Bottle-feeding

Homemade or commercially prepared formulas can be substituted for mother's milk. Both types are made from pasteurized cow's milk. But cow's milk differs from mother's milk in several ways. For example, it has more protein and less sugar than mother's milk. In preparing the formula, sugar and water are therefore added to cow's milk to make it as much like mother's milk as possible. The water dilutes the protein and so makes it easier for babies to digest. The sugar provides necessary energy.
Most doctors recommend commercially prepared formulas, which are sold in stores, rather than homemade formulas prepared from whole or evaporated milk. Protein and sugar content cannot be so carefully controlled in a homemade formula as in a commercial product. Commercial formulas are also easier to use.
Most commercial formulas come ready to use in liquid form. But bottles and nipples must be sterilized with boiling water before every use. Some commercial formulas come in powdered form. A person simply adds water. But formulas prepared in this way, as well as the bottles and nipples, must be sterilized by boiling. Special soybean formulas are available for babies who have an allergy to milk.