motherhood journey, and I am honored that Courtney trusts me and my experiences so much.
As I look back on my ten years of motherhood, I am thankful for this blogging community who has taught me so much. From selecting what kind of diapers to use to Christmas gift ideas, y’all have been there through it all. I’m also thankful for the things I have learned along the way and shared with each of you.
One of the areas that I have evolved in has been my thoughts and understanding about organics and non-GMO products.
Though I breastfed all of my children, by six months I had to supplement with formula, as my supply couldn’t keep up. With Elias and Adeline, I did not choose an organic formula. I used whatever was sent to me for free. This was in part because of convenience, but partly because I didn’t know any better. This year, I began working with Perrigo Nutritionals and learned that my experience was not unusual. They conducted a survey of 1,000 moms and learned 43% of moms said they purchased Organic foods for their babies when they started eating solids, but only 10% purchased Organic formula for their infant.
By the time we had Ezra, because I had begun making more choices that favored organics, organic formula was a natural choice. I bought a sample of some from Honest.com and Ezra loved it. I was struck by it’s different smell (it didn’t have an odor like other formulas) and its smoother consistency compared to what I had used for my older kids. It just seemed better.
For parents using formula, choosing brands like Earth’s Best, Honest or Plum Organics will ensure you are avoiding pesticides and hormones in your formula – something not guaranteed if you only purchase non-GMO labeled products. I also found that organic branded formulas are priced between $28.99 and $32.99, which wasn’t that much more than other formulas I used in the past.
Although it may seem confusing at first, understanding the difference between organic and non-GMO labels is important so parents can make the best nutritional decisions for their families.
A Few Key Facts about Organic vs. Non-GMO:
• Certified organic is always Non-GMO, not the other way around.
• Non-GMO products do not always prohibit the use of toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Only USDA Certified Organic products can make this guarantee.
• Buying organic formula, food, etc. for your kids also supports organic farming practices and animal health and welfare.
If you are like Courtney and in the baby phase of parenting, I hope that you have friends to look to throughout your motherhood journey. I also hope that you are able to find good information and community here on the Internet. I’m honored you’ve stumbled on my small corner here!
For more information on why organic vs. non-GMO, visit www.Choose-Organic.com. And if you used formula for your babies, I’d love to know if you used organic formula or not and why.
Newborn family photos by Alissa Saylor Photography.